The Hidden Treasure of the Southern Alps: Black Beech Honeydew Honey

In small pockets of native forest in the South Island of New Zealand are the native Black Beech tree. These trees produce one of nature’s most extraordinary treats: Beech Honeydew honey (often simply called “honeydew honey”).

For us at Southern Alps Honey, it’s a story of forest, insect, bee and honey with remarkable character and benefits.

 

What is Beech Honeydew Honey?

Unlike most honeys which come from floral nectar, Beech Honeydew honey is produced through a different ecological chain:

- Native scale insects that live in the bark and feed on sap of Black Beech trees in small pockets of New Zealand’s South Island Beech forests. 

These insects excrete a sugary solution — honeydew — often visible as droplets on the bark or as threads hanging from the tree in sooty‑mould covered bark areas. 

Bees collect this honeydew (rather than flower nectar) and convert it into honey — the result is much darker, richer, and compositionally different from typical floral honey. 

 

Distinctive Flavour & Texture

What to expect when you taste a jar of genuine Black Beech Honeydew:

  • A deep amber to dark hue (far darker than many floral honeys)
  • A flavour that might remind you of toffee, caramel, molasses or even a “savory richness” rather than purely sweet.
  • This honey does not crystallize — it stays liquid, making it easier to drizzle or use as an quick energy source out of a pouch https://buzzsupplements.com/

 

Nutritional & Functional Highlights

Here are some of the compelling scientific and marketing‑backed claims associated with Black Beech Honeydew honey:

  • Mineral content: Some claim this honey contains approximatley ten times the mineral content of conventional floral honeys. 
  • Prebiotic potential: Beech Honeydew is claimed to contain oligosaccharides (long‑chain sugars) that may act as prebiotics — feeding beneficial gut bacteria. 
  • Higher glucose oxidase/peroxide activity: The presence of glucose oxidase (an enzyme) in some Honeydew honeys appears to be elevated, possibly conferring stronger antibacterial activity due to higher peroxide generation. 
  • Complex sugar composition: Because the honeydew originates from sap via insects (rather than simply flower nectar), the sugar composition is more complex and less straightforward than typical nectar honeys. 

 

Cleaner, More Pristine Environment

Producing honey in native New Zealand forests — such as the Black Beech forests of the South Island — offers a range of environmental benefits:

  • Less exposure to chemicals: Native forests are free from agricultural sprays such as herbicides, pesticides, and synthetic fertilisers.
  • Lower risk of contamination: Honey from forest sources is less likely to be affected by residues from chemical drift, polluted water sources, or treated crops.
  • Better air and soil quality: Native forests maintain healthier ecosystems with richer biodiversity and less industrial impact.


Why This Honey Is So Special

What sets Black Beech Honeydew honey apart?

  • Rarity & wild‑origin: Because it requires specific forest conditions, symbiotic insect activity, and remote locations, availability is limited.
  • Distinct ecosystem story: This honey ties you directly to New Zealand’s native Beech forest ecosystem — the insects, the trees, the bees. It’s not just another honey.
  • Flavor adventure: For honey lovers looking beyond the usual floral honey sweetness, this offers a woody, rich, almost “forest caramel” experience.

 

How To Enjoy It

  • Drizzle it over full‑fat yogurt, fresh berries or baked figs to match its rich flavour.
  • Use it in place of maple syrup or molasses on pancakes, waffles or porridge.
  • Pair it with cheeses: the malty toffee notes stand up beautifully to strong or aged cheeses.
  • Try it as a natural sweetener in salad dressings or glazes for roasted vegetables, or as a marinade — the depth of flavour elevates savoury dishes.

 

At Southern Alps Honey, we see this particular honey as one of New Zealand’s best-kept secrets. If you’re after something more than just a sweet treat, our Black Beech Honeydew offers real depth, flavour, and a connection to nature you can taste in every spoonful.

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