Tasmanian Leatherwood Honey is totally unique, sourced from leatherwood trees (Eucryphia lucida) in Tasmania’s ancient rainforests, making it literally the Taste of the Tasmania World Heritage Area.
The production process involves braving extreme temperatures and the remote wilderness in addition to caring for the bees to make sure they thrive in the beautiful Tasmanian landscape.
Leatherwood trees thrive in Tasmania’s remote wilderness, particularly the World Heritage Area rainforest where Eucryphia lucida blooms from January to March with large white flowers.
Eucryphia lucida releases large volumes of nectar with a distinctive aroma, attracting bees and signalling the start of honey production.
Nicola Charles from Blue Hills Honey in Mawbanna, far north west Tasmania, says beekeepers drive for hours to position the hives deep in the rainforest, as close to dense forests of flowering leatherwood trees as possible.
“We have over 1600 hives and we place them into locations licensed by the Tasmanian government and recorded in a centralised record system to ensure the integrity of the honey produced.
“We harvest the Leatherwood Honey once a year because of the short blooming season and remote flowering regions, but make sure the bees to produce enough honey for their own survival through winter, only harvesting the excess.
“We work with the bees to help them produce the honey and to be healthy and happy.
Ms Charles says when harvesting is complete, the honey-laden frames are removed from the hives and transported to the Blue Hills Honey farm in Mawbanna. The honey is extracted using a centrifuge that spins the honeycombs, gently drawing the honey out, but taking care to preserve the honey’s natural properties.
“In Tasmania all the beekeepers work hard to maintain Leatherwood Honey beneficial enzymes, natural flavours, and rich aroma. Minimal filtering is employed to remove wax and other impurities, yet most beekeepers avoid excessive filtration to retain as much of the pollen and trace elements as possible. This minimal processing also preserves the honey’s therapeutic and nutritional benefits and bold flavour profile.” Ms Charles said.
Every batch of Leatherwood Honey undergoes quality checks to ensure purity and flavour consistency. Once bottled, the honey is shipped out for distribution both within Australia and internationally, where it is cherished as a specialty product. Leatherwood Honey literally takes the flavour of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area worldwide.
Ms Charles says the production of Leatherwood Honey is a tribute to the resilience and dedication of Tasmanian beekeepers who work in harmony with nature to bring this unique product from wilderness to bottle.
“Each jar reflects the purity of the Tasmanian wilderness, embodying a tradition that preserves both the environment and the artisanal craft of honey-making.”
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