This week we are celebrating Melaleuca Alternifolia Tea Tree! We are in awe of this powerful Australian native that provides the spiritual pulse to Meluka Australia’s operations.
What are tea trees?
A species of the Myrtaceae (Myrtle) family, the Melaleuca Alternifolia is the same species of tea tree that produces tea tree oil. There are over 300 species of tea trees in the Myrtle family, and depending on the species, they can grow from between 2 and 20 metres.
Tea trees have evergreen leaves, but Spring and Summer brings a beautiful sight of creamy masses of snow-white coloured flowers. The bark of tea tree is quite flaky and is referred to as ‘paperbark’. Leaves are smooth and soft, as well as linear in shape and brimming with tea tree oil.
Where are Melaleuca alternifolia trees found?
The Melaleuca Aternifolia, commonly known as Australian tea tree, is native to Australia’s Bungawalbin Valley, in Northern New South Wales. This region is the only region where tea tree grows in its natural environment. The Bungawalbin area is the birthplace of Australian tea tree.
This mighty Australian native tree has been used in Australian traditional medicine for thousands of years. The traditional Australian Bundjalung people refer to the lands of the Bungawalbin as the ‘healing ground’. Their stories tell of the powerful Australian native tea tree and its use in traditional Australian bush medicine.
Used as a natural treatment to a myriad of ailments, they were said to crush the leaves and apply them topically to wounds or make a leaf infused brew for oral relief to treat throat infections. It was said that leaves and twigs of tea trees at the lagoon’s edge would fall into the waters, staining them a rich bronze, offering a sweetly scented, cleansing bath of water infused with tea tree’s signature healing properties.
Our mother trees
At the heart of our tea tree plantation grow one-thousand-year old mother trees, cherished for their enduring strength and healing qualities. Mother trees are the oldest living trees, thriving at the heart of the forest and providing the spiritual pulse to Meluka Australia’s operations.
Meluka Australia’s honey range
It starts with our native wildflower honey…
Which is produced by bees foraging from tea tree, jelly bush (Leptospermum), eucalyptus and seasonal wildflowers that are native to the Bungawalbin area. The perfect drizzle for a cheeseboard, sweetener for your tea and coffee, or sugar substitute in baking and recipes, this will become your favorite ‘everyday’ honey the whole family will love!
Next comes our infused honey range...
Our native honey is infused with hemp seed powder is a truly unique honey product. The hemp seed honey combines the power of plant-based wholefoods with raw honey. Hemp seeds are a plant protein, rich in nutritious compounds, including vitamins A, C, D, E and high concentrations of the B-complex vitamins including thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, and pantothenic acid. Hemp seeds are also known for being high in protein and rich in essential fatty acids. Our bodies don’t produce them, so we need to get them from the food we eat - these are the good fats we want to be consuming! Our hemp seed honey is thick, luscious, sweet and nutty with visible hemp seed goodness.
Our medicinal honey...
Functional food and topical wound aid, Meluka’s tea tree honey range is our native honey infused with our own produced tea tree extract, in varying strengths (TTF24 and TTF32).
Meluka Australia’s signature tea tree extract is produced via a different extraction method to tea tree oil. Ethically wildcrafted from the leaves of our old-growth forest mother trees, it’s an aqueous (water-based) extract that delivers the signature antibacterial and antimicrobial properties of tea tree.
The tea tree range adopts the Tea Tree Factor (TTF) rating system, a unique rating system assessing the level of tea tree extract infusion, certified organic status, origin and traceability back to the master beekeeper.
Meluka Australia will expand its infused honey range in the future, complementing it with a further offering of raw, infused honey inspired by the unique flavors of Australia’s native flora.
Our certifications
Is shopping organic important to you?
Our roots are firmly set in maintaining sustainable, organic farming practices. We proudly wear the official ACO and USDA logos on our honey products. This nationally and internationally recognized certification is a stamp of integrity. It reassures you that all of the product ingredients have been certified to the Australian Certified Organic Standard and have met rigorous certification checks - we think there’s no better way to shop. Our honey products are also proudly certified Kosher and Halal.
Tea tree oil, the medicine chest in a bottle!
Stay tuned for Meluka Australia’s future release of tea tree oil, proudly produced and bottled in Australia.
Botanical Species: Melaleuca Alternifolia
Plant Part: Leaves and Branches
Extraction Method: Steam distilled (water)
Aromatic Scent: Fresh & Earthy
Colour: Pale yellow
Strength of Aroma: Medium
The main constituents of tea tree essential oil are Alpha Pinene, Beta Pinene, Sabinene, Myrcene, Alpha Phellandrene, Alpha Terpinene, Limonene, Cineole, Gamma Terpinene, Para Cymene, Terpinolene, Linalool, Terpineol, and Alpha Terpineol. Remember tea tree oil is not for internal use and should not be taken by mouth for any reason. It should be used diluted to avoid skin irritation.
Tea tree essential oil is world-renowned for its cleansing properties. Much research has been conducted on the antibacterial properties of tea tree essential oil for topical use. It is commonly used as an ingredient in skincare bases including deodorants, soaps, creams and lotions, personal hygiene care including toothpaste, mouthwash, lozenges, hair care, shampoos for controlling dandruff or as an ingredient in pet care products, including shampoo.
All in all, we think tea tree oil may just be the hardest working essential you can invest in, with a myriad of uses, and no natural medicine cabinet is complete without it! Here are some common uses:
Dandruff control – add a few drops to your shampoo bottle
Natural mouthwash – fight bad breath with a drop of tea tree oil in a cup of warm water and rinse for 30 seconds
Chemical-free deodorant – tea tree oil is an optimal alternative for chemical-based deodorant
A natural antiseptic - an ingredient in topical formulations for relieving infections, minor burns, cuts, sore throats, sunburn, ulcers, golden staph, cold sores and acne
Foot care – help relieve the effects of nail fungus by applying a few drops of oil directly to feet or soaking in a warm water bath with a few drops of tea tree oil to benefit from its antifungal properties
Odor neutraliser – diffuse a few drops to freshen your environment
Laundry freshener – a few drops to your washing machine will help to act as a refreshing laundry freshener
All-purpose cleaning – combine a few drops in a spray bottle with warm water for a refreshing, all-purpose cleaner for around the home
Want to know more?
Are you ready to make the switch to raw, organic honey? Shop our range now. If you’d like to know more, visit our FAQ page for more info and to learn more about Meluka Australia.
Yours, the Meluka family
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