Active Leatherwood - The Details

 Active?  Why is our Active Leatherwood Honey considered active?

Honey has been used since the beginning of recorded history as a treatment for many types of ailments. One of the properties it has been observed to possess is the ability to stop infections. This is due to its antibacterial activity: hence the descriptor "active". See the following.

We are told that honey can minimise bacterial infection in several ways:
  -  It has a very low water content which inhibits bacterial growth.
  -  Honey is sufficiently acidic to prevent the growth of many bacteria.
  -  It may contain antibacterial compounds such as methylglyoxal (MGO) or
  -  other antibacterial substances such as hydrogen peroxide under appropriate conditions.

Most honey has the first two properties but if it also has the third or fourth property it is often called "active honey".

Peroxide activity: some honeys show antibacterial activity arising from the generation of small amounts hydrogen peroxide produced by a naturally occurring enzyme. An example of peroxide active honey is leatherwood honey which is only produced in Tasmania.

The antibacterial activity test measures the honey's ability to prevent the growth of the test bacterium. The antibacterial activity of a Leatherwood honey is referenced to a phenol equivalent. Manuka honey's antibacterial activity is referenced to Methylglyoxal (MGO) content. Leatherwood honey activity is due to hydrogen peroxide, while Manuka honey antibacterial activity is due to Methylglyoxal (MGO) content.

All Blue Hills honey is independently tested.

It is important to store this honey correctly in a cool pantry to preserve this natural activity.

All Blue Hills honeys are “cold extracted”, ensuring all of the natural components of the honey are retained.