Australia and New Zealand battling over manuka, the champagne of honeys. In China, where middle-class shoppers suspicious of locally-made food are willing to pay a lot for honey from clean countries. New Zealand-based Comvita, one of the world's top producers of manuka honey, this week reported 15-month profit of NZ$18.5 million ($17.7 million) on sales of NZ$231 million, about half of which went to Chinese consumers. Comvita presently has 33000 hives in New Zealand and in talks with Ben McKee from Capiliano ltd in regards to naming rights and a potential merger. Formerly only a packer of honey Capilano ltd is in the process of buying up limited prime beekeeping sites near pristine national parks in the aim to monopolies the medicinal honey market along side Comvita. To do this successfully Capilano must capitalise on the Manuka name. Australian Beekeepers disappointed "It's disappointing Australia hasn't been able to market its own honey in a unique way. Eucalyptus honey marketed in the right way should reach a price similar to Manuka . Dr Shona Blair uncovered prebiotic qualities in Australian eucalyptus honey. This means regular consumption of eucalyptus honey improves gut health. Prebiotic foods stimulates the growth of gut bacteria that contribute to human health and reduce the growth of deleterious gut bacteria. Prebiotic foods are not digested by human enzymes, but reach the large intestine intact and act as a food source for beneficial bacteria including bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. Gut microbiota is intrinsically linked to our metabolic health and a number of gastrointestinal diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease and obesity. " John Edmonds www.rirdc.gov.au. Australians Beeekepers get $5 to $5.50 for pristine Eucalyptus honey $40 for active Leptospernum honey. Australia is home to 83 species of Leptospermum and each state and territory has at least one endemic species. "Manuka" is a Maori word John Rawcliffe, spokesman for New Zealand trade group the Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) Honey Association does not think Capilano Honey has the rites to the Manuka name. Only honey produced by Kiwi bees deserves the manuka moniker, he said. Rawcliffe's group of beekeepers, producers and exporters accounts for about 80 per cent of New Zealand's manuka honey sales. "The consumer expects that if it's manuka honey, then it comes from New Zealand," he said. "Manuka is a Maori word. We are aiming to protect it." Manuka deserves the same kind of protection as Champagne or other prestige products associated with a particular region or country, Rawcliffe said. "I could take some corn and make some whiskey but I can't call it Scottish whisky," he said. This one of another of a series of setbacks for Capiliano honey ltd who shocked the Australia nation by having to admit the company imported bulk honey from China that it sells under various names. Capilano Ltd sell honey under various names Barnes , Smiths , Allowrie and Westcobee. Australians are encouraged to buy raw honey direct from the beekeeper. The honeymap has been viewed over 120000. There are over 80 varieties of indigenous Australian plants that produce active honey. Talk to your local beekeeper and find out what the bees are foraging on. Support your local beekeeper. https://goo.gl/5Av8vo