Pōhutukawa honey
What is pōhutukawa honey?
Pōhutukawa honey comes from the crimson summer flowers of the New Zealand Christmas tree, which fringes the coastline of the upper North Island. It is one of the palest honeys produced here — almost white when set — with a smooth, mild, faintly salty-mineral character quite unlike bush honeys.
| From | Metrosideros excelsa |
|---|---|
| Colour | Very pale, near-white when crystallised. |
| Flavour | Mild and smooth, with a delicate, slightly mineral finish. Subtle rather than sweet-forward. |
| Where | Coastal Northland, Auckland, the Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty, where pōhutukawa grows on cliffs and shorelines. |
| Harvest | High summer, December into January — the flowering that gives the tree its Christmas name. |
| Crystallises | Readily, to a very fine, smooth, pale set that spreads easily. |
Worth knowing
- Because the trees are coastal, harvests are exposed to weather: a windy, wet flowering can wipe out a season.
- Its pallor is the giveaway. A dark honey sold as pōhutukawa is not what it says it is.
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.
- Kāmahi honey — Buttery and rich, often described as butterscotch, finishing with a slight, clean bitterness.
- Thyme honey — Strongly aromatic and herbal, warm and resinous, with a lingering savoury finish.
- All 11 types