Mānuka grows all across New Zealand. The further north you go it grows at lower altitudes down to sea level. In the South Island it grows at around 400 to 550 metres above sea level. There are differences in the oil composition based on the region you source the plant material. Mānuka Oil from the East Cape (North Island) is highly valued but has a very strong smell due to the high triketone content. Manuka sourced from Otago is sweeter smelling. Triketones are very effective against a wide range of fungi and bacteria but a higher trike-tone value does not necessarily make Mānuka Oil more effective. Mānuka Oil with as little as 5% triketones seems to have a similar effect to Oil with a 25% triketone level. We blend our Mānuka from three different regions of New Zealand to provide our customers with a consistent and high-quality product.