Tāwari honey
What is tāwari honey?
Tāwari honey comes from a small native tree that grows only in the northern half of the North Island, with clusters of white flowers. The honey is pale gold and notably smooth, with a butterscotch or vanilla character that makes it one of the more distinctive light honeys produced here.
| From | Ixerba brexioides |
|---|---|
| Colour | Pale gold. |
| Flavour | Smooth and creamy, butterscotch or vanilla-like, with low bitterness. |
| Where | Northern North Island forest — Northland, the Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and Te Urewera. |
| Harvest | Early summer, November to December. |
| Crystallises | Moderately, to a smooth, soft set. |
Worth knowing
- Tāwari is endemic to New Zealand and restricted to the north, so the honey is regional in a way clover is not.
- Often blended into bush honey, and less commonly sold single-source than rewarewa or kāmahi.
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.
- Pōhutukawa honey — Mild and smooth, with a delicate, slightly mineral finish.
- All 11 types