Queenstown for (octogenarian) Beginners: A Farewell to Travel.

[Human]

Sorry, but I have to briefly re-open this TR for one last important Epilogue-Slash-Public-Service-Announcement.

It is in regard to the Irish Pub which my mother and I dined at on the Wednesday night of our trip:



I just shared some of the photos with a friend who lives in Dublin, who gleefully informed me that the name of the pub, "Pog Mahones", means "Kiss my A**e" in Ireland!

The same friend also told me with some authority that the cider I had, Magners, has a well-deserved reputation for causing particularly brutal hangovers when consumed in excess! (Just as well I only had the one pint then...)


PSA over.

(But do I tell my mother or allow her to continue to live in blissful ignorance?)

 

[Seat0B]

That makes it another successful and highly gratifying day. I'm so grateful that my mother is able to experience this.

And I hope that one day, in the very distant future when you miss her very much, you will also remember this wonderful experience with your mum. Although I get the feeling that you are already very well aware of it

 

[Quickstatus]

@Human

I think honey in general has some antibiotic properties.

Your intrepid mother is correct regarding the science:
Manuka Honey medicinal properties
(Section 4)

But thank you for your very personal TR.

Can I also ask, NZ would mean that travel insurance was not problem or maybe moot?

 

[Human]

Can I also ask, NZ would mean that travel insurance was not problem or maybe moot?

Well, the reciprocal healthcare agreement between Australia and NZ did give us some peace of mind (and, I'm sure, made travel insurance cheaper than it would have otherwise been). I managed to find a fairly good policy from, I think, BUPA travel insurance. We took that out for her, and for me I just relied on my credit card insurance (AmEx Platinum).

Thanks also for sending that article through. I'm no scientist so a lot of it was above me, but I understood enough to see that MH does, in fact, have some very useful properties!

 

[drron]

The Kiwis are getting back at us with Manuka honey for os pinching the Pavlova.
The common leptospermum responsible for Manuka honey is found in both countries but originated in Australia. Australia also has 84/87 Leptospermum spcies couple of which can produce honey with more of the active ingredients than the variety used in New zealand.
Have a talk to a few apiarists in Tsmania. Leptospermum is found all ove tasmnia and most Tassie honeys have some active Manuka ingredients. If the honey is creamy or dark it almost certainly is nearly as good as "Manuka honey"
So I always buy Tassie honey especially from mole creek. Often found in IGAs.

Mānuka honey - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Human]

The Kiwis are getting back at us with Manuka honey for os pinching the Pavlova.
The common leptospermum responsible for Manuka honey is found in both countries but originated in Australia. Australia also has 84/87 Leptospermum spcies couple of which can produce honey with more of the active ingredients than the variety used in New zealand.
Have a talk to a few apiarists in Tsmania. Leptospermum is found all ove tasmnia and most Tassie honeys have some active Manuka ingredients. If the honey is creamy or dark it almost certainly is nearly as good as "Manuka honey"
So I always buy Tassie honey especially from mole creek. Often found in IGAs.

Mānuka honey - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

This is all quite fascinating!

In all my previous visits to NZ I really haven’t had any interest in Manuka Honey: I’ve taken one look at the price tag and turned away. However, even though I’m reasonably active, fit and healthy for my age, growing older has inevitably led to some as-yet minor, but recurrent, issues with gut health and lung health.

And my mother’s interest in honey forced me to pay more attention than I have in the past. So for the first time I actually took an interest.

The bottom line: I bought a 250g container of MGO 514 Manuka Honey for about NZD 79 (which was the cheapest I could find it).

Then I returned home and found that Chemist Warehouse is currently selling 1kg jars of NZ Manuka Honey (MGO 550) for AUD 79!

The next step is to explore Australian Manuka Honey. I’m loving going down this rabbit hole after my honepiphany! Any further insights/advice welcome!

 

[RooFlyer]

Manuka ... pah! Try Tasmanian leatherwood honey (Eucryphia lucida). Far superior; google it and 'world's best honey'.

 

[Human]

Manuka ... pah! Try Tasmanian leatherwood honey (Eucryphia lucida). Far superior; google it and 'world's best honey'.

I absolutely will try it! Thanks for the protip.

I suppose the two issues are taste and health benefits. In terms of taste, Manuka Honey is definitely not my favourite. But does Tasmanian Leatherwood have the health benefits of MH?

 

[RooFlyer]

I absolutely will try it! Thanks for the protip.

I suppose the two issues are taste and health benefits. In terms of taste, Manuka Honey is definitely not my favourite. But does Tasmanian Leatherwood have the health benefits of MH?

I dunno if either has 'proven' health benefits. They both promote it but all I've heard reasonably confidently is the antibiotic benefits of both, and honey in general.

But who am I to argue with Google?

Google Search

 

[tgh]

Ordinary honey is a useful antibacterial wound dressing, relatively cheap for large animals but a bit messy.
Manuka honey "may" be better…….

 

[Seat0B]

Manuka ... pah! Try Tasmanian leatherwood honey (Eucryphia lucida). Far superior; google it and 'world's best honey'.

I love the Mole Creek Leatherwood Honey - you can get it at Woolworths. The taste is lovely. And I went to Mole Creek when I visited Tasmania in the late 1980s just to see the place it came from. I was a bit disappointed though - no factory, shop or anything to note. I have not been back to Mole Creek on any of my subsequent trips to Tassie.

 

[drron]

I absolutely will try it! Thanks for the protip.

I suppose the two issues are taste and health benefits. In terms of taste, Manuka Honey is definitely not my favourite. But does Tasmanian Leatherwood have the health benefits of MH?

I had a long talk a few years ago to Ian Stephens who owned the family business -R Stephens Tasmanian Honey. He sais unlikely much of the Manuka honey blossom in the Leatherwood honey as that is only collected from South west Tasmania. Their other honey is Golden Bee honey but virtually all is sold in Tasmania. It probably does have some benefits as a lot of Leptospermum in the surrounding district. But as he said he has no interest in testing his honey because they can sell all of it at a price they are happy with.
IMHO the Leatherwood honey they produce is the best honey I have had. And that one is sold through Woolworths.

R. Stephens Tasmanian Honey

www.stephenstasmanianhoney.com.au

 

[Quickstatus]

The problem though is spotting the fake honey. There really is no way to tell other than familiar brands.

 

[RooFlyer]

The problem though is spotting the fake honey. There really is no way to tell other than familiar brands.

Getting there (through an app, so can’t link sorry)

 

[Human]

IMHO the Leatherwood honey they produce is the best honey I have had. And that one is sold through Woolworths

@drron @RooFlyer It’s now on my shopping list and I can’t wait to taste it!

I’ll also be visiting my mother in Sydney next weekend and thanking her for her interest in honey (which is what forced me down this delicious rabbit hole) is well and truly on my agenda. Thank you, too!

 

[CaptJCool]

If there’s ever a theme song

…I’m gonna.stick to you boi
you’’ll bever get rid of me…”

Gosh dem lyrics