Where does our honey come from? Meet our partner

Real Manuka honey only comes from New Zealand. But where, exactly? And who harvests it? Today, we want to introduce you to our partner: 3Bee.

About 3Bee: Otamatapaio’s partner

3Bee is a family-owned and operated honey company, producing premium Manuka honey. With the deepest respect for bees, people, and nature, 3Bee strives to convey this legacy of excellence to you by guaranteeing this purest essence of nature reaches you in supreme quality. Since its beginning in 2015, 3Bee has grown to a team of around 42 million enthusiastic bees and 9 passionate, hardworking beekeepers and office staff who love what they do and do it very well.

3Bee Premium Manuka Honey is harvested, tested, certified and packed in New Zealand, ensuring every jar is of the highest quality and authenticity. Their mission? To provide premium quality and effective Manuka honey, driven by the deepest respect for bees, people and nature.

Harvested in the most remote locations

Do you know why Manuka honey is so rare? The reason lie in its exclusivity.

The Manuka tree grows in some of the most remote and pristine areas of New Zealand, making it difficult for beekeepers to access. Moreover, it can be done only in a specific and very short period of the year. It is a limited resource because the Manuka tree only flowers for between 2 - 6 weeks each year, depending on the season. This means our busy bees only have a short window of time to collect the precious nectar and work their magic to create this rare and sought-after honey.

The power of choosing the right partners

At Otamatapaio, we believe that truly exceptional Manuka honey begins long before the hive. It starts with choosing the right partners: people who share our uncompromising values, our commitment to quality, and our deep respect for the bees and the environment. In a world where “premium” is easily promised but rarely proven, we hold ourselves and those we work with to a higher standard. Every jar of Otamatapaio Manuka honey reflects not only the purity of our high country terrain but the integrity of the relationships behind it.

That’s why we work with 3Bee, our trusted partner who honours the environment, nurtures strong and healthy colonies, and harvests with precision and care. It’s not enough for our honey to be average; it has to tell a story. A story of wild Manuka plants in full bloom, of bees moving in rhythm with the seasons, of hands that work patiently, thoughtfully, respectfully.

We’ve walked the land with our partners, stood among the hives, felt the hum of something ancient and enduring. This is our promise: every drop is true to its source, and every decision behind it has been made with care. When you choose Otamatapaio, you’re not just tasting honey. You’re tasting expertise, tradition, and the quiet power of doing things the right way, from the very start.