While manuka honey is one of the most renowned honeys in the world, finding an authentic, trusted brand is often challenging.
With an abundance of fakes and imposters permeating the market, I have gone on a quest to find the best manuka honey on the market and personally tested over 12 brands.
So how does New Zealand Honey Co compare to all of the other manuka honey brands?
In short, you won't find a more transparent company. They are a top-notch company providing authentic manuka honey with a taste that any honey lover can appreciate. Their transparency, authenticity and 100% pure honey make them stand out.
However, while their product is superb, it might not cater to all individual needs, especially if you have specific requirements for your honey.
To see if New Zealand Honey Co is the right fit for you, continue reading. And if you're inclined to give it a try, we have a special discount code for you.
Jump to:
What I Liked
- Key certifications
- Easily traceable
- Great prices
- Expedited delivery
What I Didn’t Like
- Mild medicinal aftertaste
New Zealand Honey Co Overview
Photo Courtesy of New Zealand Honey Co.
Although New Zealand Honey Co is located in the heart of Mount Maunganui on the north island of New Zealand, their beekeepers are located as far south as the Otago region.
The company contracts with the best expert beekeepers all over the country to source only the very best New Zealand manuka honey.
And just to be sure, every single jar is traceable back to the very hive that it came from.
Purity
New Zealand Honey Co. assures every jar is 100% raw unpasteurized honey straight from the hive. Absolutely nothing is ever added to their honey at any stage of the production process. New Zealand Honey Co. does, however, cream all of its honey to prevent granulation.
Although their honey is not officially certified organic, their New Zealand bees forage on farmland that has not been sprayed with herbicides, insecticides, or pesticides. Unlike some other brands, New Zealand Honey Co goes the extra mile to ensure you get a premium product.
To give you peace of mind, the company provides a QR Code on every lid. Scan the QR code, enter your lot number, and you're provided with a product verification and the region where your manuka honey was sourced.
Moreover, New Zealand Honey Co prides itself on using the strictest testing standards to reduce the risk of inferior quality or adulteration.
You can also bypass the QR code and enter the information directly from your computer instead.
Authenticity
They utilize two independent government-approved laboratories. Each batch is independently tested to guarantee it passes either the MPI 3 in 1 or MPI 5 in 1 test, as well as the standard honey tests.
Every batch is tested for chemicals and other impurities, and 95% of their packaging comes from recycled materials.
Environmental and Customary Accreditations
New Zealand Honey Co. has some of the most extensive certifications when compared to other brands, solidifying their trustworthiness. In addition to being members of the Detox project, they are non-GMO verified, Kosher and Halal certified, and Glyphosate residue free.
They are also gluten, dairy, and additive-free. Their honey contains no antibiotics, and they utilize sustainable packaging materials. Moreover, they wear the Fernmark seal of approval.
Photo Courtesy of New Zealand Honey Co.
What the Certifications Mean
- UMF Endorsement: Ensures your honey is monofloral, unadulterated, and undeniably from New Zealand.
- Non-GMO Endorsement: Guarantees your honey is not genetically modified or in an area where genetically modified crops are being cultivated.
- Glyphosate Free: Your honey is laboratory tested, making sure there is no presence of the herbicide glyphosate.
- Fernmark Endorsement: Your honey has met the strict requirements set by the New Zealand government in terms of quality and purity.
- Halal Certified: Acceptable food for Islamic dietary laws.
- Kosher Certified: Acceptable food for Jewish dietary laws.
Price and Availability
New Zealand Honey Co. not only has some of the best prices, but they also have some of the fastest shipping, with delivery in as little as two days. Whether you're purchasing UMF 5+ or UMF 28+, their prices are extremely competitive.
Of course, the higher grades will cost more money, but they are still relatively affordable when compared to other companies.
New Zealand Honey Co Discount Code
If you are looking to give New Zealand Honey Co a try, we were able to secure a coupon code for 10% off. Just use the discount code AlsoTheCrumbsPlease10 during checkout.
UMF and GMO
New Zealand Honey Co. has a very simple menu consisting of only seven products. The everyday wellness honey starts at UMF 5+ MGO 83+ and makes a great healthy sweetener.
For those with an active lifestyle, the UMF 10+ MGO 263+ provides natural health benefits, and the UMF 15+ MGO 829+ gives a little extra wellness kick.
The UMF 20+ MGO 829+ is considered medical grade with an abundance of nutrients. It also makes a great skincare aide and can assist with treating acne. The UMF 24+ MGO 1122+ is perfect for optimizing essential vitality and wound support.
Their UMF 26+ MGO 1282+ is a powerful healing manuka honey and is one of the rarest superfoods in the world. Lastly, the UMF 28+ MGO 1450+ is some of the best honey on the market that can be used to heal wounds or boost your natural immune system.
If you're not sure which one is the best for you, try taking their 'best honey for you' quiz.
Taste and Texture
I've only tasted the UMF 5+ MGO 83+, which is a light amber color with a pleasant floral aroma. The texture is moderately thick and creamy like caramel. While you can definitely see the pollen and nectar, it doesn't taste gritty in the slightest like some other brands.
Its taste resembles regular honey with sweet nectar flavors. It's the perfect sweetener for your morning oatmeal, but it's just as useful for sore throats. This pure monofloral honey tastes absolutely amazing.
The UMF 10+ is also thick and sweet enough that it's a great kitchen staple for sweetening drinks or used in glazes, salad dressings, or marinades.
Rewards Program
New Zealand Honey Co also offers a Loyalty Rewards program that allows you to earn points to use towards future purchases. You earn one point for every dollar spent. You can also refer a friend to receive a 15% discount on your next purchase for both you and your friend.
Just create an account and complete the Loyalty application to redeem your points. However, you must earn a minimum of one hundred points before you can receive any of your rewards.
There is also a subscription service that allows you to order every one to three months, which allows you to save up to an additional 10% off the price.
Why Buy Manuka Honey?
Photo Courtesy of New Zealand Honey Co.
Manuka honey is prized for its superb healing properties, and its quality far surpasses your average honey purchased in the supermarket. Manuka honey is considered the best honey in the world because it has something that most other kinds of honey don't—methylglyoxal (MGO).
This makes the quality of manuka honey far superior to your average honey because it has increased antibacterial effects secondary to the MGO. So whether you're consuming manuka honey internally or using it as a topical wound treatment, New Zealand manuka honey provides a plethora of healing benefits.
Manuka honey is known to be effective against:
- β-hemolytic streptococci
- Escherichia coli (E. coli)
- Salmonella typhimurium
- Enterobacter aerogenes
- Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci
Suggested Uses For Manuka Honey Products
Whether you're using manuka honey for everyday wellness or treating more significant injuries and wounds, the quality and purity of New Zealand's manuka honey are coveted around the world for its health benefits and medicinal properties.
Wound Care
Not only is manuka honey filled with antioxidants, but it's also anti-inflammatory, anti-infectious, and anti-exudative, making it the perfect ointment for wound debriding and healing. Honey naturally produces hydrogen peroxide and can expedite the healing process of body wounds.
The higher the UMF, the better the ability to reduce inflammation and hypertrophic scarring and accelerate the regrowth of epithelial cells. While this isn't the full list of manuka honey benefits, these are the most common.
Allergies, Colds, and Flu
Honey has always been considered a go-to when you're under the weather, but manuka honey is right up there with other superfoods for strengthening the immune system, relieving coughs, and soothing sore throats.
It's chocked full of antioxidants, amino acids, vitamin C, and B Complex vitamins, which are all essential to the healing process.
Digestion
Don't let digestive issues interfere with your quality of life. Manuka honey can fix a whole gamut of gut-related issues. Manuka honey is known to stimulate digestion and promote the growth of probiotic bacteria.
Not only can it help with GERD and inflammatory bowel disease, but manuka honey can also combat helicobacter pylori, c diff, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus aureus.
Why Is Manuka Honey So Expensive?
Photo Courtesy of New Zealand Honey Co.
Several key factors contribute to manuka honey's higher price. One of the primary reasons why manuka honey is so expensive is the added expense of UMF testing. Additionally, you can only obtain UMF-certified manuka honey directly from New Zealand. As with business models in most countries, these costs are passed on to the consumer.
So you're paying a little more, in part, for the certifications and the shipping.
MGO levels are also a significant factor. The higher the MGO number, the better the quality and the more effective the antibacterial properties. The more effective the honey, the higher the price.
Lastly, the manuka flower only blooms two to six weeks out of the year. This short flowering window significantly limits the supply of manuka honey, making this liquid gold all the more valuable.
FAQs
You can buy directly from their online store, which offers free shipping for orders over $50. I received my order in two business days. Use coupon code AlsoTheCrumbsPlease10 for 10% Off.
You can also order through Amazon with free delivery on orders over $25 when shipped by Amazon.
While some companies sell both monofloral and multifloral honey, New Zealand Honey Co prides itself on the purity of its first-class honey. They only sell monofloral UMF-certified manuka honey.
The amount of servings per container depends on the size jar you purchase.
The 4.4 oz size contains six tablespoons and six servings. The 8.8 oz contains twice as much. And the 17.6 oz contains 24 servings.
New Zealand Honey Co is one of the best manuka honey companies on the market. They provide an affordable, superior product in a short amount of time. Their UMF certification, Fenmark seal of approval, and glyphosate-free honey set them apart from the rest of the crowd.
This amazing jar of honey makes it easy to stay healthy and energized. If you're interested in learning more about the benefits of manuka honey, try these articles:
What Is Manuka Honey?
Manuka Honey vs Regular Hone
9 Biggest Manuka Honey Benefit
Tim
I use the 20+829manuka .I like to put it in my morning coffee .does the heat of the coffee harm the honey. this is my 4th har.i really enjoy this honey. I am in my 70 and in less then good health.i find this honey comforting. thank you,
tim