Discovering the Wonderful Story of the Manuka Tree

Take a journey into the world of the Manuka tree, a small evergreen found in New Zealand’s North, South, and Stewart Islands. Its flowers bloom for a short 6–12 weeks each summer, depending on the weather. With a lovely fragrance, its small, stiff leaves end in a short, pointed tip. The smooth, dark brown bark peels off in strips, and in some places, it’s seen as a tree that grows too quickly.

The fragrant leaves of the Manuka tree have special compounds used to make Manuka essential oil. But before we talk about the oil’s benefits, let’s explore the history of the tree.

The Manuka Tree: A Quick History
The Māori people, who are the Indigenous people of New Zealand, arrived around 1280 AD from eastern Polynesia. They considered the Manuka tree a “treasure.”

Traditionally, Māori boiled Manuka leaves to make remedies for reducing fever, helping with congestion, relieving muscle pain, treating gum disease, and soothing burns.

In 1777, Captain Cook told his crew to drink a brew made from Leptospermum scoparium to avoid scurvy.

Manuka seeds were ground and put on wounds. The wood of the Manuka tree is strong and flexible, and it was used for many things, like making canoes, oars, weapons, and huts. The bark, which is waterproof, was used for hut roofs. The wood was also used in smokehouses to add flavor to fish and meats.