One of the special little treats we include in the Margaret River Discovery Tour is a tasting of local honey.
The most popular variety tasted is Jarrah honey and guests often contact me after the tour to know a little more information about the very special healing properties of this uniquely West Australian honey.
Jarrah honey is a medium to semi dark amber colour with a rich and full-bodied flavour that is slightly savoury. Jarrah Honey has been discovered to have a naturally high antibacterial activity that strongly inhibits the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, otherwise known as Golden Staph. Controlling Golden Staph, and other bacteria effecting wounds to the body is vital as more and more people become resistant to antibiotic treatments.
The antibacterial activity of the honey is derived via natural enzymes in the honey. While the anti-bacterial and healing effects of honey have been known for thousands of years, Jarrah honey has become popular for its medicinal properties, low glucose levels and because it is highly antimicrobial. In other words … it is a natural healing honey.
Conclusive research by the Government Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia, has determined the special antimicrobial properties of Jarrah honey. The antimicrobial quality is measured by the term of ‘Total Activity’ (TA). Active Jarrah honey is strongly antimicrobial and scientific laboratories measure and rank its activity.
Jarrah honey (Eucalyptus marginata) is a native tree unique to Western Australia. It grows in the rich, environmentally clean native forests stretching from Perth to WA’s rich South West. Our much sought after Jarrah honey is sourced from this region in Western Australia where the Jarrah trees flower biennially. During late spring and early summer the trees produce a profusion of flowers which come alive with the buzz of bees busily collecting the rich nectar and pollens to make Jarrah honey.
Jarrah Honey can be used to treat wounds, burns and skin infections. It has been scientifically researched and proven to have a high percentage of activity level, making it an excellent choice for dressing golden staphylococcus infections, E.coli and Candida, and ulcerated wounds.
The secondary antibacterial activity is thought to be via the osmotic effect, as honey is a saturated solution of sugars and has osmotic, or water withdrawing, properties. Water molecules strongly react with the sugars in honey leaving little water available for microorganisms. The bacteria that cause infection are unable to survive in honey because they become dehydrated.
Jarrah honey has significantly higher activity levels than Manuka honey from New Zealand, which is also strongly antibacterial. The antibacterial activity of honey primarily comes from the presence of hydrogen peroxide generated by an enzymatic activity called glucose oxidase.
About Margaret River Discovery Tours
Sean Blocksidge is the owner operator of the Margaret River Discovery Company, an avid photographer, blogger and South West WA ambassador. In 2010 he won Western Australian Guide of the Year and his tours have been rated the #1 thing to do in Australia on the Tripadvisor website for the past two years.
