No, the common honey bee producing most commercial honey is not native to Australia; it was introduced by European settlers around 1822, but Australia does have numerous native bee species, including stingless ones (like sugarbag bees) that produce their own unique, tangy honey, known as Sugarbag honey, which was historically used by Aboriginal people.
The native species of bee in Australia are not true honey bees, which are native to Europe, Asia and Africa. As a relatively primitive social species of native bees, they do not produce honey in great quantities.
The history of honey is older than the history of writing. Honeybees existed 40 million years ago in Southeast Asia, while homo sapiens only exist for 50.000 years.
Hommey houses 161 different varieties of cushion covers in 5 different sizes and made in Australia. Whether it's our Velvet Sicilian Olive, Coconut Boucle, Astroturf Felt or our Butter Linen, we have the textures, colours and the shapes to make your home Hommey - because one size fits all isn't in our vernacular.
In the world of premium honey, West Australian honey stands out as some of the finest. Whether it's the distinct flavour of Jarrah honey or the superior health properties of raw honey from Western Australia, this region's honey is highly regarded worldwide.
(Samples from South and Western Australia were found to pure, 100% honey.) In addition, this study found “blended honey of unknown origin has been known to contain antibiotics, toxins, irradiated pollen or even alkaloids with the potential to cause organ damage”.
China is by far the world's largest producer and exporter of honey. In most countries the bees are given time to reduce the moisture content of raw honey.
Although New Zealand remains the largest producer, mānuka honey is also harvested in Australia from related Leptospermum species, creating competition over branding and market access.
While many famous brands like Arnott's or Vegemite have Australian roots, they are often foreign-owned; genuinely 100% Australian-owned and made brands include Norco, SPC, Mayvers, Sanitarium, Bundaberg Rum, Fess Nasal Sprays, Hydralyte, and many smaller businesses found via the Australian Made Campaign like GME, Aqualyte, and Struc Steel. Look for the Australian Made and Owned logo for assurance that money stays local.
Below, we list some of the best honeys the world has to offer.
No, modern, ethical bee venom harvesting does not harm bees because it uses mild electric currents to make them sting a glass plate, allowing venom release without the stinger detaching (unlike stinging a tough surface like skin), so the bees survive unharmed and can return to normal hive activity. Older methods, like forcing bees to sting rubber or crushing them, were fatal, but current techniques focus on cruelty-free collection for medicine and skincare.
Yes, honey is generally considered healthier than refined sugar because it contains beneficial antioxidants, enzymes, vitamins, and minerals, plus it has a lower glycemic index, causing a slower rise in blood sugar; however, it's still a sugar, so moderation is crucial as both add calories and affect blood glucose. While honey offers added nutrients, it's not a "health food," but a more natural sweetener with a slight nutritional edge over empty-calorie sugar.
Overall, the study showed that Australian honey varies a lot depending on climate, when flowers bloom, and how the honey is handled after harvest. For example, honey with naturally higher electrical conductivity also tends to have a higher pH, and honey with more HMF tends to be more acidic.
Global honey production reached 1 870 thousand tonnes in 2018. China is the major producer and exporter accounting for the 24% of global production and 18% of global exports.
The "3 feet, 3 miles rule" is a beekeeping guideline for moving hives: move them less than 3 feet (so they find the new spot easily using landmarks and scent) or more than 3 miles (so they're forced to reorient to a completely new landscape). Moving them an intermediate distance (e.g., 50 feet to 2 miles) confuses forager bees, causing them to return to the old, empty location and get lost.
Australian honey is highly sought after in global markets for its unique tastes and strong reputation for being produced cleanly and sustainably. All around Australia honey bees visit more than 700 native flowering plants to collect nectar and pollen to produce honey.
Honey can have an almost indefinite shelf life, lasting decades or longer if it's stored properly. Over time, it may crystallize, and the quality might not be as good as when you first purchased it, but the honey will still be safe to consume in most cases.
Is UMF or MGO Better? UMF is a more comprehensive grading system, while MGO is simpler and more direct to test. Because they measure different aspects of mānuka honey, neither system is inherently more reliable than the other.
And while we might expect any ancient food to decompose past the point of recognition, archaeologists have actually uncovered 3,000-year-old pots of honey that were, remarkably, intact — and still edible. Learn about how we use honey to make a delicious drink!
🍯 Did you know Kirkland Signature Honey is True Source Certified? The True Source Certified seal was created to ensure authenticity and purity! 😁 That means this honey is fully traceable, tested, and audited for maximum quality!
Fabricius (A. cerana), the native honey bee of China, is widely distributed in the country [6,7]. In 2008, the number of A. cerana colonies in China was 2.8 million, with 5.16 million in 2014 [8].
Summary: Limited supply drives up the price of Manuka honey due to its natural production process and the geographic restrictions of the Manuka tree. Unique properties and benefits, such as antibacterial and wound healing properties, make Manuka honey highly sought after and valuable.
A small minority, like Sugarbag Bees (Tetragonula carbonaria), are social and make honey. Only about 0.6 per cent of all Australian native bee species make honey. Native bees are incredibly diverse in their appearance and habits. Some are yellow and black.