Kāmahi honey
What is kāmahi honey?
Kāmahi honey comes from one of New Zealand's most widespread native forest trees, found through the lower North Island, the West Coast and Fiordland. It is a mid-amber bush honey with a buttery, almost butterscotch character and a faint bitterness at the end that stops it being simply sweet.
| From | Weinmannia racemosa |
|---|---|
| Colour | Golden to mid-amber. |
| Flavour | Buttery and rich, often described as butterscotch, finishing with a slight, clean bitterness. |
| Where | Native forest through the lower North Island, the West Coast of the South Island, Nelson and Fiordland. Kāmahi is one of the commonest canopy trees in wet forest. |
| Harvest | Summer, roughly December to January. |
| Crystallises | Moderately, to a smooth, fairly fine set. |
Worth knowing
- Kāmahi flowers heavily in some years and barely at all in others, so supply and price move year to year.
- Frequently blended into “bush” or “native” honey rather than sold single-source.
If it has set solid in the jar
That is honey behaving normally rather than a fault — why honey crystallises explains what is happening and how to bring it back to liquid without wrecking the flavour.
Other New Zealand honeys
- Clover honey — Mild and clean, straightforwardly sweet, with a soft floral finish.
- Rewarewa honey — Malty and caramel-like, with a burnt-sugar edge and a long finish.
- Pōhutukawa honey — Mild and smooth, with a delicate, slightly mineral finish.
- Thyme honey — Strongly aromatic and herbal, warm and resinous, with a lingering savoury finish.
- All 11 types