J Friend and Co.

Beekeeper: Gary Jeffery
Profile
Honeydew is a very unique honey, as unlike most other honeys it's not created from the nectar of flowers. Within the intricate eco system of the forest, honeydew is created by tiny insects that feed on the sap in the bark of the beech tree and then excrete this in sugary liquid drops. This liquid is high in sugar and is an attractive energy source for a flurry of native birds and insects, including honeybees.
The honeydew insects are particularly common in the beech trees at the foothills of the Southern Alps in New Zealand's South Island.
Westcoast Beechwood Honeydew honey is harvested in the native Mountain Beech forests in the Rahu-Reefton area in New Zealand's South Island. The high concentration of red beech trees in this region, as opposed to mainly black beech in other areas, creates a very floral honeydew.
Vintage Notes
The March 2008 harvest was a small yield due to moisture in the soil, making each jar of NZ Artisan Beechwood Honeydew Honey a very rare treat.