The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #101893   Message #2062146
Posted By: Bob Bolton
27-May-07 - 10:05 PM
Thread Name: BS: Manuka Honey
Subject: RE: BS: Manuka Honey
G'day,

Dave's Wife: Leatherwood honey is ambrosia to my wife Patricia (but, then, she is Tasmanian). I used to find the straight Tasmanian product just a tad too pungent for my taste... but the latest offerings are milder (and don't meet Patricia's approval!

Bill D: The (probable) reason for this'dilution' of taste is that Leatherwood is being systematically exterminated by the main forestry companies in Tasmania - who clear-fell old growth native forests... and sell them as wood chips to the Japanese - them totally burn the clear-felled stands to destroy all trace of seeds and varying tree species... so they can replant with genetically identical clones of their favourite wood-chipping trees.

This is progressively wiping out the Leatherwood tree - so honey collected in the former heartland of Leatherwood Honey production (the West Coast of Tasmania) are exhibiting less and less Leatherwood tang.

Afford as much as you can afford - as soon as you can - and stockpile it! (Fortunately, honey is the only food that does not "go off"!)

Regards,

Bob