COMVITA And UMF Manuka Honey
Four decades of craft in every drop of our UMF® Manuka honey.
Since 1974 we’ve been producing our world-renowned UMF® Manuka honey. Within every drop is the unique story of our heritage.
From humble beginnings in the small rural town of Paengaroa, in New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty, Comvita® has become an incredible success story and consistent leaders in the field. We’re now the largest manufacturer and marketer of premium Manuka honey. But even with our tremendous growth, we remain true to the values of our original founders, Claude Stratford and Alan Bougen.
Claude and Alan believed in connecting people to nature and good health. They carefully harvested every drop of their precious Manuka honey, treading lightly on the land, and working in harmony with nature’s system. Four decades later, we stand by their beliefs, protecting every perfect drop all the way from its pure New Zealand source to you.
Today, our world-leading research, hive management and tracking of our UMF® Manuka honey from hive to shelf, continues their vision.
Since our very early days we’ve worked closely with bees to craft natural products that work, and that’s never changed. Our authentic heritage is an aspect of Comvita that sets us apart from the rest and makes our UMF® Manuka honey brand one of the most loved and trusted in the world.
5 reasons our UMF® Manuka honey is trusted the world over.
What sets us apart at Comvita® is that we treat every drop of our honey with absolute care. From the hive to your home, we go to great lengths to source, harvest and ensure its always of the highest quality. That’s why we have one of the most trusted brands of UMF® Manuka honey in the world.
1) We manage the source ourselves
From the rugged central North Island volcanic plateau, to the bush clad hills of Northland, our bee hives are spread across six different geographical regions of New Zealand. We own and manage some of the land these hives are on working closely with our expert beekeepers. So when you pick up a jar of Comvita UMF® honey, you can be absolutely sure of its pure New Zealand source.
2) The unique properties of Manuka are alive in every drop
Honey with high levels of unique Manuka properties can only be produced in areas abundant with native Manuka blossoms. That’s why we locate our hives in some of the most remote parts of New Zealand with large, pristine stands of Manuka. Sometimes they’re only accessible by helicopter. But, having our hives in these extraordinary places make it possible for us to produce our rare, precious honeys that are independently certified as having the highest UMF® ratings.
3) Each and every batch is independently certified
When it comes to UMF®, there really is no comparison. Issued by an independent body set up to protect the integrity of Manuka honey, UMF® certifies the quality, purity and authenticity of every single batch of Comvita® UMF® Manuka honey. The UMF® testing process measures three signature compounds, Leptosperin, DHA and Methylglyoxal, that together indicate high quality, authentic Manuka honey
4) We have world-leading research and testing facilities
Our own research has significantly contributed to the science supporting identification of genuine Manuka honey. And our investment in laboratory facilities for testing and analysis of our UMF® Manuka honey has given us enormous advantages in screening for the highest possible honey quality. Our state-of-the-art equipment means we can ensure our honey is consistently of the highest quality, and will remain so for the entire shelf-life of the product.
5) It’s traceable all the way from hive to shelf
We have developed our own high-tech Apiary Management System (AMS) that enables us to track our honey from hive to shelf. Data is captured at the hive using Android Mobile scanning devices that scan barcodes. These are then synchronised to our Apiary Management database. The system helps us to identify hive strength, so we can put our hives in the right places at the right time, to take advantage of early nectar flows. And with over 30,000 hives up and down New Zealand, AMS gives us ultimate visibility and quality control.
Together, these five facts give you some idea of what goes on behind the scenes for every drop of UMF® Manuka honey we produce. Add to that the pure passion from everyone who works at Comvita for reconnecting people to the healing power of nature, and you get a very special product indeed.
UMF® means quality and purity in every drop.
When it comes to UMF®, there really is no comparison – it’s the global independent standard for Manuka honey.
When you see the UMF® mark on your jar of Comvita® Manuka honey, it means it is meeting independent certification standards for quality, purity and authenticity by the UMF® Honey Association of New Zealand (UMFHA). As well as regular monitoring, the UMFHA also conduct random sampling to ensure Manuka honey carrying the UMF® mark is always true to label.
The UMF® testing process measures the presence of all three signature compounds, Leptosperin, DHA and Methylglyoxal, that together indicate high quality, authentic Manuka honey.
For more information on UMF® and the grading system, visit www.umf.org.nz/grading-system
For more information about Comvita® and our product range please visit www.comvita.co.nz