Natural Beekeeping International Forum

[Cie]

I've been pondering whether or not to go to the National Honey Show in October, as I'm not particularly interested in what appears to be a lot of poncing about.

Well... as you do, I was looking through the honey section in Tesco tonight

[AnthonyD]

Yes thats because of its 'High' 'UMF' factor. A factor no one except the commercial manuka honey suppliers seem to understand.

Us mere mortals couldnt comprehend the awe-inspiring and mysterious UMF factor.....

Manuka is a scam in my opinion, plain and simple. Even if there is some special properties added to the honey from the plant, its nothing that local raw honey doesnt have.

But the commercial suppliers haver branded it, and thats all that matters.

[catchercradle]

Their marketing site is not accurate. According to what I have read there are honeys other than Manuka which have the additional antibacterial substance as well as hydrogen peroxide. Honey has been used on wounds and particularly burns extensively in many societies over the years.

However, it is not the high price of manuka honey that upsets me but the low price of imported honey from China et al. Not only does much of this honey contain AFB spores but it is often adulterated and pushes down the price of local honey.

Dave

[Brosville]

Howsabout a contrary view? Those who market Manuka honey have got off their backsides and created a premium price market for their honey - have managed to get it accepted worldwide for it's healing properties, even by conventional medical establishments, and have arguably put it in a higher echelon of value.
To my mind, honey is generally grossly under-valued, so anything that puts it into the "special treat" category is to be welcomed...

My own honey is "beyond price", and far too valuable to sell as a commodity - we consume it, or give some away to family and friends, as we only ever take what the bees can spare...

[AnthonyD]

[zaunreiter]

Manuka honey has special properties good for wound treatment that other honey do not have. Manuka honey is in use in hospitals worldwide and for a good reason.

There is a lot of scientific proof for this, far from being dubious, but properly researched.

Of course local honey can be used, too. But Manuka honey is special. I think the price is not ridiculous. Ridiculous is the price a lot of beekeeper sell their honey.

That'll change when sugar becomes much more expensive, prices for sugar exploding. Then honey will be much more expensive as the Manuka honey shown here. We'll see.

Anyhow, make sure you subscribe to the free newsletter on http://apitherapy.blogspot.de/ to learn about scientific studies on bee products and their health effects. There are studies published almost every day. Which is suprising but shows the great interest in the potential of bee products concerning human health.


Bernhard

[catchercradle]

Thanks Bernhard, a useful link, given that I am along with bee keeping starting an aromatherapy practice. I wonder how much it costs to get an account with Wiley to let me access the full articles? This may well prove worthwhile for ther things too. Will check that out later today.

Dave

[AnthonyD]

[zaunreiter]

http://apitherapy.blogspot.de/search?q=manuka

[AnthonyD]

Interesting, this MGOTM system is completely different from the UMF system we are all used to, interesting the variance in UMF 'strength' upon retesting.

[PlantLady]

[AnthonyD]

[catchercradle]

There have also been articles in the mainstream bee keeping journals here in UK saying what is in the honey. I haven't had time yet to search through back issues.

For the record, I don't like the manuka honey. It is a good advert for the biodynamic people who say honey should only be taken as a medicine!

Dave