Our Honey Story
Photos can be found below, at the end of the story. :)
The MORE THAN HONEY project is driven by a team of enthusiasts united by their love for nature and their passion for Manuka honey. At the heart of the project is Luděk, who was later joined by Roman, Theodor, and Vítek. But how did it all begin?
Read on. ↓
How Luděk Discovered Manuka
Our Manuka story begins in 2005, in an office, behind a computer screen. Luděk had just returned from a month-long backpacking trip across Asia and was already wondering how he could lace up his traveling shoes again and set off on another adventure. But work wouldn’t wait… He stared at the icons on his screen, deep in thought, when suddenly—it hit him! Remote work!Maybe the boss would go for it! And why not for a whole year!
From Asia Straight to New Zealand
Luděk’s plan worked out perfectly. Filled with excitement, he set off again with just a backpack, exploring the beauty of the Asian continent. Sometimes hitchhiking, other times using local transport—every day was an adventure. Eventually, he decided to reward himself at the end of his trip with a visit to New Zealand. The cherry on top? Buying a car to freely explore the islands at his own pace.
However, the car had other plans. After just three days, it broke down and left Luděk stranded on the outskirts of Kerikeri (North Island), refusing to move any further. Feeling desperate, Luděk wondered what to do next. Life in New Zealand moves at a relaxed pace, so no one was in a rush to fix his car. That left him with at least 14 days to immerse himself in the local community and find temporary work. And as luck would have it, he crossed paths with Graham, a beekeeper.
A Stable Office Job or the Freedom of Beekeeping?
With his car finally repaired, Luděk had the option to move on — but he didn’t. He realized that beekeeping truly fulfilled him, giving his life a new sense of purpose. The freedom, the deep connection with nature, the fascinating world of bees, and the way Graham and his family welcomed him … all of this led Luděk to a life-changing decision — he would move to New Zealand indefinitely.
But before leaving his home and the “security” of a well-paid office job for good, Luděk went through some tough moments. Once he overcame those doubts, he finally felt that he had found where he truly belonged. His new home was now the stunning landscapes of New Zealand, where Graham patiently taught him the art of beekeeping. Thanks to his hard work and passion, Luděk mastered the craft and started raising his own bees — producing the very first batches of what would become our Manuka honey. 🍯
Roman Joins the Journey
We’re back in the Czech Republic. Roman is trudging up a hill, panting and cursing himself for deciding to climb Sněžkaon New Year’s Eve. While others are celebrating, drinking, and enjoying themselves, he’s sweating and barely catching his breath. One moment he’s freezing, the next he’s overheating, constantly changing his shirt.
Luckily, he soon realizes he’s not alone — on the way up, he meets Vendula. Roman is relieved to see that he’s not the only one who traded a lively New Year’s Eve party with friends for a nighttime ascent of the highest mountain in the Czech Republic. They start chatting, and Vendula tells him she’s planning to go to New Zealand. That gets Roman thinking — maybe that’s exactly the kind of adventure he needs.
Roman and Vendula agree to travel to New Zealand together. They help each other sort out visas, and once everything is set, Roman boards his flight with immense determination — and just one English phrase he managed to learn: “Hello, I am Roman.”
Tough Beginnings, Happy (Sweet) Ending
Stepping into the unknown, however, is no walk in the park. Hard-earned kiwi dollars from picking mandarins and kiwis don’t bring him much satisfaction, and the language barrier makes things even tougher. He starts wondering how he can get out of this situation before he loses his mind. He feels lost, and just as he’s about to give up, he decides to try one last thing.
Back home in Pilsen, he’d heard a rumor that somewhere in a small town called Kerikeri, there was another Czech—Luděk—doing something with bees. Finally, a fellow countryman! Roman gets Luděk’s number, calls, texts… but nothing. Disappointed, he starts packing his bags to leave. Then, out of the blue, Luděk finally responds. He suggests that Roman try working at Graham’s beekeeping business. With renewed energy, Roman puts his plans to leave on hold and heads off to meet the beekeeper.
At last, Roman finds what he was looking for. He loves working in nature and enjoys being part of a team. On his very first day, the bees give him a warm welcome—a sting right under his eye. For the next few days, he walks around looking like Rocky Balboa after a fight with Drago. But even that doesn’t stop him—he sticks with it, and in the end, he falls in love with beekeeping and the people around it. Roman ends up staying in New Zealand for a whole year before returning home to the Czech Republic to be with the love of his life. Together, they start a family.
However, Roman can’t stop thinking about Manuka—and he doesn’t want his New Zealand story to end here.
Theodor Joins the Team
By this time, Luděk had fully established his own beekeeping business and was living his dream—importing Manuka honey to the Czech Republic. But who would help him with sales and organization?
And this is where everything falls perfectly into place. Enter Roman once again. Together with his partner-in-crime, Theo, they join forces with Luděk, bringing New Zealand honey to the Czech market through MORE THAN HONEY.
Our Story Doesn’t End Here—It’s Just Beginning
As you can see, our honey carries a story. Every drop holds hard work, a love for beekeeping, honesty, and authenticity. Through it, we want to bring you a little piece of magical New Zealand. And how will this story continue? That depends on you! We want to write it to a happy ending — bringing Manuka honey to our beautiful country.
In the First Photo: Roman (wearing glasses) with Luděk. In the Second Photo: (From left) Luděk, Roman, and Graham.
