Gibbson Valley Thyme Honey

Location: Southern West Coast and Catlins forests, South Island
Flavour: Bright, delicate and naturally silky, with light floral notes, soft caramel, and a clean sweet finish
Summary: Gathered from the fiery red blossoms of the native rata trees found deep in the South Island's ancient rainforests.

Rare. Pure. Unforgettable.

Our Southern Rata Honey is gathered from the spectacular crimson blooms of Metrosideros umbellata — the southern rata — which transforms the canopy of West Coast and Catlins rainforests into a blaze of red each summer. These magnificent native trees, some hundreds of years old, hold deep significance in te ao Māori. Rata was revered for its strength and beauty, its timber prized for carving, and its flowering celebrated as a sign of abundance.
Rata flowering is unpredictable and often sparse, making this honey especially precious.

 When conditions align — warm summers following the right winter — the ancient trees burst into spectacular bloom, and bees work the nectar-rich flowers high in the forest canopy. The result is a honey of exceptional delicacy: naturally silky, with none of the boldness of manuka or the earthiness of honeydew, but rather a pure, gentle sweetness that reflects the pristine rainforest environment.

Raw and unprocessed, this honey is perfect for drizzling on breakfast, pairing with fruit, or adding gentle sweetness to tea and desserts. Each jar captures a fleeting moment in New Zealand's most ancient forests — a taste of the wild southern wilderness.