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OSOF Sustainable Me Challenge!

You will have probably guessed by now, by reading previous posts, that we are passionate about sustaining our earth for future generations. Martin's full time job is actually in energy management, helping large businesses reduce their energy consumption, looking at alternative energy uses and reducing their carbon footprint. At home and in our honey business we have substantially reduced what we send to the landfill, we avoid over packaging, try to avoid one use plastic, buy bulk, reuse or recyc...

Last Minute Christmas Buying

We've just finished our last Hamilton Farmers Market Sunday market for the year.  It was great to see all those that come along.  But if you missed out on coming to the market this morning and still need honey before Christmas or want to purchase some sweet Christmas gifts.  We have you covered!  Here's our options:...

Sustainable Me Challenge - December

You might have guessed but this month's 'Sustainable Me Challenge' is a waste free holiday.  Can you believe the average household waste increases by 25% over the Christmas holiday period! Here's some ideas for reducing our gift-giving footprint this Christmas: Buy second hand.  I often purchased 2nd hand lego for our boys, buying new costs mega bucks, the 2nd hand kits look as good as new, for half the price and it gives another person some extra cash and more...

Sustainable Me Challenge - November

This month's 'Sustainable Me Challenge' is to grow something.  Most of our produce is trucked, shipped or flown and it accumulates greenhouse gas emissions with every kilometre travelled.  To help our environment we should at least buy local, where we can, and grow some of our own food. Here's What The Challenge Suggests: Beginner: Buy local.  Look for NZ grown produce at the supermarket or visit your local farmer's market or farm shop. Step it up: Pl...

Sustainable Gift Boxes

With some of us in lockdown and can't hand over gifts to loved ones on their special day and with Christmas around the corner these sustainable gift boxes are the answer. They include three of our favourite award-winning honeys in attractive glass jars. Each honey has its own distinct taste depending on the location the bees have worked their magic. We deliver around the country to you or direct to the gift recipient.Click on the links below to see more about each gift box....

Ohui Manuka is Back!

Sweetree's Ohui Multi-floral Manuka is back in both sized!  Ohui Manuka is collected from October to December from seaside Ohui, nestled between Pauanui and Whangamata, on the eastern side of the beautiful Coromandel Peninsula.  As a ‘place of meeting’, Ohui brings together land and people, who in turn, delivers the unique and special taste of the Coromandel.  This runny honey has molasses tones with a subtle Manuka taste.  Very sweet notes that linger on the back of...

Taste of Waikato Hampers

This year you can support local and show your appreciation to your clients, staff, friends and family.   Plus proceeds from Waikato Food Inc’s carefully curated and beautifully packaged gift baskets go back to local producers and help Waikato Food Inc to continue serving up the best in the Waikato.  The gift hampers include Sweetree honey, Sweet As popcorn, Peplers condiments, Sunshine relish, Donovans chocolate, Fruney chocolate and Weirdly Normal drinks. There's three different ham...

Sustainable Me Challenge - October

Wow, where is the year going, October all ready! Octobers 'Sustainable Me'; challenge is to eat less meat!  Kiwi's love meat, we are ranked 11th per capita for meat consumption.  We eat on average 106kgs per year.  And the problem?  The problem is that high levels of meat consumption impacts both our environment and our health. Large-scale farming produces a huge amount of emissions, contributing significantly to global warming.  Runoff from animal waste enters soil...

New Honey Variety - Ohinewai!

We're pleased to bring you our newest Waikato raw honey - Ohinewai!   Ohinewai is the childhood home village of Martin and where the apprentice beekeeper began a love for bees. Sweetree's Ohinewai honey is a journey full circle as we bring this delicious honey to your table. Kanuka, clover, river and pasture flowers interwind with fond memories and community spirit. This ultra-smooth and glossy honey will remind you of caramel fudge, with a lovely lingering taste.  Try a spoonful of th...

Need More Energy? Want to Build Your Immunity?

Bee pollen is an incredible natural source of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Studies have shown that it has a nutritional composition that surpasses that of virtually any food eaten. Regular consumption of bee pollen aids your general health and well-being. Just some of the benefits reported of our Sweetree Bee Pollen are: Sustained energy, enhanced immunity, reduced stress, relief of inflammation, more rested sleep and better skin condition. Sweetree Bee Pollen is collected from our home api...

Conservation Week

From 4th - 12th September is Conservation Week, this year's theme is to just take a moment to celebrate and enjoy nature.  More than ever we need to take a moment for nature, give our minds a break and feel connected to the world. It can be as simple as stopping to listen to birdsong, walking with the those in our bubble or even on your own if you need some me time or finding a fun online conservation activity to try.Whatever you choose, make sure you take the time to unwind in nature this ...

Bee Aware Month!

September is 'Bee Aware Month' and this year ApiCulture NZ is encouraging Kiwis to ‘Feed the Bees’ by planting bee-friendly trees and plants. Bees need an ongoing supply of pollen and nectar throughout the year to be strong and healthy, and to stay resilient against the many threats they face.  These threats include pests, diseases, climate change, habitat loss and pesticide use. Planting for bees is a fantastic way to look after nature’s tiniest superheroes as they keep our gardens, ...

Producers Delivering During Lockdown

It's fantastic the way New Zealand businesses have quickly adapted to delivering their products during lockdown. We've had veggies, milk and meat delivered this week from local producers, not only it is great that they can deliver directly to our door, contactless, we love that we are supporting local growers and producers as much as we can.   Stuff have launched an online directory of local businesses safely delivering food and beverages throughout lockdown. It's by region so you can ...

Yes Our Online Store Is Open During Lockdown

Beekeepers are essential businesses for bee welfare and / or processing food.  So yes we can still send orders from our online store during the lockdown period. Our industry, as part of the Agriculture sector, has been granted a dispensation to provide the essential ongoing care of our bees who play a critical role in our rural ecosystem for both horticulture and pasture feed, and furthermore as a food producer, enabling packers to continue processing honey.  There are strict protocols...

Supermarket News

This was published in Supermarket News in 2020.Sweetree honey is pure, location-specific honey from the Waikato. Each of the honey varieties is a true reflection of the area and season its bees have worked their magic. From the candy and toffee flavour of the Hakarimata to the gorgeous zesty tones of Marokopa Spring - there is a Sweetree honey to suit all tastes and occasions. What is your company background, how did you start the business?Sweetree Honey is a homegrown family hone...

Horsham Downs Country Honey Special

Sweetree's Horsham Downs Country is collected from our home apiary just a few minutes north of Hamilton. This area is predominantly farmland and country living with bush gullies beside the Waikato River. Here our bees forage on pasture and river wildflowers, garden flowers, and natives. Everyone will enjoy this honey!  Ultra smooth, ideal to sweeten drinks or on toast....

Sweetree Wins Gold, Silver & Bronze in Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards

We are very excited to announce that Sweetree has won a Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in 2021 Outstanding NZ Food Producers Awards! Gold for our Four Brothers Reserve honeyJudges comments were: Flavour distinctive and unique with dark deep flavour notes (earthy, nutty, dark spirits notes) Would pair really well with crisp apple. Texture good as very homogeneous good. Colour rich and matches flavour (sensory harmony). Judges raved about this product. Silver for our Hakarimata honeyJudg...

Make Rolled Candles Over The School Holidays!

Did you know that burning beeswax produces negative ions that circulate in the room and attract pollutants and clean your air? Many people report that burning a beeswax candle in your bedroom 30 minutes before falling asleep produces a more restful sleep.Now you can make your very own candles! Rolling your own beeswax candles is lots of fun, rewarding and an easy craft. It's a great activity for the kids over the school holidays and makes wonderful gifts (the kit or the finished candles). T...

Visit The Huka Honey Hive

We highly recommend going to The Huka Honey Hive in Taupo these school holidays.  It's an unforgettable honey experience that offers free honey, mead and liqueur tastings, live beehive viewings and fascinating interactive displays.  The kids will love checking out the displays!  They stock New Zealand’s largest selection of artisan honey products, including Sweetree raw honeys from the Waikato....

'Bee Sweet and Reuse' Photo Competition!

When we were deciding how to package our honey it had to be glass.  It is so much more healthier, attractive and environmental friendly.  I came across this on Glass for Life facebook page which sums it up quite well - "People trust glass more than any other packaging material to protect the flavor and freshness of their food and drink. And for good reason. Glass is safe and healthy, pure and virtually inert. It’s made of natural ingredients—sand, limestone ...

Hamilton Farmers Market Celebrates 15 Years!

Hamilton Farmers Market is celebrating it's 15th birthday this weekend! So come on down and join the festivities! We're open Sunday 8am - 12noon in the Claudelands Events Centre Barn, gate 3 (off Brooklyn Road).  We won't be in our normal spot, we'll be outside so come and say hi before you head into the barn, and be in to win an awesome prize pack! Sweetree's History with The Waikato Farmers Markets Wow, its hard to believe Sweetree Honey has been a stallholder at the Hamilton Farmers...

2021 Honey Harvest!

It's that time of year when we've been busy harvesting this seasons honeys.  So far we've harvested honey from Four Brothers Reserve, Hakarimata, Ohinewai and our Kirikiriroa (Hamilton City) apiary sites. This weekend will be Horham Downs turn.  We were worried it wasn't going to be a great harvest this year but we have been pleasantly surprised with the volume of honey in the hives. This season's Kirikiriroa honey is next in the line up to be extracted! This honey includes honey from ...

Sweetree Honey, Local Hamilton Honey

Sweetree honey is as local as you can get, we even have beehives at Claudelands Events Centre (150 metres from the Hamilton Farmers Market barn)! Our Kirikiriroa honey comes from the Hamilton Gardens, Hamilton Zoo and Taitua Arboretum and from this seasons harvest will include nectar from around Claudelands Events Centre.   Our other raw honeys come from surrounding areas of Hamilton such as Four Brothers Reserve, Hakarimata ranges, Horsham Downs and Ohinewai (coming soon).   Every hon...

Rain, Rain, Glorious Rain!

We have really appreciated getting the rain today as its been so dry and many of the flowering grasses have dried up. Much of the summer has been good for our bees however and its been pleasing to see a steady flow of nectar into the hives. We are now starting to harvest the honey from our hives and will be treating for varroa to ensure mite populations are reduced as much as possible. It’s a key time to monitor the health of our hives as its at the end of summer that colonies can suddenly “...

How to Store Honey Over Summer

With summer officially here you may want to know the best way to store honey now the temperatures are starting to rise. The best place to store honey is in a cupboard or your kitchen pantry. It's usually cooler in a cupboard and will keep the honey out of direct sunlight.  Keeping it in the fridge will crystalise the honey. If it has been sitting in an area that is too warm the honey can darken and it may start to separate but it's still completely fine to eat.  Hon...