Manuka’s unique qualities developed over millenia

The history of the Manuka plant goes back at least 80 million years, when the ancient continent of Gondwana was split by a dividing continental plate into the countries now known as Australia and New Zealand.

The smaller country eventually drifted 2000 kilometres to the south-east. This remoteness allowed New Zealand's plants to develop unique traits uninfluenced by the genes of neighbouring countries' flora. The Manuka bush is one such plant.

Traditional use of Manuka bush by Maori people.

The Maori people came to New Zealand from 700 AD until 1700 AD and quickly learnt how to use the manuka bush to cure many illnesses.

Leaves, bark and young branches from Manuka were boiled, and the vapour inhaled for head colds, the liquid rubbed on stiff backs and rheumatic joints, and drunk for stomach upsets. Young Manuka shoots were chewed and swallowed for dysentery, and Manuka bark used topically for skin diseases and as a mouth gargle and for bathing sore eyes.

Today essential Manuka oil is distilled from the bush's leaves and used in a wide range of applications.

Captain Cook's encounter with Manuka plant

When Captain James Cook explored New Zealand in 1769, he found the leaves of Manuka and Kanuka plants brewed into a "very agreeable bitter taste", and had an immediate benefit for crew suffering from stomach upsets. He called all these plants "tea tree" since he did not understand the botanical differences between them. The "tea tree" label has stuck and is still used generically, although it is not technically correct.