What Is Jarrah Honey and Why Is It So Rare?

Jarrah honey is a rare, dark amber honey made by bees from the blossom of the Jarrah tree (Eucalyptus marginata), a eucalypt native to the forests of south-west Western Australia. The Jarrah tree flowers only about once every two years, which is one reason the honey is scarce and sought after.

The tree. Eucalyptus marginata belongs to the myrtle family (Myrtaceae), the same family as other eucalypts. It is a tall hardwood that can reach 25–40 metres, growing mainly in the low-lying jarrah forests of Western Australia.

How the honey is made. The Jarrah blossom carries little visible nectar, yet bees draw nectar from the flowers and ripen it into honey in the hive. The result is a thick honey with a deep amber colour and a rich, caramel-like flavour that comes from the nectar and the surrounding bushland.

Why it is prized. Jarrah honey is valued for its distinctive taste, its low tendency to crystallise, and its Total Activity (TA) rating — an independently lab-measured figure printed on every jar. Read more in our guide to Total Activity (TA).