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A little plant from New Zealand has taken the worlds honey industry by storm.

As a native the only place to create Mānuka honey is on the beautiful lands of New Zealand.

Bees have to be on their game to make the most of the Mānuka plant. With Mānuka plants only flowering for a very short season. September through to March at latest, the bees only have a short time to access the pollen to create the wonderful Mānuka honey. Realistically as most plants only flower for a fraction of that time its a wonder we get any Mānuka honey at all.

To add to the challenge the Mānuka flowers will not release their nectar if they deem the weather on the colder side.

Being a native plant in New Zealand comes with its challenges but luckily for us our bees seem to be particularly attracted to its delicate flowers.

Mānuka trees are fortunate enough to have a cousin, the Kānuka tree which is also native to New Zealand. Although these plants are often mixed up due to their similar appearance. Along with being on the shorter end (6-8m high) vs Kānuka’s (13-15m) you’ll notice the telltale prickly leaves of the Mānuka tree which are rounded compared to its cousins elongated shape. When compared the Mānuka flowers are noticeably larger although they’re both equally as lovely to look at. Mānuka Honey goes through rigorous lab testing ensures we know exactly what type of honey has been created.

Mānuka trees sadly have only a short lifespan lasting a maximum of 60 years. For this reason New Zealand has taken action to help cultivate and redistribute seedlings. As it currently stands 6% of the total land area in New Zealand is covered by Mānuka and Kānuka.

Although small and often temperamental this little plant packs a lot in. Not only is Mānuka amazing for erosion, weed and pest control it can grow in areas most natives dislike such as swamp land. While it helps the land thrive it brings us the wonderful gift of Mānuka honey and Mānuka oil which are both big in the New Zealand agriculture circles. Mānuka wood is also highly sought after for its flavour infusion for smoked fish. Its leaves have often been used to brew tea and the native Kakariki bird is fond of chewing the leaves before preening. Clearly we liked the way this bird thinks. Mānuka honey is a crucial ingredient in a large number of our products. We loved the results so much that we created an entire skincare line focused on it’s main contributing ingredient; Mānuka Honey. 

Made locally in Rotorua our skincare is suitable for all skin types and every day use.

Being surrounded daily by boiling mud pools we wondered how this ‘magic of the earth’ is actually formed. Below is a short explanation.  

Mud pools are formed in high-temperature geothermal places where steam and gas rise from underground into rainwater ponds. These gasses are acidic and attack surface rocks, transforming them into clay. The clay mixes with the heated pond water into a slurry “steam–heated” mess which is thermal mud. The steam and gasses rising up from the earth heat the mud and make our famous bubbling, boiling and popping mud pools.

The gasses usually have hydrogen sulphide gas present; giving mud pools their distinctive odour of rotten eggs (a familiar smell for anyone that ever visited Rotorua).

On a rainy day a mud pool looks quite different than when the weather has been dry. In dry conditions the mud is thick and sticky with some small “mini volcanoes”, while the mud is much more fluid when it rains, looking more like dark boiling water.

Mud pools are often found in thermal areas near a volcano, it doesn’t matter if the volcano is active or not. The soil in these areas is rich in volcanic ash, clay and other fine parts of organic matter that when mixed with thermal water, create that unique mud that is so great for human skin.

The mud is often harvested from long-extinct mud pools.  The specific minerals and trace elements found in thermal mud will vary depending on each geographic location. The exact composition of a particular mud depends on whether the volcano is located in New Zealand, Hawaii, Italy, Japan or other volcanic regions around the world.

Rotorua Thermal Mud is famous for its deep cleansing, de-toxifying and relaxing properties. It can absorb oils and dirt from the skin and then fill the skin with the minerals that are formed in the soil. Our skin loves a bit of dirt!

As we are in the middle of winter here in Rotorua, we thought to shine our light a little on Balneotherapy (the medical term used for treatments using mineral water) and the history of bathing in mineral waters

Our interest of course comes strongly from living in New Zealand’s most famous Spa town – Rotorua. People have been travelling to our beautiful town for over 100 years to ‘take the waters’, often for their perceived healing purposes and often just to relax in their warm depths.

Balneotherapy has a very long history, it is said that as early as the 5^th century BC scientists were looking at the beneficial properties of sulphurous springs, especially to heal skin diseases and relieve muscular and joint pains.

History also tells us that Cleopatra (69-30 B.C.) visited the Dead Sea to soak in its mineral-rich waters and it is since then that the Dead Sea is famous for its healing properties.

Around the middle 1500’s, researchers and medics started again talking about the health benefits of taking a bath and drinking water and more research and analyzing of  the mineral component of waters was done. They were looking at the quality of each mineral and what effect it had on the body.  

During the 19^th century the bathing culture only grew. Further analyses of mineral waters were conducted, and the belief that natural thermal waters had a cure to many illnesses only grew. Historic research showed it was very important to people’s treatments to have comfortable surroundings with good food and wine!

Dr Kneipp became very famous by further developing the principles of Balneotherapy.  A range of treatments were developed, such as hot & cold baths, herbal baths, mud packs, massages and more. Dr Kneipp’s bath salts are still being sold in pharmacies and health shops all around the world.

Europe really took on the use of mineral waters and Grand Spa hotels were built at every spring, the Belgium town of Spa being one of the most famous ones.   The concept of a ‘Spa resort’ was born and these resorts attracted a wide range of people, especially the wealthy as these Spa hotels were definitely ‘the place’ to be seen!

Rotorua has its own famous springs such as the Rachel Spring and, our beautiful Bath house (one of the most photographed buildings in New Zealand) is directly related to these European traditions of Balneotherapy and building grand buildings around springs.

We even had our own Balneologist, Dr Arthur Wohlmann, and these are his words:

“In the first place, the spas must not only be places where one can bathe in mineral water, but they must be fitted with the most expensive apparatus of modern balneological methods; and there must be not only decent comfort, but a certain amount of luxury.”

Tourists started to arrive in Rotorua in the 1870s and 1880s to see the famous Pink and White Terraces of Rotomahana and to bathe in our many thermal pools around Rotorua, that were nestled amongst sulphur deposits and manuka bushes.

 Rotorua has two types of mineral waters that were recommended for health purposes; one being the alkaline ‘Rachel’ spring and the ‘Priest’ spring with water that is slightly different, being mildly acidic. These two springs were recommended for a range of treatments, such as arthritis, rheumatism and even nervous disorders – the waters were regarded as soothing and could help relieve  pains and swellings in the joints.

Our Pure Source Thermal Bath Salts are mirrored on the water of the Rachel Springs.

Even in modern times and either as treatment or just relaxing – bathing is utter bliss!

New Zealand’s Manuka Honey is a star ingredient in many skincare products, and rightfully so we believe. It is famous and sought after around the world for its amazing healing abilities.

What is Manuka Honey?

Manuka Honey is a mono-floral honey sourced from the Manuka Tea Tree (Leptospermum Scoparium) which is only found in New Zealand. The Manuka Tea Tree, grows widely around the country and produces small pink and white flowers. Honey bees love to feed on these flowers and produce the popular Manuka Honey.

The Manuka Tree has been valued for its healing properties for centuries by Maori and later European. Modern research show that Manuka Honey contains very strong anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties that don’t break down over time or when heated. For this reason, Manuka Honey is used in hospitals, especially in wound care. Research has found that Manuka Honey also can help to stimulate the immune system, provide nutrients for cell metabolism, reduce inflammation and support tissue repair.

Why is Manuka Honey used in skincare?

Manuka Honey not only is full of anti-bacterial properties but contains a range of anti-oxidants, amino acids and minerals, all said to be very powerful in combating a range of skin problems.

But there is more… Manuka Honey is also said to work as a humectant, which is the ability to reduce the loss of  moisture from our skin. It gently  soothes and nourishes the skin and restores its natural glow. There is not much it doesn’t do!

How do we know if we get good honey?

As mentioned earlier, Manuka Honey contains very powerful anti-bacterial compounds, much more than any other honey.

To measure this there are 2 main grading systems used to define the quality of Manuka Honey, assessing its unique properties and components: MG and UMF. The higher the MG or UMF rating the stronger the anti-bacterial power.

Every batch of Manuka Honey is tested and certified for natural MG (Methylglyoxal) content. The MG or UMF number tells you how much MG is in that batch of honey:

We use a MG300 (UMF12+) grade honey in our Manuka Honey range. We blend it with a light carrier cream, your skin will love it!

One of the most frequent questions we get asked is: ‘ what is the difference between the four different face masks’ so here is a little explanation.

Rotorua Thermal Mud Mask:

A face mask for all skin types. This mask is the mask we base all our others on and is our best seller. It highlights Rotorua Thermal Mud’s ability to deep cleanse the skin and leave the skin with a beautiful healthy glow.

Rotorua Thermal Mud Mask with Manuka Honey:

A face mask for all skin types but in particular suited for drier and more sensitive skin. The added Manuka Honey helps support the Rotorua Thermal Mud’s ability to deeply cleanse the skin while being gentle and soothing. Our key ingredient, New Zealand Manuka Honey, is well known to be soothing and healing and when included in this mask it creates a perfect combination to use on dry and sensitive skin.

Rotorua Thermal Mud Mask with Kiwifruit

A face mask for all skin types but in particular suited for younger and more oily skin. The added Kiwifruit helps support the Rotorua Thermal Mud’s ability to deeply cleanse the skin focusing on problem areas in young skin. Our key ingredient in this mask, New Zealand Green Kiwifruit, is well known to be rich in vitamin C and E and when included in this mask it creates a perfect combination to use on younger and problematic skin.

Rotorua Thermal Mud Mask with Colostrum

A face mask for all skin types but in particular suited for mature and lack lustre skin. The added Colostrum helps support the Rotorua Thermal Mud’s ability to deeply cleanse the skin while looking after our mature skin. Our key ingredient in this mask, Colostrum, is well known to be full of extra nutrients and when included in this mask it creates a perfect combination to use on lack lustre skin.

Use your Rotorua Thermal Mud mask once a week for deep clean, healthy and glowing skin.

When we talk about mud we all have memories pop up about those crazy wonderful childhood days when we were slipping and sliding and covering ourselves with glorious mud.

Mud is historically believed to deliver magic to our skin and body.  But why?  And is all mud the same?

Firstly, no, all mud is not created equal.  The composition of the mud used in beauty therapies and skincare is built up of a completely different mineral component than the mud we used to play in as kids.

Mud for Therapies:

The mud used by therapists is specially selected for its therapeutic properties and they all differ in their mineral contents, based on where it is sourced from.  Mud from Korea, or from Turkey, has different mineral levels than our Thermal Mud here in Rotorua.  For instance, Rotorua Thermal Mud has a high level of sulphur and silicon.

This therapeutic use of mud is called “pelotherapy” from Pelos, the Greek word for mud.  There is a record that shows that nearly 2,000 years ago mud was already recommended for clear skin, arthritis and rheumatism.

Mud therapies have been popular for thousands of years and Spa’s are still offering body wraps, face masks and mud baths, based around the properties of that specific mud.

Rotorua Thermal Mud:

Our Rotorua Mud stems from its natural, thermal surroundings.  It is unique and only present in a small part of the world where the perfect amount of thermal activity connects with the surrounding native environment.

Thermal Mud is considered to be the ‘magic of the earth’: thermal water from deep within the earth forces itself up, mixes with soil that is filled with native organic matter (and young volcanic soil in our case) and voilà, therapeutic Thermal Mud is born!

Rotorua, with its numerous hot thermal springs, thermal geysers and boiling Thermal Mud has been known for over a century to be THE place for healing and revitalising.  People travelled form all over the world to take to the waters – looking for great skin and relief from aches and pains.

  How does Thermal Mud work:

By applying Thermal Mud onto the skin, it dries and creates an active barrier.  An occlusive system is formed, increasing the skin’s temperature and improving the micro-circulation throughout the body.  The increased blood flow flushes the body’s toxins to the small veins near the surface of the skin.  The mud draws the toxins out the skin and releases its minerals, resulting in healthy, clean, rosy and glowing skin.

We believe Rotorua Thermal Mud to be the ultimate detox; it cleanses, detoxifies and relaxes – true MAGIC!