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Sweetree Honey Creme Brulee

OMG who does not LOVE creme brulee, even better it has local Sweetree honey in it!...

Plastic Beehives!

I recently wrote about beekeepers using plastic frames for honey storage in beehives.  We avoid using these as we are concerned from a bee health point of view but also environmentally.  But it's not just the frames that are available in plastic, you can now buy full plastic beehives.  When the hive is at the end of its life what will happen to it?  I find it pretty concerning when there are so many people trying to avoid plastic use that industries are just coming up with mo...

Sweetree Honey & Fresh Blueberry Mille Feuille

This is a delicious dessert, give it a go next time you need to make a dessert....

What is the White Film on Beeswax Products?

Have you ever noticed a white film over beeswax products?  It's called a 'bloom'.  It develops over time due to cold air crystallizing the beeswax oils. It disappears when the wax is put into the sun for a very short time.  If it is a sunny but cold day then wait until the air gets warmer to use the heat of the sun rays or carefully warm with a hairdryer, fan heater, etc. They will then be completely back to normal!  Check out our beeswax products...

September is Bee Aware Month

This month is 'Bee Aware Month' in New Zealand the focus is on how important bees are for pollinating food and other products we consume.   ...

Plastic Avoided In The Production of Sweetree Honey

Many people, including Martin and I, like to limit the purchase of food in plastic packaging.  People do this for various reasons but mainly for environmental or health motivations.  One way of limiting plastic is to purchase food in glass jars instead of plastic.  When we were deciding how to package our honey it had to be glass.  It is so much healthier, attractive and environmentally friendly. But have you thought about how honey is stored before it goes into the jar? ...

What's The White Stuff On The Inside Of My Honey Jar?

You may have noticed that many of the Kirikiriroa and Horsham Downs jars, of the current batches, have white marking around the inside of the jar, you may think it looks like mould.  Don't worry, it's not!  This is called frosting.  It is due to the presence of air trapped between the side of the jar and the honey, and therefore crystals form against the glass.  Frosting in honey usually starts as a small white streak or crescent on the edge of the jar and can gradually ...

Sweetree Honey in Good George Stout

Local beer brewing company, Good George, have collaborated with local Duck Island Ice Cream company to craft their 'Blackberry, Sage & Honey Cream Stout'.  But Duck Island isn't the only local ingredient used, Sweetree Kirikiriroa (Hamilton City) honey is also included! We're pretty excited about it! It's beer inspired by a popular ice cream and there will be an ice cream available infused with the beer! It is smooth, rich and roasty with a hint of sage and lingering berry flavour. &nb...

Alleviate Seasonal Allergies

Spring is just around the corner or maybe it's already here!  I was at the pharmacy the other day and the pharmacist thinks that allergies have started already and by looking at the pollen starting to be collected in the hives I think she's right. Seasonal allergies can be a nightmare - sneezing, watery eyes, itchy throat, coughing, itchy nose, blocked/runny nose or worse.  During this time many people stock up on tissues and run to the chemist to grab antihistamine, sometimes even ant...

Honey-Ginger Grapefruit Marmalade

If you haven't made jam before it's relatively easy and this recipe is nice with honey included....

Local Feast!

A couple of Sundays ago we were very happy to be a part of Dough Bros Locavore Long Lunch.  The team at Dough Bros wanted to celebrate their favourite local suppliers and the impressive bounty of food produced here in the Waikato. Over a leisurely four-course lunch foodies were able to rub shoulders with some of the growers and artisan makers that are putting the Waikato on the map as a food destination.  On arrival we could choose between these cocktails, divine:  Persimmon...

Take Bee Pollen to Build Your Immunity

Do you often succumb to the winter bugs?  Does your immunity need a little boost?  Try bee pollen!  It is naturally rich in protein and contains virtually every known vitamin, 28 minerals, plus numerous active enzymes and fatty acids.  It is one of nature’s best superfoods, providing a sustainable source of energy for a healthy balanced life.  Regular consumption of bee pollen aids your general health and well-being. Just some of the reported benefits of Sweetree bee p...

Flu Fighter Smoothie

A combination of citrus, ginger, turmeric, lemon, honey and bee pollen make the perfect flu tonic! Bee pollen, turmeric and ginger are three powerful immune boosters that and are combined here with the vitamin C from the citrus. Add to this combo the antibacterial properties of honey and you have a top-notch flu fighter!Make time: 5 mins | Makes: 1 large glass | Equipment required: blender ...

Sustainable Me Challenge - July

This month's 'Sustainable Me' challenge is to participate in 'Plastic-free July' by cutting back on overall plastic use. We have more information on Plastic Free July on another blog post and 'Our Seas our Future (OSOF)' have lots of information on their website. Did you know that every piece of plastic ever made is still around? It might look a bit different than it did in its original form – discoloured, warped, or in smaller pieces perhaps.  Plastic is found ne...

Can You Take NZ Honey into Australia?

We often get asked if honey can be taken into Australia.  I've contacted Customs in Australia and here is the low down: Honey is permitted into Australia and should be packed in checked luggage, not hand luggage. It must be declared for inspection on arrival. The import limit is 10 litres/10 kilograms or less for most Australian states and territories. If travelling to Western Australia (Perth and all other WA ports) please let them know that stricter conditions apply. Honey ...

Helen's Cold & Flu Remedy

We swear by this remedy when anyone starts to come down with something. We make a thermos fill and drink away during the day.  It works a treat!...

Sweetree Endeavours to be Sustainable

Here at Sweetree we are endeavouring to become more sustainable to help the environment.  All Sweetree honeys are packaged in glass jars, our propolis in glass bottles, we use paper bags instead of plastic at the markets and we are currently investigating compostable pouches for our bee pollen. We believe storing food in glass, as opposed to plastic, is much healthier for the end consumer and certainly the environment.  It also allows them to reuse or recycle the packaging after the ho...

Sweetree Hakarimata Honey Back in Stock!

Finally our popular Hakarimata honey is back in stock!  It is truly a delicious honey, according to Annabelle White (Chef, Author and TV personality) "Hakarimata is super - intense, full flavoured and quite delicious".Sweetree's Hakarimata honey is collected from the Hakarimata Range which forms part of the western rampart of the Waikato Basin.  Nestled in the foothills, our bees feast themselves on the copious sources of nectar from native flowers above and pasture flowers below. &nbs...

Sweetree HaBEEtat - More Tree Plantings

You may recall that in 2013 we dug out a swampy area at the back of our property into a pond to create habitat for native birds and for our bees, it's our Sweetree HaBEEtat.  Over the last few years my stepfather has been growing and tending to native plant seeds and together we have planted hundreds of native flax, grasses and trees around the pond.  The pond is now looking fantastic and is the home to quite a few ducks, frogs, pheasants and the occasional visit from Tui.  As the...

Stephanie shares her favourite things about the Waikato

Perhaps it's the lifestyle that gives Stephanie Lynch her calm and contented manner, her air of fulfilment.Or it could be her tranquil surroundings or working with honey. For "the keeping of bees is like the direction of sunbeams", to quote Henry David Thoreau.She and husband Martin's artisan Sweetree Honey products stem from the hives the couple strategically placed throughout the Waikato.Bees and their husbandry have been a part of Martin's life since childhood; his grandfather kept them,...

The Joys of a Family Business

The thing I love about working from home in our family business is that I'm there for our boys, I can go to their sports days, be home for them after school or when they are sick.  It's great that I can work around them. They are the reason we started this business, so I could earn an income but still be there for the boys.  As they  have got older I've come across another bonus of having a family business, extra hands available when we need them!  The boys have helped from t...

Power Start Breakfast

This is a perfect breakfast.   It contains all the protein, carbohydrates, good fats, enzymes, vitamins you need to power into your day.   It looks quite complicated but if you load up a shelf on your fridge with the ingredients it can be done in a few minutes.  If you have been lacking some zing in your life we recommend that you give this a go!  ...

Superfood Smoothie

This makes a great start to the day or an afternoon pick me up....

Why Hasn't It Been A Good Season for Honey?

You have probably seen or heard in the media that this season's honey harvest will be significantly down.  We think we are down by about 50% but we won't know for sure until the honey is all harvested at the end of this month.  You may wonder what affects honey volumes and why each season can be so dramatically different. Just like any agricultural business we rely heavily on the weather patterns.  Our bumper crops have always been in long dry summers.  Of course we need a li...

Vicki's Cold & Flu Remedy

Experts have verified that this health-restoring trio of garlic, apple cider vinegar and honey can wipe out both common and uncommon ailments....