The Wild Sweetness of New Zealand’s Bush Honey
If you want the real deal, then look no further than New Zealand’s native bush honey. It’s raw, rich and a little wild, just like the landscapes it comes from. Harvested from deep within our native forests, this multifloral honey captures the essence of Aotearoa’s untouched wilderness in every spoonful. It’s more than just something to drizzle on your toast. It’s flavour, providence and natural goodness... lovingly poured into a pot.
What Is Bush Honey and How Is It Made?
Bush honey is New Zealand’s unsung hero of the honey world. Unlike single-variety honeys, it’s collected from a mix of native forest plants, think Rewarewa and Kānuka, both with their own unique benefits. Kānuka is particularly well-known for being good for skin conditions, such as acne.
At King Bees, our bush honey comes straight from the rugged East Coast, where our hives are surrounded by wild, untamed bushland. The bees work these diverse nectar sources over the warmer weeks, naturally blending the flavours into something smooth, full-bodied and completely unique to that season.
Because nature calls the shots, no two harvests are the same. One year the honey might lean darker with red undertones from an abundance of Rewarewa; the next it could be lighter and more floral if Kānuka dominates the nectar flow. That natural variation is part of the magic, you’re literally tasting a moment in time, shaped by the land, the weather and the bees.
How Does Bush Honey Compare to Mānuka?
Mānuka gets most of the headlines but Bush honey is quietly holding its own as a versatile, everyday superstar.
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Taste: While Mānuka can be bold, earthy with hints of butterscotch, bush honey tends to be milder, smoother and more approachable for all palates, kids included.
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Nutritional Value: Bush honey still delivers a solid hit of antioxidants, enzymes and natural antibacterial properties. It’s unprocessed and straight from the hive, so you’re getting all the natural goodness intact.
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Versatility: Where Mānuka might be saved for health tonics or special recipes, bush honey is your go-to for anything, from glazing roast veg to sweetening a morning brew. If you have mild skin conditions, applied topically this honey will help to soothe and support your natural healing process.
Both have their place in a Kiwi pantry. Mānuka might be the headline act, but bush honey is the reliable, flavour-packed everyday player to keep coming back to.
Why It’s a Popular Gift for Locals and Tourists
Bush honey isn’t just a taste of Aotearoa, it’s bringing the wild with you and brings a delicious connection you can easily take with you. Even better? It’s the kind of gift that punches above its weight: warming, unpretentious and loved by everyone from your Kea‑obsessed cousin to your food‑enthusiast mate back home.
Families share it over breakfast. Friends trade jars post‑road‑trip. It’s the perfect edible souvenir: deeply Kiwi, beautifully simple and ready to spread on toast, on top of a yoghurt bowl, or straight off the spoon.
And if you’re heading to the U.S., here’s the inside scoop so your honey lands as smoothly as your stories:
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You can bring NZ honey into the U.S. in checked baggage with no drama, visit U.S. Customs and Border Protection for more information.
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It must be sealed and tucked away in your checked luggage - hand luggage is a no-go for jars larger than 100 ml or 100g. Click here for further information for the US.
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Declare it as food - that’s enough. You don’t need to treat it as a restricted “animal product” reddit.com.
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Just check “Yes” on the CBP agricultural declaration when entering the U.S., and your honey will clear customs without a fuss. Click here for further information.
A True Taste of New Zealand’s Wilderness
Bush honey may not shout as loudly as Mānuka, but that’s part of its charm. It’s underrated, unpretentious and full of potential... a honey that’s as much about connection to place as it is about flavour.
Every jar tells a story of our landscapes: the native blooms, the shifting seasons and the bees that work tirelessly to create it. Whether you’re a Kiwi topping up your breakfast table or an overseas visitor wanting to take a piece of Aotearoa home, bush honey is the quiet hero worth celebrating.
At King Bees, we’re proud to harvest ours from some of the most remote and pristine bushland on the East Coast. It’s not just honey... it’s a taste of the wild, captured in its purest form.