Jellybush belongs to the Leptospermum group of plants. There are over 85 known species of Leptospermum with 83 of these species found growing within Australia.
Leptospermum or Jellybush plants are known to produce a unique type of honey that not only has hydrogen peroxide releasing enzymes but also a special phytochemical property called the Unique Leptospermum Factor - ULF not found in other honeys.
The common name ‘tea tree’ is also given to another Australian group of trees from the Melaleuca genus. It is from Melaleuca plants that the well known tea tree oil is produced. This group of trees, the Malaleucas, have no relation to the Jellybush or Leptospermum group of plants which produce the
Active Jellybush Honey.
• High in Antioxidants
• High in Hydrogen Peroxide Releasing Enzymes
• High in ULF (TM). - The Unique Letospermum Factor Activity
Jellybush gets its name from the thick gel like nature of the honey that the bees gather from Leptospermum flowers. Active Jellybush Honey contains both hydrogen peroxide releasing enzymes and the Unique Leptospermum Factor (ULF).
Both of these plant properties, the hydrogen peroxide releasing enzymes and the Unique Leptospermum Factor (ULF) have been researched by honey institutes in Australia and around the world and have been proven to have antimicrobial properties. Active Jellybush Honey also contains phenolic compounds such as flavanoids which have known antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
The antioxidants within the honey are also able to reduce the effects of free radical damage.
These natural properties impart potent cleansing qualities to the honey with proven health benefits when taken internally or applied externally to the skin.
Not all Jellybush honeys are active. Choose a honey that has been tested for activity.
• Not suitable for infants under 12 months old.
• Store in a cool place below 30°C away
from direct sunlight.
• Do not refrigerate.
Activity Rating of Jellybush Honey
All our Active Jellybush honeys are tested at independent laboratories before packaging to ensure that high levels of hydrogen peroxide releasing enzymes and the Unique Leptospermum Factor +ULF(TM), of activity are present. Our honey is tested at DHM laboratories in New Zealand to give accurate comparisons to Manuka honey activities.
At Tyagarah Apiaries our Active and Medicinal honeys are above the 16+ range of activity as we do not mixed or diluted to standardize for activity.
Seasonal variations in colour and texture of our Jelly bush Honey can occur due to the flowering of other plant species at the same time but the activity is always guaranteed.
The ULF rating system
Please take the time to read and understand the importance of the 'ULF' rating system for Jellybush Honey. While Jellybush Honey has received increasing press coverage, often the difference between ordinary Jellybush Honey and Active Jellybush Honey is not ditinguished.
The ULF (TM) rating is an indicator as to the strength of the antibacterial effect. A rating of 10 or more is considered to be suitable for therapeutic purposes. This honey is referred to as 'active', although much ordinary Jellybush Honey is still marketed as being active despite not having the required minimal rating.
The ULF rating is your guarantee that this medicinal honey has been tested and verified for its antibacterial activity. Our honey has a minimum ULF rating of +16.
What does the word 'active' mean?
The word 'active' refers to Australian Jellybush honeys ability to kill or inhibit the growth of many bacteria and fungi. This 'Activity' or antimicrobial quality is determined by specific laboratory tests.
The two types of 'activity' of Jelly Bush honey or Leptospermum honey.
1. The Hydrogen Peroxide Activity
The first and most common form of antibacterial activity is due to the slow release of hydrogen peroxide with the help of the enzyme glucose oxidase present in honey.
There is a great variation in the hydrogen peroxide releasing ability of different honeys with some honeys being no more antibacterial than sugar. The reason for this variation is probably due to the fact that the enzyme responsible for the release of hydrogen peroxide is sensitive to both heat and light and also to other natural chemical compounds within some honeys. This enzyme can be deactivated by exposure to heat,light and natural phytochemicals and reduce the honeys ability to release hydrogen peroxide. This is why when some honeys are tested in laboratories they show no sign of hydrogen peroxide activity.
Our cold extraction methods and amber packaging assist to preserve the activity of our Jelly Bush Honey.
2. The Unique Leptospermum Factor +ULF (TM) or Non-Hydrogen Peroxide Activity
The Unique Leptospermum Factor (which relates to all species of Leptospermum plants, including Manuka) is an unidentified antibacterial property unique to the honey produced by Leptospermum plants. So far researchers world wide have not been able to identified this natural phytochemical which is responsible for this potent antimicrobial property.
The Unique Leptospermum Factor (ULF) is more stable than the antimicrobial effect of the hydrogen peroxide releasing enzymes and does not become as rapidly effected by dilution. It is therefore better suited when longer term effect is required.
This Unique Leptospermum Factor (ULF) activity has been given a strength rating from 10+ to 30+ with 30+ being the strongest available on the market.
This Unique non-hydrogen peroxide activity was first discovered in New Zealand, by Professor Peter Molan who’s research focused on manuka honeys' (Leptospermum scoparium) antibacterial effects. Professor Peter Molan coined the term Unique Manuka Factor in reference to this unknown antimicrobial effect but we now use the term Unique Leptospermum Factor in reference to the activity of many Australian Leptospermum plants found growing here.
Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) is also found in many parts of southern Australia including NSW, Victoria and Tasmania.
Activity of honey
Not all honey has the peroxide and non-peroxide antibacterial properties. The variability between different batches of honey can be as much as 100-fold.
In 1996 an organisation called TradeNZ, in conjunction with the Honey Research Unit, set about to establish a standard for the classification of antibacterial honey activity. This led to the creation of the New Zealand industry standard for Manuka strength and activity which was termed the Unique Manuka Factor.
This standard does not take into account active honey from other Leptospermum plants.
Australia has 83 species of Leptospermums with 5 species already identified as producing active Jelly Bush Honey (Leptospermum Honey).
We decided to develop and use the term
+ULF(TM) -
Unique Leptospermum Factor as a activity rating to represent and symbolize not only the non hydrogen peroxide activity of New Zealand Manuka but also for all the Leptospermum plants that are found active in New Zealand and Australia.
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