It’s not surprising that New Zealand has such unique flora and fauna. It is situated at the bottom of the South Pacific enabling plants to evolve in complete isolation in a climate ranging from subtropical to glacial.
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HOROPITO
Pseudowintera colorataOur Horopito comes from a sustainable plantation located near the Kahurangi National park and is a certified organic product.
The Horopito is an ancient flowering plant found only in New Zealand. It appears in the fossil record for more than 65 Million years (the Dinosaur age). It has very high levels of anti-oxidants which have enabled it to survive unchanged, though a millenia of climate change - even as other species perished.
The use of Horopito by the New Zealand Maori has been extensively documented. The Maori Tohunga (Healer) used Horopito to ward off evil spirits. The aromatic Horopito was also used as a sedative and a tonic.
Horopito was also later used by European settlers in various 19th Century patent medicines - and as was described as being superior to Quinine.
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KAWAKAWA
Macropiper ExcelsumOur Kawakawa is handpicked, dried and then made into a tea like infusion.
Kawa translates to mean "Bitter"
The Kawakawa is a traditional medicinal plant of the New Zealand Maori. It is botanically related to plants in the South Pacific with similar names such as "kava". It was used to treat bladder problems, boils, bruises, to relieve pain or toothache, or as a general tonic. It was also said to be an aphrodisiac.It was also used by Early Europeans in place of tea - often mixed with Manuka.