A NZ$500,000 manuka honey vessel debuts in France, claiming the world’s priciest jar.

New Zealand brand Naki is unveiling its limited-edition Eternal Gold collection at the New Zealand Liberation Museum – Te Arawhata in Le Quesnoy, blending art, heritage and science into a collectible designed to last.

The series is inspired by archaeologists finding 3,000-year-old honey in Egyptian tombs.

“Honey is the only natural, ready-to-eat food that doesn’t perish,” said Derek Burchell-Burger, Naki’s GM sales and marketing, who wants a “legacy piece that could be passed down through generations.”

Each vessel holds ultra-rare UMF 25+ manuka harvested deep in Taranaki bush.

Only 73 pieces exist: one two-litre collector’s vessel at NZ$500,000 (€250,000), six mid-tier pieces around NZ$10,000 (€5,000), and 66 smaller vessels at about NZ$1,000 (€500).

NZ$1,000 vessel. Photo: Supplied.

The ceramics are by South African artist Gabrielle Weinstein with gold-plated dippers by jeweller York Van Rheede Van Oudtshoorn.

Naki says its UMF 25+ harvest comes only every two years when conditions align.

The company is expanding across 23 markets, preparing a $7 million export shipment to the United States and eyeing growth in the UAE following the new free trade agreement.

The launch aligns with Le Quesnoy’s annual November 4 commemorations and highlights ties between two agricultural nations.

Future editions will mark each biennial harvest with new artists.

“We’re not just selling honey; we’re creating something timeless,” Burchell-Burger said.

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