Mānuka
Mānuka plantation growing in Whakatāne at Native Tree Farm
While the word mānuka is mainly associated with mānuka honey, the tree itself holds the importance as being the source of mānuka honey’s power. Within the small leaves, hide potent properties.
Mānuka Tree Varieties
Mānuka is a small to medium sized tree that grows throughout New Zealand.
The mānuka tree family contains different tree chemo types. This chemotype variation has an effect on the flavour and bioactive properties within the mānuka leaf.
Mānuka chemotypes fall into 3 main categories with 12 variations within these categories. Scientists have clustered them together based on their oil composition and what dominates within the oil.
Chemotype Categories
Below are the 3 main categories, within these categories are different variations. The B-triketone type is known for its skin healing properties.
B-Triketone chemotype — B-triketone dominant oil
Monoterpene-rich chemotype — Monoterpene dominant oil
Sesquiterpene-rich chemotype — Sesquiterpene dominant oil
Traditional Māori Uses
Māori used mānuka leaf as a hot infusion. It was a valued plant that served a variety of daily needs. Both external and internal uses were common practice.
Internal Uses
A liquid tonic was made and consumed for the following ailments:
- Digestive complaints
- Fever sicknesses
- Urinary infections
- Inflammation in the body
- Mānuka berries were chewed and swallowed to cure stomach ache.
External Uses
Used by creating a poultice with the bark and leaf and covering the affected area:
- Wound care
- Inflamed skin
- Cuts and infected wounds
Certified organic mānuka leaf dried.
How We Work With Mānuka Leaf
At Native Tree Farm, our Mānuka Leaf is certified organic, reflecting our commitment to sustainable cultivation, plantation grown and harvested with care to preserve its natural properties.
The leaves are gently processed with care before being used as an ingredient in our product range.