Manawa NZ ltd., the member of the International Mountain Tourism Alliance was announced as the Grand First Prize Winner of the 10th Black Jar International Honey Tasting Contest in 2021 and its Rewarewa Honey was granted as the “Best Tasting Honey in the World”.

（The link is as follows: https://www.manawahoney.co.nz/worlds-best-tasting-honey/）

About the “Champion Honey”

Rewarewa Honey has a full-bodied yet not overly strong flavor. It has beautiful deep amber color with a slight caramel character, and is often used as a natural sweetener. The hydrogen peroxide component also adds to its healing and antibacterial effects.

Rewarewa honey comes from Rewarewa-Knightsia excelsa, an indigenous and rare honeysuckle of New Zealand, and the only species of the Knightsia genus worldwide. The honeysuckle bast can be used to dress the wound, stop bleeding and accelerate recovery. The nectar made from the honeysuckle’s pollen has the effects of nourishing yin, moisturizing dryness, restoring deficiency, nourishing the lung, and detoxification.

Stories behind the award

The year of 2020 saw the COVID-19 ravaging much of the world. Honey, with its benefits to prevent diseases and strengthen physical health, became a sought-after product in many places of the world. Under such background, Manawa decided to participate in international events to promote its distinctive and premium honey product to a wider group of consumers.

In 2021, the 10th Black Jar International Honey Tasting Contest was successfully held in Asheville, North Carolina, USA. Manawa was also invited to participate in this event. The contest which focuses solely on the taste of honey attracts hundreds of entries every year from all over the world. In the final contest on June 3, 2021, the Rewarewa Honey under the Manawa passed multiple rounds of “Black Jar” blind judging and won the first prize for its exquisite and distinctive taste. The Tāwari Honey and Pua-ā-Tāne Wild Forest Honey that the company has brought to the contest also made their way to the finals.

The gift of nature

The distinctive flavor of each honey type is the result of numerous factors including the topography, soil type, climate and humidity of the production area.

The preciousness of Manawa Honey is inseparable from the primeval forests in southeast Rotorua, New Zealand where the local Tuhoe Maori tribe was located. Manawa is dedicated to restoring and protecting the ecosystem of the virgin forest of about 9,000 hectares, allowing bees, a significant member of the ecosystem, to return to the forest and produce honey with better quality.

In Maori, “Manawa” means “heart”, the most precious part of creatures. In addition, the word “Manawa” also perfectly interprets the spirit of the Tuhoe tribe. In other words, Manawa’s honey is extracted from the core and essence of New Zealand. The preciousness of Manawa out of its rareness is exactly what makes it so distinctive.

More first-rate honey products

Manuka is the unique honey type in New Zealand and also the most precious honey type in the world. The leaves and bark of Manuka was granted as the“natural antibiotics”. With special flavor and natural antibiosis, Mānuka honey has magical effect in treating pharyngitis and enterogastritis. Meanwhile, it can also invigorate health, improve overall immunity, and strengthen the physical endurance of human bodies.

Tawari Honey sources from an indigenous tree species of New Zealand that cannot be found in any other countries in the world. Tawari honey has a golden color and a wonderful taste of ginger candy. When absorbed by the human body for a long-term, it has multiple benefits for the general health and well-being, including strengthening the body, fending off colds and flu, speeding up healing of skin wounds and scalds, and smoothing the skin. It is applicable for people who want to improve their overall health and treat certain diseases.

Pua-ā-Tāne Wild Forest Honey is a fusion of Mānuka, Tāwari and Rewariwa tree nectars. As a mixed honey, Pua-ā-Tāne embraces the properties of all three honeys, therefore having more comprehensive pharmacological effect which can both promote physical health and replenish energy.