From the Māori to Your Medicine Cabinet: The Story Behind the “Champagne of Honey”

At My Neighbor’s, everything we create is rooted in ancestral wisdom — from our signature grass-fed tallow balms to our seasonal soaps and body oils. But our latest launch takes that commitment even deeper, weaving together two healing traditions from opposite sides of the world: regenerative farming in the Hudson Valley, and centuries of mānuka honey use by the Māori people of New Zealand.

This is the story behind Oh, Honey, our brand new Manuka + Tallow Hand Balms.

The Māori & the Mānuka Tree: A Legacy of Healing

Long before mānuka honey became a coveted skincare ingredient, it was something far more sacred: a cornerstone of rongoā, the traditional Māori system of medicine. The Māori — the indigenous people of Aotearoa (now New Zealand) — have used every part of the mānuka tree for generations to treat wounds, inflammation, and infections.

Then came Mary Bumby, a missionary’s sister and beekeeper who arrived in the early 1800s with a few European honeybees in tow. When those bees discovered mānuka trees, something magical happened: they created a honey unlike any other.

But no one realized just how special it was — at least not at first.

From Dairy Farms to Burn Wards

For decades, mānuka honey was used mainly by local farmers. It was often sold cheaply or even fed to livestock. But when dairy cows began to fall ill less often, people started to notice. Something was different about this honey.

Eventually, science caught up to what the Māori already knew: mānuka honey is packed with powerful antibacterial and anti-inflammatory compounds, including methylglyoxal (MGO). By the mid-1900s, hospitals were using it to treat wounds and burns.

Today, high-grade mānuka honey is one of the most prized natural remedies in the world — lovingly dubbed the “champagne of honey” for both its potency and its rarity.

Enter: Oh, Honey — Manuka + Tallow Hand Balm

This balm has been a long time coming.

At My Neighbor’s, we’ve spent months crafting a formula that marries the healing power of 850+ MGO mānuka honey with our signature Hudson Valley grass-fed & finished tallow. The result? A rich, reparative cream that’s perfect for dry, cracked hands, heels, lips — and even baby skin.

It’s made for the gardeners, the farmers, the mamas, the dishwashers, and the nine-to-fivers. Anyone whose hands could use a little extra love.

Why We Love It (And Why You Will, Too)

• Mānuka repairs + regenerates with natural antibacterial properties

• Tallow deeply hydrates and strengthens your skin barrier

• No synthetics, no BS — just ingredients you can pronounce and trust

• Willa-approved — because if it’s not safe enough for my own daughter, it’s not going on your shelf. 

We’re calling it Oh, Honey. And yes — pre-orders are officially open. 

Every time we launch something new, it’s thanks to you — our community. Your support makes it possible to keep traditions alive, support local farms, and build products that reflect the knowledge of those who came before us.

Pre-ordering helps us bring new creations to life with less waste and more intention.

We can’t wait for you to try it.

With love and gratitude,
Harri