Learn About Our Honey
Our Honey Our Principles
The Bowman Family has always and will always be committed to the best practice for our bees and the environment.
We follow and achieve all Organic standards set by the Australian Department of Primary Industries, including but not limited to:
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Only stainless steel equipment is used in our honey extraction room
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We never interfere with the Queen bee. Some commercial practices use Queen gates to prevent the Queen from leaving the hive, cutting her wings to prevent her from leaving, cutting her mandibles to prevent her from fighting new queens. We never have and never will interfere with our Queens. Our job as apiarists is to make our bees so happy they choose to stay rather than swarm away.
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No chemicals used at the hive sights, in the extraction room or storage rooms. We use a specialised hive beetle trap with fipranol to help any hives that aren't controlling hive beetle populations on their own, the use of which falls under organic standards. When used correctly the bees are never in contact with the inside of the trap and no traces are present in the honey. We sporadically test for chemical residue to ensure the quality of our honey.
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Location is one of the hardest standards to meet. In order to be organic hives must be 5km from human habitation, agriculture, and industry. This is because anything that is in the air or the ground can be present in the honey. We are so fortunate to have our hives in the native bushland of North Stradbroke Island - if you come across our hive sites you are very far off the well beaten track!
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All our foundation wax is made from our own organic beeswax which we have pressed at John Guilfoyle Beekeeping Equipment.
While we meet organic standards we are not certified. We have been in the past and due to our experiences and well publicised scandals in the industry we have decided that this isn't an honest representation of organic principles and therefore an unfair expense to pass along to our customers. We may revisit this in the future. If you would like to know more about organic standards, a concise description can be found on the ACo website: https://aco.net.au/Pages/Certification/BeeKeeping.aspx
Jellybush Honey - Australia's Manuka
Jellybush is Australia’s Manuka. It has naturally occurring methylglyoxal activity (MGO) from nectar collected from the Leptospernum family of trees. The most famous of these is the Manuka tree, L.Scorparium, the only species that grows in New Zealand. Here in Australia we have 87 varieties of this tree shrub, 11 of which are considered highly active. On Stradbroke Island we are lucky enough to have the 3 most potent species; L.Whitei, L.Liversidgei, and L.Polygalifolium, typically making our Jellybush honey highly active.
Jellybush is well known for its powerful anti-inflammatory, anti fungal and antimicrobial qualities. Studies have shown MGO to be effective against antibiotic resistant bacteria. Take daily for inflammation conditions such as arthritis, chronic pain conditions, prevention and treatment of infections and viruses including colds, flus, and chemotherapy side effects (like ulcers). Applied topically Jellybush may promote healing of wounds, burns, irritations, and minor surgical sites. Tested at University of Queensland and QLDs Biosecurity Laboratory. Suitable for adults and children over 12 months. Pet safe.
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MGO (Methylglyoxal) are the numbers you will see advertised on labels of Jellybush/Manuka honey for sale. This is a sugar tested for parts per million, which has shown to be effective against antibiotic resistant bacteria. MGO is naturally present in honey collected by the bees from active Leptospernum species. All honey will have some amount of MGO and labelling can be confusing. Here is a basic breakdown of what you should be looking for when buying active honey:
MGO250+ is the minimal level necessary to be beneficially active
MGO510+ is considered highly potent and recommended for digestive use.
MGO820+ is considered superior, high grade active honey
We are very fortunate to consistently have tests come back at MGO1000+, making it superior high grade Jellybush honey.
Jellybush has a strong flavour that is described as honey with a distinct "medicinal" taste.
Leptospermum liversidgei
One of the highly active species of Leptospernum on Stradbroke Island. Other species include polygalifolium and whiteii.
Propolis Honey
Propolis is a bee product made from bee enzymes naturally mixing with the resins collected from coniferous trees as they carry it to their hives.
Propolis is known for its immune boosting antioxidants, phenolic compounds and bio-flavonoids (similar to probiotics). Queensland University conducted the first study of Australian Propolis in 2020 and our Stradbroke Island Organic Propolis was found to be in the top 10% of samples from across the country. International studies have shown propolis to be effective in supporting upper respiratory systems, and particularly good for gut health.
Take daily for good gut health, and immune system support. Suitable for most people, please consult your doctor first if you have a bleeding disorder or are taking immune suppressants.
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Most propolis on the market is alcohol extracted or in dehydrated form. We use an ancient extraction method to separate the pure propolis from beeswax and other impurities. Our latest content analysis shows our Propolis to be 95-97% pure. Small amounts of Jellybush make up the remaining percentage, rated at MGO770+. In Australia's first Propolis study, University of the Sunshine Coast rated ours in the top 10% of samples nationwide.
Propolis has a sweet flavour that some say is closer to maple syrup than honey.
She Oak - Casuarina equisetifolia
The most common source of resins our bees use to make propolis on Stradrbroke Island
Organic Beeswax
Beeswax is one of the oldest materials used in candle making. It is the only candle that is used in museums and historic churches as it leaves no oily black residue that petroleum based candles do. Our beeswax is never boiled, only heated enough to melt so it retains a beautiful gentle honey scent. The colour changes seasonally as Beeswax gets its colour from local pollens. Beeswax has been shown to emit negative ions when burning, making it potentially health beneficial - NASA uses negative ion emitters in astronaut rehabilitation, in significantly higher parts per million.
Beeswax is chemically similar to honey, therefore safe to eat in raw honeycomb form (although some may find it a bit chewy). It tastes very similar to honey. Honey eaten from the comb has a stronger sharper taste than extracted honey as its perfectly dehydrated by the bees before they cap it. As soon as honeycomb is uncapped its said to lose up to 20% of its flavour as it rehydrates from moisture in the air.
Beeswax cleaned and poured in handy to use moulds.
Honeycomb makes a beautiful; addition to any table setting.
Try sweet with scones, cream and fresh fruit, or savoury with cheese and herbs.