Honey of the Season: Redgum Honey

It’s officially Redgum season, and a very happy time for our bees. Redgum trees – also known as ‘Marri’ – are a species of eucalyptus found only in the Southwest of Western Australia, producing a distinctive tasting honey that we personally just can’t get enough of!

But what makes the Redgum honey, nectar, and trees so special? We spoke with Head Beekeeper, Rupert, who gave us a bit of an education on the journey of Redgum honey from bush to bowl. So, let’s get into it:

The mighty Redgum Tree

With a growth span of up to 30 metres, Redgum trees stand tall with a light, smooth coloured bark and dark, leafy foliage. When it comes to flowering season – typically from mid to late Summer (January – May), the buds burst into a bright, white flower which offers a beautiful and striking contrast to its rich green leaves.

Redgum trees are also known as ‘Marri’ trees, a Nyoongar name that translates to mean ‘blood’, referring to the dark red sap that the tree produces called ‘Kino’.

The Redgum loves humidity and warmth but doesn’t fare well during unexpected heavy rainfall. The crops of flowers will fail to produce a lot of nectar, and we aren’t able to collect much honey as a result. Redgums much prefer the sunnier and drier days that Western Australia are known for – much like our bees!

Where can you find Redgum Trees?

This common eucalyptus can be found abundantly in the Southwest of Western Australia, particularly within the depths of the famous Jarrah and Karri forests. This is because the Redgum plays a unique and important role in keeping these forest ecosystems alive. Whilst the Jarrah and Karri forests have delicate flowering seasons, and bloom sporadically in Spring months, the Redgum flowers profusely with huge amounts of nectar, offering a reliable food source to the wildlife that dwell in these forests during the late Summer and scarcer periods.

From its leaves and pollen, to its affectionately termed ‘honky nuts’, Redgum provides ample food sources to our wildlife. But it is the nectar of the Redgum tree that has our bees buzzing brilliantly and our shelves flowing with honey.

What is so special about Redgum honey?

Considering it is only found Australia, we already think it is pretty special. But beyond this, Redgum honey is also brimming with health benefits, with a naturally scoring high TA rating. TA, or ‘Total Activity’ is a measure of how antimicrobial a honey is (how good the honey is at killing or stopping the growth of bad bacteria).

Our current Redgum Honey batch has a TA rating of 20, is full of antioxidants and is also has excellent anti-inflammatory properties. It is an effective natural remedy for coughs, colds and throat infections.

What is Redgum Honey like, and how do you eat it?

Redgum honey is light amber in colour and naturally very stringy. During Redgum season, it is not unusual to find strings of redgum honey cascading from the honey supers in our apiaries! The taste of the honey contains hints of coffee, malt, and a distinctive sourness on the aftertaste. Because of this flavour profile, it pairs exceptionally well with a cup of coffee and tea (see our Honey for Tea). It is not dissimilar to the texture and flavour profile of golden syrup, so even lathering your morning breakfast cereal or oatmeal in Redgum honey would be a delicious start to the day!