Family Bee Company Reports Rising Demand for Rare Island Honey

KINGSCOTE, South Australia, July 9, 2026 — The Kangaroo Island Ligurian Bee Co., a family-owned certified-organic producer based in Kingscote, has reported growing Australian demand for its raw, unprocessed Kangaroo Island honey, with rare single-varietal releases attracting particular interest from consumers seeking traceable, place-based food products.

"Buyers are asking more questions about where the honey comes from, how it is handled, and which flowers shaped a particular batch," said Verity Hayman, Managing Director, Kangaroo Island Ligurian Bee Co. "That interest in provenance is what drives the demand for our rare releases. Each jar tells a specific story about the season it came from."

The company operates from within a protected bee sanctuary that has safeguarded the world's last genetically pure population of Ligurian bees since 1885. Geographic isolation from the Australian mainland and strict biosecurity regulations prevent hybridisation and disease transmission, contributing to the flavour consistency the company says buyers now actively seek.

All honey in the range is 100% raw and unprocessed, with no additives, blending, or heavy filtration. Gentle handling preserves natural enzymes, aroma, and the seasonal flavour profile shaped by the island's native flora. Profiles shift across the year depending on which coastal, woodland, or scrubland species are in bloom.

The Rare Release Range

Several varieties are released only when specific environmental conditions align. Remota Honey carries warm notes of burnt sugar and candied pecan. Boobialla Honey offers delicate herbal sweetness from coastal winter flowers. Yacca Honey is produced only after bushfire triggers flowering spikes and delivers a deeply earthy profile. Eucalyptus Cosmophylla Honey is smooth and mellow when conditions permit harvest. Karkalla Honey presents a fresh grapefruit-like bitterness suited to cheese and charcuterie pairings.

Several of these single-varietal harvests occur only every few years, with production volume determined entirely by natural bloom conditions rather than production targets.

Beyond the Honey Range

Beyond raw honey, the company produces traditional honey mead and beeswax candles poured from pure organic beeswax with a cotton wick and no synthetic additives. Curated gift collections including the Rare and Remote Honey Hamper are available through the company's online store. Orders over $125 qualify for free standard delivery Australia-wide.

The company was founded in 2001 by Peter Davis, one of Australia's early certified-organic honey producers. The business is now led by his son Brenton and daughter-in-law Verity, who continue chemical-free beekeeping practices with minimal hive intervention.

The Island Beehive shopfront in Kingscote is open daily from 9am, except Christmas Day, and offers guided tours, honey tastings, and hands-on beekeeping experiences that connect visitors directly to the production process.

The company expects continued growth in demand for single-varietal releases as Australian consumers place greater weight on traceable, place-based food sourcing and reduced reliance on blended, imported alternatives.

About Kangaroo Island Ligurian Bee Co.

The Kangaroo Island Ligurian Bee Co. is a family-owned certified-organic honey producer based in Kingscote, South Australia. Founded in 2001 and now in its second generation, the company produces raw honey, traditional mead, and pure beeswax candles from hives within Australia's oldest bee sanctuary. The Ligurian bee population on Kangaroo Island has been protected since 1885 and remains the last genetically pure Ligurian population in the world.

Media Contact

Verity Hayman

Managing Director, Kangaroo Island Ligurian Bee Co.

Phone: 08 8553 0080

Email: Contact via kangarooislandbeeco.com.au

Website: kangarooislandbeeco.com.au

Contact Information:

Island Beehive

59 Playford Hwy
Kingscote, SA 5223
Australia

Island Beehive
+61 8 8553 0080
https://kangarooislandbeeco.com.au/