Discovering the best Manuka Honey can be an adventure into the very heart of nature's pharmacy. This natural elixir, produced by bees from the nectar of New Zealand's native Manuka bush, is a staple in the pantry of many home cooks and homesteaders.
I've reviewed some of the most popular Manuka honey brands available in New Zealand. I've personally researched just about every Manuka honey company in New Zealand that I could find and tested more than half a dozen of the most popular and reputable brands for both taste and medicinal value.
This guide is here to help you navigate through the myriad choices and ensure you're choosing a truly authentic and beneficial Manuka honey. After all, Mother Nature's gifts are best appreciated in their purest forms.
So let's embark on this sweet journey towards better health!
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Our Top Picks
In a world brimming with unauthentic options and perplexing grading systems, it's essential to discern the genuine from the false. Yet, finding the best Manuka Honey needn't be a challenge.
Its well-regarded medicinal properties, deliciously creamy texture, and sweet floral notes are as diverse as they are delightful, making it a versatile companion in our culinary and health journeys.
These best Manuka honey brands all feature the coveted antibacterial properties and taste amazing! However, some are more transparent than others. Read on to see how we ranked the best manuka honey of all.
- Best Overall: New Zealand Honey Company
- Best Processing: Steens Manuka Honey
- Best Immune Boosting: Wedderspoon Manuka Honey
- Best Digestive Health: Monukora Manuka Honey
- Best Everyday Use: Comvita Manuka Honey
- Best Variety: Manuka Honey of New Zealand
- Best Multifloral: Waitemaya Manuka Honey
Choosing the Best Manuka Honey Brands
When choosing Manuka honey, you're not just buying a jar, you're buying an experience. Harvested from the indigenous Manuka tree, you'll learn all about the unique Manuka factor (UMF) created by the UMF Association, as well as other Manuka honey grading systems ensuring you get only the most potent Manuka honey on the market.
In many cases, you can even trace your raw Manuka honey directly to its hive and learn about the beautiful landscape of New Zealand itself.
While buying Manuka honey, I've given much consideration to the authenticity of the best Manuka honey brands ensuring only high-quality Manuka honey. However, I've also explored the entire spectrum including multi-floral versions, UMF certification, MGO testing, and K Factor.
In addition to ensuring these products are all authentic Manuka honey direct from the New Zealand Manuka bush, I've also taken into account the overall journey from clicking the 'buy' button to the final delivery of the product and everything in between.
From the virtual presentation to the service and value, I've evaluated the company's profile, processing techniques, sustainability practices, website resources, shipping expenses, buyer programs, and delivery times.
From most favorite to least, these are the best Manuka honey brands I enjoy the most.
Best Manuka Honey in 2023
1. New Zealand Honey Company
| SPECIFICATIONS | Unique Manuka Factor: 5+ – 28+ MGO Number: 83+ – 1450+ Shipping: $7.99 Delivery Time: 2 business days |
| TODAY'S BEST DEALS | View at New Zealand Honey Co |
| REASONS TO BUY | + Affordable Manuka honey + Expedited shipping + Authentic and traceable + Key certifications + Pleasantly mild flavor |
| REASONS TO AVOID | - Mild medicinal aftertaste |
While the New Zealand Honey Company offers a wide range of options, I opted for the UMF certified 5+ for an all-around kitchen staple. This particular monofloral Manuka honey brand is produced in Aotearoa, New Zealand, and is pure authentic Manuka honey.
The New Zealand Honey Company features a lineup from UMF 5+ MGO 83+ to uniquely superior UMF 28+ MGO 1450. If you're not sure which pure Manuka honey to buy, taking their quiz will pair you with the best Manuka honey for you.
The New Zealand Manuka honey UMF 5+ has a light amber color with a subtle floral aroma.
It resembles a soft caramel with a pleasantly sweet and mild taste similar to traditional clover honey. Although, with a very subtle camphoraceous aftertaste. It's the perfect natural sweetener for your herbal tea to soothe your sore throat.
This Manuka honey UMF 5+ / MGO 83+ is a creamed monofloral honey that is 100% raw so it still contains all the natural pollens, enzymes, and health benefits. Its thickness also makes it a good option to treat wounds and minor skin abrasions.
Buying a jar of this high-quality Manuka honey from the New Zealand Honey Company takes you on an adventure. Every bottle of honey comes with a QR Code on the lid so you can trace the origins of your honey.
Alternatively, you can enter the lot number printed on your bottle. After which, you are given a very detailed display of exactly where your authentic Manuka honey came from, as well as a UMF Certification outlining its specific content.
It's also reassuring that every batch of honey is tested for the presence of glyphosate making this one of the best high-quality Manuka honeys on the market.
The New Zealand Honey Company offers a Rewards Program with which you can earn points for discounts. You can also sign up for their personalized subscription program that lets you automatically reorder your pure Manuka honey every 1-3 months.
Their website features an abundance of educational articles and recipes for your perusal, as well as some historical articles regarding New Zealand's first tea tree honey.
New Zealand Honey displays an abundance of certifications and credentials across its labels making it the best manuka honey brand for authenticity and transparency:
- FernMark license
- UMF certified trademark
- Non-GMO Project
- Glysophate free
- Halal Certification
- Kosher Certification
2. Steens Manuka Honey
Currently, there is free delivery on orders over $50, or 10% off when you subscribe to their subscription service.
| SPECIFICATIONS | Unique Manuka Factor: Multi-floral - UMF 24+ Shipping: $5 Delivery Time: 3 business days |
| TODAY'S BEST DEALS | View at Steens View at Amazon |
| REASONS TO BUY | + Affordable + Whole comb technology + Authentic and traceable + UMF Certified + Fast shipping and low shipping costs + Deliciously sweet and rich |
| REASONS TO AVOID | - Texture may not be for everyone - Thickness can be difficult to manage - No FernMark seal |
Steens Manuka honey brand offers a spectrum of honey from multi-floral to UMF rating 24, and this honey is absolutely amazing.
Steens Manuka Honey is premium quality and offers an abundance of Manuka health advantages for most of your medicinal needs. Loaded with enzymes, high in minerals and protein, and three times more bio-availability, Steens is the most granulated, thixotropic, and aromatic of our lineup and “widely recognized as a complete natural food.”
If you need help deciding on the right Manuka honey for you, in exchange for your email address, they'll give you results from their quiz in addition to a discount code worth 40% off.
The UMF 10+ is an extremely thick and grainy high-quality Manuka honey that is dark amber in color and robust in flavor. You can clearly see the bee pollen granules, bee bread, and wax particles mixed in. It's deliciously sweet with a slight candied-fruit taste.
Steens is one of the best Manuka honey companies in New Zealand offering genuine honey with excellent quality and taste. Purchasing Manuka honey from Steens gives you the full customer service experience.
Steens original Manuka honey provides a personalized trace code that you can enter to discover its point of origin. You can trace the exact geographical location where your Manuka flowers grow.
You also get some beautiful photos of New Zealand and a little bit of history and culture regarding your specific bottle of Manuka honey.
Likewise, key in your batch number and view relevant testing certification and you can see the specific Manuka marker results for your bottle.
The package also displays the traditional UMF-certified logo.
Steens uses its very own trademarked whole-comb technology by scraping the honeycomb along with any bee bread, pollen, or wax. The bee bread contains pollen, nectar, honey, and bee saliva making it an excellent source of amino acids, enzymes, and other nutrients that aid in digestion:
- Iron
- Calcium
- Potassium
- B-vitamins
- Flavonoids and phenols
- Bio-availability
By cold pressing the comb, all the nutritional properties remain intact leaving you with the best raw, unpasteurized, and unfiltered honey possible.
You can even customize your very own subscription program for routine deliveries and get a 20% discount on every jar.
Steens' website also features a wellness guide and blog with an abundance of useful information, recipes, and how-to articles, as well as access to dedicated customer support.
You also get free shipping on orders over $50, but their regular shipping prices are much lower than most companies.
Overall, Steens offers the best Manuka honey experience and is one of the most transparent companies offering the most certifications, hive-to-home traceability, superb resources, and excellent affordability.
3. Wedderspoon Manuka Honey
| SPECIFICATIONS | Unique Manuka Factor: Multifloral Manuka Honey K Factor 12 or 16 Shipping: $18+ Delivery Time: 5 business days |
| TODAY'S BEST DEALS | View Price |
| REASONS TO BUY | + Affordable pricing + Key certifications + Rewards program + Great flavor |
| REASONS TO AVOID | - High shipping costs - No visible traceability |
The Wedderspoon Manuka Honey brand offers a variety of good quality Manuka honey products in addition to their K Factor monofloral and poly-floral honey.
Wedderspoon primarily features four distinct honeys that can be traced to New Zealand's actual manuka plant:
- Multi-floral honey with K Factor 12
- Monofloral Manuka honey with K Factor 16
- Organic monofloral Manuka honey with K Factor 16
- Raw Manuka honey MGO 850+
Wedderspoon is an established and respected New Zealand brand with a trusted name, and they don't disappoint. Even their poly-floral honey has some health benefits and medicinal properties superior to regular honey.
Plus, they offer a variety of other healthy honey products like propolis sprays and gummies.
Not all of New Zealand's honey is considered medical grade Manuka honey, nor does any have a UMF rating. However, they still contain antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties sufficient enough to treat common ailments like sore throats and minor skin infections.
Wedderspoon's K Factor 12 is a great option for overall good health and digestion. For a more potent version with superior medicinal properties, consume Manuka honey with a K Factor 16.
The viscosity of Wedderspoon's Manuka honey is a tad thicker than common table syrup, but with visible pollen that you can feel and taste giving it a slightly granular texture.
Its apricot color has a confectionary aroma reminiscent somewhere between burnt marshmallows and cotton candy with just a hint of mint.
Wedderspoon's extraction process involves giant fans that naturally heat the environment without exceeding the temperature of the hive. This decreases the viscosity of the honey just enough to triple-filter natural debris.
The Wedderspoon Manuka honey is then gently creamed to produce succulent, creamy honey with all its inherent health benefits.
Their website features a rich 'Sweet Spot' blog filled with loads of information and various recipes for you to try, along with a 'Sweet Rewards' program that lets you earn points for in-store discounts.
However, there does not appear to be a 'trace to hive' option even though their website states that all of their "Manuka honey is traced back to our master beekeepers who harvested and tended to the hive."
Even though the Manuka jar states "Traceability Hive to Home," there is no QR Code or any visible location on their website to enter a batch number for traceability.
Wedderspoon Manuka Honey has a slightly different set of credentials given their K Factor rating, but they still have the FernMark seal of approval, as well as the following credentials:
- Non-GMO project
- Rodale Institute
- Glysophate free
- Halal Certification
Unlike most Manuka honey manufacturers, Wedderspoon uses a K-Factor grading system in lieu of the typical UMF rating citing that it 'exceeds the Ministry for Primary Industries' requirements in New Zealand.
The K Factor measures the amount of manuka pollen in the honey which inadvertently verifies the origin and authenticity of its honey. Since the Manuka tree is indigenous to New Zealand, the level of Manuka pollen distinguishes between monofloral and poly-floral.
Wedderspoon also prides itself on having the only certified Safe Quality Food facility for Manuka honey.
Additionally, they offer free shipping on orders of $25 or more. It's well worth it to upgrade your purchase to free shipping. Otherwise, don't be surprised if your shipping costs outweigh the price of your honey.
4. Manukora Manuka Honey
| SPECIFICATIONS | Unique Manuka Factor: 24+ MGO Number: 200 Shipping: $7.99 Delivery Time: 5 business days |
| TODAY'S BEST DEALS | View at Manukora |
| REASONS TO BUY | + Affordable + Reasonable shipping rates + Non-GMO Certified + Glyphosate-Free Certified + Smooth and creamy |
| REASONS TO AVOID | - Lacks FernMark certification |
Whether MGO 200 or Manuka Honey UMF 24+, Manukora is packed full of antioxidants and prebiotics making it a great go-to for energy and immune boosters, as well as digestive health.
Its high MGO levels are proven to inhibit harmful bacteria such as E. Coli and MRSA.
Manukora Manuka Honey is peachy in color with only a slight grit. It has a subtle warm vanilla aroma, but its taste is surprisingly tangy and zesty with a hint of burnt toffee. Overall, it's sweet with a smooth, creamy texture, but slightly acidic offering a bit of pizzaz.
Manukora offers a variety of MGO alternatives ranging from 200-1123, and they offer a personalized quiz to find your perfect match. Additionally, you can subscribe for monthly deliveries and get 20% off, but there does not appear to be any type of obvious rewards program.
While Manukora is a member of the UMF honey association, they highlight their MGO number over their UMF factors for the "sake of simplicity." But rest assured, they provide authentic Manuka honey and provide all of the essential testing information to their customers via their unique QR authenticity platform, and each product has its own QR Code.
Manukara is a fairly new company when compared to our other Manuka honey brands. Still, it has an interesting backstory established in 1998 by a blind beekeeper, Bryce Hooton, around the East Cape of New Zealand.
They don't provide a lot of information on how their honey is processed, and much information is absent in comparison to other New Zealand Manuka honey providers.
Manukora is both non-GMO verified and glyphosate free. The company cites that every batch is 3rd party tested for toxins and pesticides.
Manukora does not display the FernMark stamp of approval, nor is all of their honey UMF certified. So if it's truly authentic Manuka honey with UMF certification that you seek, be sure to review the labels carefully.
The bottle of Manuka honey that I received indicates the product is connected to Ora Foods out of Los Angeles, California. Upon investigation, Ora Foods is a member of the UMF Association and a legitimate private-label New Zealand Manuka manufacturer.
Monukora provides free shipping with orders over $50, but orders under $50 have minimal shipping costs.
5. Comvita Manuka Honey
| SPECIFICATIONS | Unique Manuka Factor: Multifloral - UMF 20+ MGO Number: 50+ Shipping: Free within US Delivery Time: 6 business days |
| TODAY'S BEST DEALS | View Current Price |
| REASONS TO BUY | + Free Shipping for US + Very affordable + Seals of Authenticity |
| REASONS TO AVOID | - No verifiable traceability - No rewards program - Expensive shipping to UK and Mexico |
Comvita Manuka Honey is a well-respected New Zealand company known for its Manuka health benefits within the medical and athletic professions. They offer a range of honey from multi-floral to Manuka honey UMF 20, in addition to a variety of other Manuka honey products.
The MGO content derived from manuka flower pollen possesses superb antibacterial and antimicrobial properties and has a reputation for wound treatment in hospitals. The health benefits of Comvita Manuka Honey include immune support, DIY skin care, and gut health.
Its apricot color is extremely grainy, but not as thick as others. It has a faint honeysuckle scent with a fresh, zesty herbaceous taste.
Comvita Manuka Honey produces raw, unpasteurized, and creamed honeys with and without a UMF certification.
While Comvita advertises their honey is traceable to the source, there is no visible feature on their website, or bottle, to trace their honey, making them a little less transparent when compared to other Manuka honey brands.
Their website does feature an abundance of articles and recipes, but there is no subscription service or rewards program available.
Comvita carries the main seals of authenticity:
- FernMark
- Unique Manuka Factor (where applicable)
- Non-GMO verified
They are also proud partners of the Harmony Plan for climate action and strive to be carbon neutral by 2025. Additionally, they're partnered with the Saving the Wild project to protect the Kimana Wildlife Corridor in Africa and provide a scholarship fund for children of the Maasai landowners.
Comvita shipping is free within the United States making them one of the most affordable options. However, shipping is rather costly for those in the UK and Mexico.
Comvita has ongoing sales, offering both percentage discounts as well as "buy one get one free." While you can sign up for their newsletter, there does not appear to be any subscription service available.
6. Manuka Honey of NZ
| SPECIFICATIONS | Unique Manuka Factor: 5+ - 25+ Shipping: $18.08 Delivery Time: 10 business days |
| TODAY'S BEST DEALS | View Current Price |
| REASONS TO BUY | + Multiple brands to choose from + Loyalty program + Key Certifications |
| REASONS TO AVOID | - High shipping costs - Slow shipping speeds |
Manuka Honey NZ is more of a curator of all things New Zealand including over twenty different brands of Manuka honey giving you plenty to choose from. They advertise only the best Manuka honey brands with UMF authenticity.
They offer a range of honey from UMF 5+ to 25+, which is ideal for 'natural healing and bacterial balance' with plenty of options for boosting both natural energy levels and your immune system.
I opted for the Onuku Manuka honey brand, which has a delicious creamy texture and flavor making it the perfect choice for both your taste buds and your sore throat with plenty of antibacterial properties.
All of their Manuka honey features antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and can be used for wound treatments, sore throats, skincare, and digestive health. They also feature a variety of other Manuka health products with moderate antibacterial properties.
There is no information on how Onuku's Manuka honey is processed and its ingredient is simply listed as "Pure and natural New Zealand honey." However, they do offer an authenticity tracking program so you know when and what part of New Zealand your Manuka honey comes from.
If you'd like the experience of working with a variety of brands from a single source, Manuka Honey of NZ offers a very nice loyalty plan that offers you $1 for every $5 spent (New Zealand currency).
Moreover, they only curate trusted brands with genuine Manuka honey products so you know you're getting the real deal from the genuine Manuka plant.
Obviously, the certification will vary by brand, but Onuku Honey offers limited certifications:
- Unique Manuka Factor
- Non-GMO Project
- Halal Certified
Standard shipping is a little on the high side when compared to other comparables, but they do offer free delivery with purchases over $100.
Additionally, following the purchase, I received notification that delivery was being made via "untracked international air" and could take 10-25 business days, and it did! It took a whole ten business days to arrive, but it was well worth the wait.
7. Waitemata Manuka Honey Direct Ltd
| SPECIFICATIONS | Unique Manuka Factor: 10+ Shipping: Free Delivery Time: >3 weeks |
| TODAY'S BEST DEALS | View at Waitemata |
| REASONS TO BUY | + Free shipping + Personalized email + UMF certification |
| REASONS TO AVOID | - Longer shipping times - Less transparency - Poor virtual display |
Waitemata Manuka Honey specializes in a spectrum of native New Zealand-based honey including Pohutukawa and Rewarewa. They feature a range of honeys from multi-floral to UMF 20+ for all of your manuka health needs.
Its UMF-certified honey is known worldwide for its beneficial antibacterial properties and healing benefits, and the company has a repertoire of awards including a 5-star award by the Hong Kong Consumer Council and a 'Best Creamed Honey in New Zealand' award for their Pohutukawa honey.
Upon purchase, you can expect a personalized email from John Martin himself, with a tracking number and anticipated arrival date for your honey. Waitemata offers a good Manuka honey with a golden brown color and dark earthy taste laden with the flavor of manuka plant blossoms.
The company doesn't provide much information on how their honey is processed other than to say the honey and wax are scraped off the comb, and then forced from the comb using centrifugal force.
Their website states the honey is "further processed," but does not indicate what that looks like. However, they do bear the trusted New Zealand UMF Certification, which is the only certification they offer.
The Waitemata virtual presentation leaves a little something to be desired and offers the least amount of transparency when compared to the other manuka honeys in our lineup. There is little to no engagement—no blog, rewards program, or subscription program.
Shipping is free, but the shipping times fall well below the industry standard taking over three weeks to arrive.
How to Choose the Best Manuka Honey
Not all honey is created equal, so, there are things to consider before choosing which Manuka honey to add to your medicinal arsenal. The physical characteristics of raw Manuka honey not only provide a visual guide to its flavor but also offer a good indication of its healing abilities.
Both regular honey and Manuka honey range from colorless to dark brown and its flavor from subtly mild to distinctively bold. Any honey's flavor is dependent upon the bee, climate, flora, and soil.
Well-aged honey is like a finely aged wine. Its color darkens and its flavor becomes more robust with time, and its longevity lends to both its hygroscopic and antibacterial properties.
Texture
Good quality Manuka honey is notoriously thick, and often in solid or near-solid form. The less processing, the thicker and more nutritious it is.
Its texture also correlates to its hygroscopic characteristics. The thicker it is, the less moisture it has, which results in its ability to combat bacteria and microorganisms.
Taste
Obviously, taste is the best thing about Manuka honey. If you don't like the flavor, you're less likely to glean its medicinal benefits. Like regular honey from various parts of the world, every Manuka honey brand tastes different from the next depending on the aforementioned factors.
Not all tastes are suitable for all people. The granularity, viscosity, and sweetness will appeal to everyone differently. You may wish to try a lighter, creamier version before moving on to the thicker more resinous types.
Color
The color of Manuka honey can range anywhere from cream to dark amber, but did you know there's a lot to be said about the color of your honey?
Darker manuka honeys tend to have more intense flavors and are generally sweeter when compared to lighter honeys. From a health perspective, darker raw Manuka honey typically provides better health benefits because they have a higher concentration of antioxidants.
Conversely, lighter authentic Manuka honey has a milder flavor and is more suitable as a daily supplement.
Monofloral v. Polyfloral
When it comes to the medicinal properties of authentic Manuka honey, monofloral is the best, hands down. Obviously, the higher the Manuka honey UMF rating, the higher the medicinal constituents, but poly-floral Manuka honey shouldn't be dismissed as irrelevant.
While poly-floral Manuka might not provide premium Manuka health advantages, it might offer a better taste factor to those turned off by the granular texture and viscosity of the higher UMF ratings.
Although poly-floral Manuka honey won't be as nutritious, it still offers a wide array of medicinal benefits. A poly floral honey with an MGO of 80 or better is equivalent to a Manuka honey UMF 5+ and thus would provide equivalent benefits.
It's still teeming with living enzymes and phytonutrients making it quite useful for home remedies, energy boosters, beauty applications, and skin care even though it's not considered a premium Manuka honey.
How is Manuka Honey Processed?
One of the most important things to understand about Manuka honey, or any honey for that matter, is how it is processed.
Some companies were a little less forthcoming about their processing techniques, but here are the basics concerning raw, unpasteurized, and pasteurized honeys.
Raw Manuka Honey
Raw New Zealand honey is straight from the hive, and as such contains some external elements including parts of the comb, beeswax, and even dead bees. It also has the most health benefits because it contains bee bread, bee pollen, beeswax, propolis, and royal jelly.
Raw honey is usually thick, cloudy, and opaque because it remains unfiltered. Some Manuka honey companies apply a manual filtration process that sifts larger undesirable pieces, but this is usually done without applying any heat whatsoever.
Raw Manuka honey is by far the best because it keeps the honey's natural enzymes intact without any heating or filtering, which contributes to both its medicinal factors and delectable flavors.
Unpasteurized Honey
Unpasteurized New Zealand Manuka honey has been slightly heated during its processing, but when done correctly never reaches temperatures above the hive. This allows the honey to retain much of its nutritional and therapeutic health benefits, as well as its unique flavors.
Unpasteurized Manuka honey retains lesser amounts of pollen, propolis, and wax thereby possessing fewer health benefits.
Raw and unpasteurized honey is best for retaining the most distinguishable flavors of the region, and often the most hygroscopic, making it superior for skin and wound care.
Pasteurized Honey
When Manuka honey brands use excessive heating or boiling of their raw honey, it results in the loss of nutrients.
All raw honey contains 18-19% water. As such, when temperatures reach above 69.8ºF (21ºC), it starts to ferment causing yeast and enzymes to develop.
The pasteurization process involves heating the honey above 161.6ºF (72ºC) degrees to kill any yeast, which is what usually occurs with storebought honey. This is done to slow the crystallization process and make the honey more aesthetically pleasing.
This filtering process not only removes most of the bee pollen but also eliminates any beneficial enzymes and nutrients. So pasteurized honey is usually a free-flowing liquid with very little nutritional value.
How is Creamed Manuka Honey Processed?
Many Manuka companies offer creamy Manuka honey, which is traditionally made from 100% pure raw honey and has a thicker, richer texture with a pleasant aroma.
When done properly, creamed manuka honey is a mixture of crystalized honey and liquid honey. This mixture is then placed in cold storage to rapidly granulate the Manuka honey, which lightens its color. It is then stirred until it produces a silky smooth texture.
The best raw Manuka creamed honey is the one that still contains all the bee pollens that hold all the nutrients. This allows you to reap the most benefits of manuka honey for the betterment of your health.
New Zealand's Seals of Approval for Manuka Honey
The New Zealand government takes great pride in its Manuka Honey, and they rightfully want to protect it from counterfeiters. So if the buzz of all the certifications has you confused, here are the simple explanations for the various Manuka honey grading systems.
New Zealand's FernMark Seal
New Zealand works hard to keep its reputation credible and trustworthy in the eyes of its consumers. As such, the New Zealand government created the FernMark Seal as a symbol of trust and authenticity.
This globally recognized seal is not exclusive to Manuka honey but is available to all New Zealand businesses that meet the criteria.
One of the criteria for FernMark eligibility is GST registration, but not all companies are required to register for GST since registration is based on revenue.
So while many tout Manuka honey must carry this mark to be authentic, this is not necessarily the case. It does, however, reassure you that your product is genuine.
Unique Manuka Factor
The UMF grading system was created by the UMF Honey Association which grants licenses to those honey manufacturers that meet their rigorous standards. In order to use this trademark, manufacturers are required to hold a valid UMF license and be a member of the UMF Association.
The wonder factor in the UMF number is based on the methylglyoxal (MGO) content in any batch of honey known for producing non-peroxidal healing characteristics and above-average antibacterial properties, which is Manuka honey's claim to fame.
Many feel if Manuka honey doesn't have this logo, then it is 'fake' and not authentic or genuine. However, it's important to realize that this rating correlates directly to the quality of the medicinal benefits of your Manuka honey, and has nothing to do with its origins.
This is essentially a rating on the therapeutic grade of your Manuka honey, and not all Manuka honey is therapeutic. If your bottle of Manuka doesn't have this symbol, it doesn't necessarily mean it didn't come from New Zealand. Nor does it mean it's been adulterated or diluted.
It could just as easily mean it's either not been tested, didn't pass the test for medicinal quality, or uses a different grading system.
K Factor
K Factor is a Manuka honey grading system that was created solely by the Wedderspoon Company to comply with New Zealand's government guidelines.
Its rating system is entirely different than the UMF.
Where the UMF grading system follows the guidelines of the UMF Honey Association, the K Factor follows the guidelines of the Ministry for Prime Industries.
The PMI sets government regulations for the manufacturing, processing, sales, and storage of the honey and beekeeping industries. Wedderspoon prides itself on being the "only government-regulated and approved standard for Manuka Honey in the world."
Additionally, the UMF rating measures the amount of methylglyoxal, while the K Factor measures the amount of pollen from manuka flowers.
The K Factor regulates and authenticates quality control for these factors regarding your Manuka honey:
- Comes from New Zealand
- Raw and unpasteurized
- Non-GMO
- Glyphosate and pesticide-free
- Traceable from hive to home
Monofloral manuka honey has a K-factor of 16, whereas poly-floral has a K-factor of 12.
MGO Numbers
MGO numbers measure the levels of methylglyoxal, an antibacterial compound, which regular honey does not have. The concentration of MGO measures the potency of the Manuka honey and directly correlates to the levels of leptosperin, glyphosate, DHA, and HMF, all of which contribute to your Manuka health advantages.
In short, the higher the MGO the better the quality of the Manuka honey's medicinal properties.
Non-GMO Project
In today's world, both the quality of food and agricultural practices become more questionable by the day. In recent years, genetically modified / bioengineered foods are becoming more prevalent.
Genetic material is being artificially manipulated in laboratories to create combinations of animal, bacteria, plant, and virus genes to withstand the direct application of herbicides, produce insecticides, or even create new organisms altogether.
The use of these toxins has created the emergence of 'superweeds' and 'superbugs' that once introduced into the environment cannot be recalled. Furthermore, they can only be killed through chemical agriculture.
The non-GMO verification ensures the ingredients of your Manuka honey, or any other food, have not been bioengineered and remain in compliance with the Non-GMO Project Standards.
This includes stringent testing, traceability, and segregation of your Manuka honey.
Glyphosate Residue Free
Glyphosate is one of the most used pesticides in the world and has more of a public profile than any other chemical used in food production.
Since bees harvest nectar from the actual manuka plant, the glyphosate residue-free logo ensures your Manuka honey does not contain any remnants of this pesticide residue.
Because the Non-GMO project wielded such success in demanding food manufacturers reveal more transparency about their manufacturing practices, the Glycophasate Residue Free logo is a nice complimentary certification.
It verifies your Manuka honey does not contain any more than .01 ppm glyphosate residues.
Manuka Honey FAQs
Why is Manuka honey different from other honey?
Manuka honey only comes from the New Zealand manuka plant, and is the only honey known to contain high levels of methylglyoxal, a non-peroxide agent with many proven health benefits.
It also contains distinct phenols and flavonoids that contribute to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Why is heat bad for honey?
The truth is most Manuka honey is heated to some degree just to make it easier to work with. Heating honey within the range of the hive is an acceptable practice among both beekeepers and the UMF Association.
It's when the heat exceeds 91-97° F (32.7° - 36.1° C) that heating becomes bad, as this is the natural temperature of the hive. Anything above that destroys the Manuka health benefits, nutritional content, and flavor.
Why does my honey have an expiration date?
As previously mentioned, Manuka honey ages, but it never truly expires. The aging process can cause your honey to change color and consistency. For raw and unpasteurized Manuka honey, crystalization and fermentation are normal processes.
Additionally, the antioxidants, leptosperin, MGO, and prebiotic levels can all decline over time, especially if not stored properly. The expiration date is a guide to how long your Manuka honey can maintain its beneficial compounds once it's been opened.
Your honey won't go bad and can still be safely eaten well beyond the expiration date, but it's highly doubtful you'll have any left by the time your expiration date arrives.
For best results, store your honey in a cool, dark place at around 68° F (20° C).
My Manuka honey is beginning to ferment. What do I do?
All raw honey ferments over time. However, this is not dangerous and there's no need to toss your Manuka honey.
Place it in warm water for 20-25 minutes instead, which helps retard the fermentation process. You can use a candy thermometer to ensure your water doesn't exceed 97° (36.1° C).
What are the nutritional benefits of Manuka honey?
Honey is high in Vitamins A and C, which also contributes to its antioxidant levels. The pollen includes minerals like calcium and magnesium that strengthen your bone structure.
Raw Manuka honey also contains remnants of propolis, a fluid that bees use to coat and protect their hives, which is known to have varying degrees of phenols lending to the antibacterial properties and other health benefits.
Propolis contains significant amounts of Vitamins B and C, potassium, and magnesium.
Most importantly, it contains methylglyoxal, which is most widely known for its wound-healing abilities.
Wrapping Up
Regardless of which brand you choose, you can eat Manuka honey straight from the spoon, add it to your cuisine for more robust flavors, or simply use it as a natural sweetener.
Manuka honey offers some of the highest antibacterial properties making it useful for sore throats or to treat wounds. Alternatively, you can eat manuka honey once a day as a simple dietary supplement, energy booster, or digestive aid.
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