Blog / manuka honey

You may have noticed the rise in popularity of jerky made with mushrooms but have you tried it yet? We’re here to tell you it’s worth ALLLLL the hype. Here’s our favorite recipe to get you started but the flavor combos you could create are infinite! 

Air Fryer Shiitake Mushroom Jerky

Ingredients:

• 2 - 8 oz. packages of shiitake mushroom
• ½ tbsp toasted sesame oil 
• 2 tbsp coconut aminos
• 1.5 tbsp rice vinegar
• ½ tbsp PRI Manuka Honey 60+
• ½ tsp liquid smoke
• ½ tsp soy sauce 
• ¼ tsp minced ginger
• ¼ tsp garlic powder
• ¼ tsp onion powder 
• ¼ tsp PRI Chipotle BBQ Salt
• ⅛ tsp black pepper

Instructions:

1. Rinse the mushrooms and pat them dry with a paper towel. 
2. Next, create your marinade by adding all the ingredients into a small bowl and stirring until well combined. 
3. Place your mushrooms into a glass container with a lid and pour in your marinade. Place the top on and refrigerate overnight (preferred) or for at least a minimum of 2 hours. Shake the container regularly so the marinade is distributed throughout. 
4. Next, remove your mushrooms from the fridge, they should have absorbed most of the liquid, but strain whatever excess marinade there is.  
5. Place the mushrooms on a paper towel and pat dry again. 
6. Next, place your mushrooms flat in the air fryer and airfry at 180F for 60 minutes. Spray with cooking spray.  After 30 minutes, flip the mushrooms over so they can cook evenly. At 60 minutes, check if they are your desired texture, if not, keep in the airfryer until desired consistency. Remove from airfryer and place on a paper towel one last time to absorb the excess oil. Enjoy! 

Australia Day is originally focused on the First Fleet from Britain landing in Sydney Cove. For many people, Australia Day eventually became the day to reflect, respect and celebrate its nation, people and achievements. We like to celebrate Australia Day with our Australian Manuka Honey! 🎉Just like it’s New Zealand counterpart, Australian Manuka Honey is produced by the bees from the nectar of the Manuka Tree. Australia is known to have 84 of the 87 Leptospermum species, including the Leptospermum Scoparium species in NZ. This is the only honey that exhibits non-peroxide activity due to the MG component only present at high levels in Manuka Honey. This makes honey unique because of its antimicrobial and nutritional properties. 

For centuries, Manuka Honey has been popular for its antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It is generally used for treating wounds, burns, and other many other conditions both internal and external. Using Honey can accelerate healing, pain relief and decreased inflammatory response. You can apply a thin layer of Manuka Honey on a bandage before putting it on the affected area. 

Manuka Honey is produced by the bees from the nectar of the Manuka Tree that originated from New Zealand and Australia. MGO stands for Methylglyoxal, it is the compound that makes Manuka Honey unique. Manuka is the only honey that exhibits non-peroxide activity due to the MG component that is present. Manuka honey comes in a range of MGO ratings. The higher the number on the label, the higher the concentration of MGO. For external uses, especially for burn treatment, we recommend an MGO rating of at least 200+. 

Burn is a damaged tissue, after contact with heat and this can happen in many circumstances. Burn treatment depends on the type of burn. There are four types for burns below. 

• First-Degree Burns or Superficial Burns are mild. These cause pain and reddening of the outer layer of skin or epidermis.
• Second-Degree Burns or Partial Thickness Burns affect the outer layer of the skin or epidermis and lower layer of the skin or dermis. These cause pain, redness, swelling, and blistering.
• Third-Degree Burns or Full Thickness Burns go through the lower layer of the skin or dermis and affect deeper tissues.
• Fourth-degree burns go even deeper than third-degree burns and can affect your muscles and bones. Nerve endings are also damaged or destroyed, so there’s no feeling in the burned area.

It appears that using Honey can heal Superficial or Partial Thickness Burns and when applied to the skin it helps to regenerate burn surface or tissue forming in wounds, reducing infection, providing relief and speeds up the healing process. 

If you feel your burn is severe, or just aren’t sure, please seek medical attention.

References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3941901/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK78502/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25742878/

https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/pain-caused-by-burns

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6023338/

This is the cuticle oil for longer, stronger nails & healthy cuticles, .naturally! We all have had cuticle and nail issues and understand we need to take care of them…but what really are the purpose of our cuticles?

Cuticles are actually part of your skin that grows over the bottom of your nail and covers your nail matrix. The nail matrix is the part of your nail that grows so, the cuticle acts as a very important protective barrier for your nails!

This cuticle oil is  a SUPER simple DIY & another great natural health hack!  All you need is:

• Manuka Honey - (1) Honey is a humectant, which basically means it locks in moisture. (2) Manuka is also full of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

• Manuka Oil - (3) Shown to be 33x more effective against most bacteria than tea tree oil & also helps retain moisture. It can also help with brittle nails.

• Coconut Oil AND

• ACV - Both of these ingredients are packed with essential nutrients to help keep your nails strong and repair chipped or brittle nails.

All of these ingredients work together to create a hydrated nail bed, free from invasive bacteria and fungus. Simply mix the ingredients together and you’re done! While you can get inexpensive cuticle pens online and in lots of stores it is optional, just make sure you store the oil in a container with a lid. 

Simply rub into your cuticles and nails, leave for 10-15 minutes and rinse! Do this daily or, if you have problem nails, up to 3x a day.

Resources:

(1) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5038978/

(2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3941901/

(3) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7694078/

What food most says Spring to you? For us, it’s shortbread. We don’t know what it is, but the turning of the season makes us crave these buttery, flakey treats so we just had to share our favorite recipe! 

With the simple addition of edible flowers, these classic cookies are instantly made into a feast for both the eyes and the tastebuds. Make them gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo or..none of the above - any way you go they’re sure to impress your Easter guests!

Edible Flower Honey Shortbread Cookies 

These delicious cookies are perfect for spring time and can be made both dairy-free and gluten-free! Use grass-fed butter for a paleo option.

Ingredients:

• ½ Cup Vegan Butter Or Grass-fed Butter
• ½ Cup PRI Manuka Honey 5+
• 2 Tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1.5 Cups Cassava Flour (Add In 1 Tbsp At A Time If Needed)
• ¼ Tsp PRI Fine Sea Salt
• 1 Egg (Egg White Only) + 1 Tbsp Cold Water
• 1-2 Packages Of Edible Flowers

Instructions:

1. In a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, combine softened butter with manuka honey and vanilla. Whisk until the butter and honey are incorporated. You will need to scrape down the sides continuously.
2. Next, add in the cassava flour and sea salt and continue beating until a dough ball forms. If the batter is too wet add 1 tbsp of cassava flour at a time, if it’s too dry at 1 tbsp of honey at a time.
3. Place the dough ball in plastic wrap and let it chill for at least 20 minutes.
4. Preheat the oven to 350F. Place parchment paper or a silpat mat on two baking sheets.
5. Roll out the dough on parchment paper and use a cookie cutter for your desired shape. The cookies should be at least ¼ inch to ⅜ thick.
6. Place them on the baking sheets spread out, but these cookies will not spread.
7. Whisk the egg whites of one egg with 1 tbsp cold water. Use a brush to brush on the egg wash on the cookie and then place an edible flower on top. Finish with more egg wash to seal it in.
8. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes, or until the edges become golden. 
9. Finally, let the cookies cool on a wire rack and enjoy!

Make Up Remover

Ingredients:

• ⅓ Cup Witch Hazel
• ⅓ Cup Rose Water
• 2 Drops PRI Manuka Oil
• 2 Tsp Coconut or Sweet Almond Oil

Directions:

1. Mix all of your ingredients together
2. Stir the mixture
3. Pour into bottle
4. Shake well

Manuka Honey Face Mask

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp PRI Manuka Honey 25+
• 1 Tsp Cinnamon
• 1 Tsp Turmeric

Directions:

1. Mix all of your ingredients together
2. Stir the mixture
3. Transfer to jar

Manuka Facial Oil

Ingredients:

• 1 Bottle PRI Manuka Oil in Sweet Almond Oil
• 5 Drops PRI Propolis Extract
• 5 Drops Essential Oil (Optional)

Directions:

1. Mix all of your ingredients together

These DIY gift ideas are so simple and easy to make, perfect for holidays or any gift giving occasions and can be customised with any special name, message, date or anything else important to you. Don’t forget that there’s so much more to self-care than bubble baths! When it comes to self-care products, natural really is the best!

The dog days of summer are officially here 🥵. Whether you are keeping cool by the pool or crowded around the air conditioner, keeping hydrated is key. Especially if pool time involves margaritas 😉 

We love a good electrolyte drink to keep us in tip top shape but what we don’t need are unnecessary artificial dyes and ingredients…yuck! Thus, we took one of our favorite flavors and gave it an upgrade which, of course, we just had to share with you!

You might ask: why are electrolytes important anyway and how do they work? Well, electrolytes play a critical role in balancing your body’s pH and in moving nutrients to your cells. They also help balance the water level in your body and regulate your heartbeat. (1)

When you are low on electrolytes you can experience all sorts of issues like blood clots and muscle contractions. Luckily it’s so easy to avoid by simply drinking enough water and incorporating this drink into your summer routine! (2)

Pro tip: if you don’t like fruit punch, you can make it with any juice you prefer. Citrus is also a very refreshing choice! 

Recipe: 

1-2 Servings

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups Filtered Water
• 1 Tbsp Manuka Honey
• ½ Cup White Grape Juice
• ¼ Cup Apple Juice
• ¼ Cup Concord Grape Juice
• 2 Tbsp Orange Juice
• 1 Tbsp Pineapple Juice
• ½ Tsp PRI Fine Sea Salt
• ½ Tsp Beet Powder (Optional; For Color)

Instructions:

1. Add 2 cups of water to a large mason jar. Then add in 1 tbsp of manuka honey.  Secure the lid and shake well until the honey is mixed into the water. The liquid should be yellow in color.
2. Remove the lid and add white grape juice, apple juice, concord grape juice, orange juice and pineapple juice. Next, add in sea salt. If you prefer it less salty add ¼ tsp at a time of sea salt.
3. Secure the lid and shake well. If you want the color to be a more true red like classic electrolyte drinks add in ½ tsp of beet powder for color. Optional, but recommended!
4. Shake well and enjoy by itself or served over ice!

Resources:

(1) https://med.libretexts.org/Courses/Sierra_College/Sierra%3A_NUTF10_(Teh)/09%3A_Nutrients_Important_to_Fluid_and_Electrolyte_Balance/9.05%3A_Electrolytes_Important_for_Fluid_Balance

(2) https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=QX9_BZvlItgC&printsec=frontcover&dq=When+you+are+low+on+electrolytes+you+can+experience+all+sorts+of+issues+like+blood+clots+and+muscle+contractions&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiSsfjXhPb4AhWZCIgKHeg2CLEQ6AF6BAgFEAI#v=onepage&q&f=false

Why does your face break out more during the holidays? 

It’s annoying, frustrating, and, well, a little bit our own faults - helloooo cookies! But here’s the thing - you should TOTALLY eat those cookies. There are many contributing factors as to why most people experience more inflammation and acne in the winter and, especially, during the winter holidays and most are external factors that can be naturally managed or even prevented entirely. 

One of the main reasons is simply that your skin produces more sebum in the dry winter weather. What is sebum you ask? Sebum is oil your skin glands produce and, while they help to keep your skin soft & supple they sometimes overproduce causing the cells to stick together and clog your pores.

Most sebum glands reside in the infamous “T-zone” aka your forehead, nose, and chin. The dryer it is, the more sebum your skin produces. 

Add to this the other factors that come along during the holidays such as:

• Increased stress
• Traveling to different climates 
• Eating far more sugary treats
• A less routine skincare regime
• Heavier make-up use 

Remember: Trying to overly restrict your diet can oftentimes lead to increased stress. Instead, go for balance, give yourself a little grace, and use manuka honey to help decrease the chance of breakouts and easily, naturally, treat any pimples that do arise. 

Here are a couple of ways you can help stop or reduce holiday breakouts before they start:

• Add 1/2 tsp of manuka honey to your face wash OR use the honey alone to wash
• Gently exfoliate 1-2x week using the honey tapping method to clear pores

If you do get any breakouts, help them disappear faster by:

• Spot treating the pimple. Simply dab a small amount of manuka (with clean hands) on the pimple and allow it to dry.
• Manuka honey face mask. Apply a thin layer of manuka to clean skin and allow to sit for 15-20 minutes. Simply rinse or use a damp soft cloth to remove.

This recipe is a little more time consuming than our usual, but it’s just too good not to share, plus it’s not technically difficult and it only has three ingredients, one of which is optional!

Our Honey Candied Orange Peels may be a little different from the ones you’re used to. The honey gives them more of a jelly texture vs the dryer texture you get when candying with sugar but many who try them say they prefer a softer texture.  

For these, we used our Leatherwood Honey. Leatherwood Honey is considered to be one of the rarest honeys in the world. The Leatherwood tree is mostly found in remote areas of Tasmania and takes 80-100 YEARS to flower! 

Technically, you could use any of our honey for these candied peels but if you have never tried Leatherwood it is definitely an experience and, especially for its rarity, is quite reasonably priced. We put it on ALL the fruits!

We finished these by dipping them in melted Raspberry Manuka Chocolates. This part is optional…though your taste buds may disagree.

Want a natural cereal option that is also packed with flavor? Upgrade those bags of puffed rice with nutrient-dense and health promoting benefits of manuka honey, nuts & seeds! All you need are a few easy-to-find ingredients and about 20 minutes of your time.

Make it your own with your favorite seeds and nuts or even add some fruit, either way you’ll get a much healthier version of one of American’s favorite breakfasts. Try it with our lower MGO manuka honey like the 5+ or add a bit of citrus with our Lemon Twist manuka honey!

Homemade Manuka Honey Cereal

Ingredients:

• 4 Cups Puffed Rice Cereal
• 1/2 Cup PRI Manuka Honey 5+
• 1/2 Cup Slivered Almonds (And More For Topping)
• 1/2 Tbsp Chia Seeds
• 1 Tsp Cinnamon
• 1/2 Tsp Vanilla 

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350F. In a large bowl, combine puffed rice with manuka honey. Stir until the puffed rice clumps up. Then add in almonds, chia seeds, cinnamon and vanilla. Stir again until well combined. Then transfer the mixture to a baking sheet with a silpat mat or parchment paper and spread evenly. Bake at 350F for 15 minutes, stirring halfway through. Remove from the oven, let cool and enjoy!

Have you been celebrating National Ice Cream Month? It’s so easy to make your own, even if you don’t have an ice cream maker! Here are our top four recipes to keep you cool:

1 - Coffee Sweet Potato Nice Cream: We really think we cracked the code on this one. It honestly tastes JUST like regular ice cream except you could literally eat this every day for breakfast and feel great!

2 - Dairy-Free Spicy Mexican Chocolate Soft Serve: Because some like it hot AND sweet! Soft serve is even easier to make without any gadgets or constant stirring and this one is dairy free too!

Introducing our new Manuka Honey labels! Featuring a clear MGO number on the front and a QR code on the lid, linking to the test results for that specific jar of Manuka Honey! Read on for how to read your test results so you know you’re getting genuine Manuka:

The independent labs that we work with are based all over New Zealand and Australia and the different labs send confirmations in a variety of layouts, which you may notice when purchasing different PRI Manuka honeys! 

However there are key points that you can look for when reading your batch certificate.  

• Sample ID OR lab reference  - Your honey's batch number - This shows the report is for and the batch that your honey came from.

• Manuka honey test results always show 4 key markers, but the two you really need to pay attention to are:

• Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) - It gives Manuka Honey its antibacterial properties, the higher the concentration, the stronger the antibiotic effect. MG is derived from the compound DHA.
• Methylglyoxal (MGO) - This compound is found in high concentration in the nectar of the Manuka Flower.

• Your test result for PRI Manuka Honey will alway show these 2 markers, which confirm what you have purchased is active Manuka Honey. 

• The activity marker that is used to determine the different strengths is the Methylglyoxal or MGO level. This is what can be seen on the front of our new labels or in our older labels it is stated on the left hand panel of the jar.

• Your report will show a number in the line or column under or beside the MGO heading. For example if you have purchased our PRI Manuka 10+ or MGO 100+  you may see the following:
• This batch tested at an MGO level of 149. 
• Every batch varies and is rarely exactly MGO 100 and is why we always put the "+" .
• In this example the honey in your jar will be at a minimum a MGO level of 100 but has actually tested higher.