Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) is a shrub native to Southeast Australia and New Zealand. It is also called Tea Tree in Australia because Captain Cook allegedly used it for brewing tea.
Its leaves are prickly pointed with a high oil content which makes them fragrant when crushed. As the season progresses, the leaves change the color from shades of copper to green.It bears rosette shaped flowers of pink and white in spring. The seed capsules are brown and woody which ripens in late autumn,but stays in the hard capsules until well into the following summer.
Their tolerance for drought and poor soil make them suitable for cultivation. Once established, Manukas require little hands-on care apart from occasional summertime watering. Another desirable feature of this plant is that it is totally unpalatable to sheep, kangaroos, wallabies and possums due to the prickly foliage and the astringent oil content.
The distinctively flavored Manuka honey has antibacterial and antifungal properties, which is highly prized by beekeepers and consumers. Since Manuka grows in both New Zealand and Australia and enjoys a very high demand all over the world, including China, there's a fight for both the legitimate Manuka honey and market share between the two countries.
