Capilano Trash-talks New Zealand Manuka

The owner of Capilano, Australia's biggest-selling manuka honey brand, has launched a blistering attack on New Zealand manuka honey, throwing facts and decorum to the wind and sinking trans-Tasman honey ties to a new low.

By Bruce Roscoe

A Capilano Honey leaflet titled "The Manuka Honey Difference" trash-talks New Zealand manuka honey in seven categories from leptospermum species number to product packaging.

Side one of the attack leaflet distributed in Canada by Capilano at CHFA (Canadian Health Food Association) NOW Natural Organic Wellness Trade Show.

Capilano Honey, now a brand in the stable of Queensland-based Hive & Wellness Australia Pty Ltd, is Australia's biggest-selling manuka brand, according to the Capilano website, "and it is all 100% Australian".

Beekeepers will be especially incensed by the accusation that NZ "doesn't have the floral diversity that is required to keep bees as healthy as those in Australia".

Description of New Zealand's climate as "cold and wet" likely will amuse residents and those who understand that climatologists since the 19th century have characterised New Zealand as "temperate".  

Side two of the controversial leaflet.

The contention that PET (polyethylene terephthalate) jars, the frequent choice of New Zealand honey packers, are made from "nonrecyclable material" will be news to industrial chemists. Clear PET is recyclable into clear PET and amber PET is recyclable into textiles, for example. 

The incendiary leaflet claims manuka honey in New Zealand is "Traditionally consumed by the spoonful in place of cough mixture at signs or sickness or stomach upset. The strong taste discourages use in mealtime occasions".

"Australia has 85 species of Leptospermum (Manuka) flowers" whereas "New Zealand has only one variety...", the leaflet boasts, which identifies the core of the New Zealand argument against Australia on manuka naming rights. (New Zealand maintains that only the Leptospermum scoparium species within the Leptospermum genus can rightfully be called "manuka".)

As though contemptuous of UMF Honey Association, Capilano in two places in the leaflet uses the UMFTM trademark as a generic term without "TM" in superscript or the ® mark that acknowledges the registration of a trademark as intellectual property. Capilano adds insult to injury by describing "UMF" as "commonly used".

A return call from Capilano Honey confirmed the authenticity of the leaflet. Release of the leaflet carried the implicit support of the Honey Packers and Marketers Association of Australia Inc., as Ben McKee, chief operating officer of Hive & Wellness Australia, also serves as president of that association.

Capilano distributed the attack leaflet in Canada at the CHFA (Canadian Health Food Association) NOW Natural Organic Wellness Trade Show 26-27 April, Vancouver, BC. 

CHFA bills the show as Canada's "ultimate trade show for natural, organic, and wellness consumer packaged goods". Based on the post-show report Apiarist's Advocate has received from CHFA, exhibitors numbered 970 and attendees 3,052, including 1,595 retailers. Canadian buyers were joined by counterparts from Argentina, Hong Kong, Panama, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, and US. The show was preceded by a one-day conference that drew 1,234 attendees.  

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The section "WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AU & NZ MANUKA?" in the Capilano leaflet is excerpted below.

Manuka varieties

Australia: Australia has 85 species of Leptospermum (Manuka) flowers. The level of MGO found in some Australian honey is comparable or higher to than those observed in New Zealand manuka honey".

New Zealand: New Zealand has only one variety of Leptospermum.

Taste profile

Australia: Australia's wide variety of Manuka blossoms gives our honey a sweeter, smoother taste. 

New Zealand: Manuka honey from New Zealand has a strong medicinal taste, which limits versatility of consumption.

How to use

Australia: With its smooth taste, Capilano manuka can be used daily on cereal, in tea, smoothies, or by the spoonful as a soothing bioactive remedy.

New Zealand: Traditionally consumed by the spoonful in place of cough mixture at signs or sickness or stomach upset. The strong taste discourages use in mealtime occasions.

Healthy Bees

Australia: Australian manuka honey is made by some of the world's healthiest bees. Our warm climate, fresh air and floral diversity keeps our bees healthy and able to create potent Manuka honey.

New Zealand: New Zealand doesn't have the floral diversity that is required to keep bees as healthy as those in Australia. The cold wet climate is also challenging for their health and prevention of disease. 

Value for Money

Australia: Australian Manuka is often more competitively priced than New Zealand manuka.

New Zealand: New Zealand Manuka typically is more expensive than Australian manuka.

Climate Impact

Australia: The Australian climate producers a longer flowering season and consistent supply across spring and summer.

New Zealand: The cold climate of New Zealand means a short flowering season for Manuka, limiting supply.

Packaging

Australia: Capilano is committed to delivering sustainable easy squeeze packaging, that makes Manuka usage easier

New Zealand: New Zealand Manuka is traditionally sold in PET jars made from nonrecyclable material. The jar format makes the product 'formal' and less convenient.