Honey Trap
Manuka has developed a reputation for being a supercharged honey. But how do you even know if you are buying real Manuka? After it was discovered that there was tainted, fake Manuka honey on the market, the New Zealand Government took action into their own hands and started testing. They have now tested over 800 samples from around the world in order to create a definition of the product. The honey must now have five key attributes – four chemicals and one DNA marker, to be labeled real New Zealand Manuka. This authentication test is warmly welcomed in New Zealand, where the Manuka industry has been overdue for regulation and testing for some time.
China Finds Sweeter Return with European Bees
Due to the work ethics and behavior of the European honey bee, the Asian honeybees have seen a rapid decline in population in China. This may be due to the fact that European worker bees are known to listen to their queen more tentatively and take her messages more seriously compared to Asian honeybees. This isn’t a recent phenomenon, for centuries, the Asian honeybee has been steadily replaced by the more diligent European honeybee. To sweeten the deal, even more, the European honeybee produces a sweeter, more desirable honey.
