Heather honey, which has unique nutritional qualities, from The Scottish Bee Company contains up to ten times more of the essential micronutrient, manganese, compared to 200 of its global rivals. The honey comes from hives in the Dumfries and Galloway, the Lothians, Stirlingshire, Fife and Aberdeenshire.
The company has teamed up with researchers from Fera Science Limited to investigate the honey’s nutritional content. Manganese helps to make and activate enzymes in the body involved in protecting tissues from damage and in the metabolism of nutrients. It also helps maintain healthy bones.
Dr Adrian Charlton, from Fera Science Limited, said: “We didn’t know that honey of any type could be a significant source of dietary manganese before this piece of work was completed. The Scottish Bee Company was founded by Iain and Suzie Millar, of Livingstone, in 2017 out of a love for the environment and the honey bee. Suzie said: “It’s been remarkable to see the results of the scientific analysis show that our Scottish heather honey has superfood quality, more so than many other honeys around the world.”
