The True Honey Company's Rare Harvest mānuka honey hit the shelves at Harrods last week with a 230 gram jar priced at £1390 (approx. NZD$2700). This rare batch of mānuka honey is almost $3000 a jar at London's most famous department stores, making it one of the most expensive foods globally. The limited supply of 1000 jars is not expected to last long, with one customer pre-ordering 10 jars from Harrods. The honey has the highest unique mānuka factor (UMF) ever produced at 31+, more than six times the UMF of some mānuka honeys commonly sold in supermarkets. The honey is made in Ahipara, Northland, although its exact source is being kept under wraps. The company has made a lot of effort to place its hives amongst pure mānuka strands in remote parts of the country which helps to limit the contamination of other nectar. Chief Executive Jim McMillan finds it difficult to comprehend how much people are willing to pay for the product, although stated many are keeping the product for a collector’s item or special occasion.

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