A honey bee collects pollen from the manuka bush flower. Courtesy of Shutterstock/M Rutherford
THE MANUKA HONEY STORY
The Manuka honey story begins in 1839 when honey bees were first brought to New Zealand, where the native mānuka plant was already treasured by Māori people for its medicinal properties.
“What makes Manuka honey special is its high concentrations of methylglyoxal (MGO), which creates powerful antibacterial effects up to 100 times stronger than other honey varieties.
The History of NZ Manuka Honey
“Unlike regular honey, Manuka honey contains stable non-peroxide antibacterial activity, discovered by scientist Peter Molan in the 1980s.
“Scientific research has validated Manuka honey’s special properties for treating wounds, infections, and supporting wellness (among many other uses), making it a valuable natural therapeutic option.
“New Zealand Manuka honey’s authenticity is protected by strict government regulations and the UMF™ grading system, ensuring consumers get a genuine product with verified levels of beneficial compounds.” NZ Honey Co.
ORIGIN OF MANUKA HONEY
Although a small amount of Manuka honey is produced in Australia, New Zealand is by far the home of most of the Manuka honey production.
New Zealand Honey Co.UMF and MGO Ratings of New Zealand Honey Co. honey. UMF 10+ to 30+ and MGO 263+ to 1620+
Not only is Manuka Honey unique to the world of honey but there are several highly rated brands. Actually, it also comes in specific antibacterial strengths (MGO) with a variety of certifications (UMF).
“Mānuka honey contains 3x the natural antioxidants vs regular honey, many that you can’t find elsewhere. Antioxidants have been studied to help balance the body’s inflammatory response.” Manukora Manukora Honey 50+ to 1000+
MANUKA HONEY RATING SYSTEMS
UMF 10+ to 30+This is the official rating system or the Unique Manuka Factor with the least at 30+ to the most at 60+. It is independent from any single brand, trusted by premium Manuka honey producers and tests genuine, fresh, pure, raw, and monofloral Manuka honey produced and packaged in New Zealand. The gold standard, by opting for UMF™ Manuka honey, you are covering all your bases and getting the best possible product straight from the wilds of New Zealand.
MGO 263+ to 1620+“More MGO = more of the good stuff!
MGO, is a unique antibacterial compound naturally found in the nectar of the Mānuka tea tree flower. A higher MGO number means higher antibacterial activity and also higher concentrations of other key bioactives.” Manukora
“KFactor™ is a Manuka honey rating system created by a honey brand. It verifies five key factors which indicate genuine Manuka honey: traceability, raw and unpasteurised, non-GMO, made in New Zealand, and free from antibiotics, glyphosate, and pesticides. KFactor™ can be multifloral or monofloral.
KFactor™ leaves out one of the most critical measures that most Manuka honey customers look for – its antibacterial potency. Methylglyoxal (MGO) content is not included in the KFactor™ rating. Instead, we recommend the UMF™ rating for Manuka honey.” New Zealand Honey Co.
TOP BRANDS OF MANUKA HONEY
Below is a suggested listing of the 10 best Manuka honeys. Top ten suggested brands of Manuka Honey (1-5)Top 10 brands of Manuka honey (6-10)
