Should Your Honey Occupy a Seat at the ‘Global Honey Bar’?

New Zealand beekeepers are fond of stating that there is more to their honeys than “just mānuka”, and now a new place on the world stage exists to prove it.

Leading up to the Apimondia world congress in Copenhagen, Denmark in September, leading New Zealand honey judge and Apimondia New Zealand rep Maureen Conquer is hoping to undertake her favourite past time – sampling New Zealand’s honey – all in aid of deciding which five honeys will represent the country at the event’s new Global Honey Bar.

“The goal of the Global Honey Bar is to celebrate the diversity of honey worldwide and to give all participants at the conference the chance to embark on a sweet honey journey around the globe,” Conquer says.“Each Apimondia country will get the opportunity to present five of its genuine, unique characteristic honeys for congress participants, which will certainly include honey buyers. Each honey presented will have its own website and QR code. Therefore, we need description and images – not video – of flora, region, apiary site, beekeeper and any other information around uses, tasting notes, recipes, cultural significance etcetera. This will all be able to be accessed by congress participants’ smart phones.”

The International Federation of Beekeeping Associations which makes up Apimondia has decided not to include honey in their World Beekeeping Awards in the 2025 edition of the bi-annual congress due to widespread concerns of adulteration and challenges in identifying adulterated honey. The Global Honey Bar will help fill the void though. Other award categories remain, and Conquer will make the long journey to Denmark to act as a judge in the mead competition.

As part of the ‘Bar’, New Zealand has also been allotted time for Conquer to man a stand to represent and answer queries about New Zealand honey.

Before all that, she has to assemble the five honeys which she deems will allow New Zealand to put its best foot forward.

Any beekeepers or honey packers wishing to submit samples for Global Honey Bar consideration are asked to contact Maureen Conquer direct. E: maureen@wildforage.co.nz ph. 021956349