The tea tree heath between Noosa and Rainbow Beach is in flower. September is jelly bush's month, and it is Rainbow Beach's driest month too. That pairing is why this coast is worth the drive.
In flower. Jelly bush, with scribbly gum beside it in places. When the two flower at once the honey is a blend, and blends test lower. That is the whole job up there: catching the tea trees without the gums.
The bees. The manuka flow on the coast, and avocados flowering closer to home.
In the shed. Two batches are drummed, coded and sampled: MK-2609-01 from Rainbow Beach and MK-2609-02 from Noosa. Both are at the lab. When the certificates come back, the number goes on the label and on the batch's own page the same day, and not before.
Have a go at the number. Nobody knows it yet, Murray included. Put your guess in and we will email you the real one the day it lands.
See it for yourself. Drop a hive on the drawn map anywhere between Noosa and Rainbow Beach and see what the bees could reach this month, and what is in flower. Move it three kilometres and the answer changes. That is why every batch is tested on its own.
When the certificates are back, they go up here.