New Zealand's Comvita is launching a manuka honey, enriched with chinese herbs, for sale as an immune-enhancing product on the Asian market.
The product is based on a traditional Chinese formulation, containing six highly valued herbs preserved in the honey like the Chinese method. These include liquid extracted New Zealand Red Deer Velvet and a blend of the herbs angelica, ginger, Morinda Root 'Noni', rhemania, Chinese Wolfberry and jujube.
The formulation will help promote all-around wellbeing, particularly before winter or in times when the body's immune system may be low, claims Comvita.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes many of the herbs may be useful for tonifying the heart, kidneys and liver and thus the blood and circulation. Deer Velvet has also been shown to boost strength and stamina of athletes and may promote growth and the immune system.
Asian product manager Robin Deal said: "While based on a traditional Chinese formulation, we developed Manuka Velvet in consultation with an eminent Chinese doctor, and the regulatory authorities in Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China and Japan to ensure the ingredients were effective and accepted in each country."
Immune-enhancing products are enjoying significant growth in the Asian market as fears of SARS prompt consumers to look for protection against infection. New Zealand's dairy firms are struggling to meet demand there for colostrum, thought to activate the immune system.