Author: Lisa

On a per gram or per ounce base, Manuka honey must be the most expensive honey in the world, also based on the size and volume of its global sales.

The term Mānuka is a Māori word, which is the native tongue or indigenous language of New Zealand.

For decades, maybe even hundreds of years the Māori already appreciated the value of both the Manuka tree and the honey which would’ve been collected by bees who were in locations where Manuka bush was prevalent.

Some might say it’s expensive because it works.

Also see the MGO vs UMF table from the UMHA.

When I say works, I mean there is a lot of scientific backing that supports the healthy properties of Manuka honey.

As a natural food, this is very attractive to a lot of people seeking natural remedies without needing to move onto pharmaceuticals.

But telling you why Manuka honey has health benefits, what those health benefits are, I’ll put in another post.

I can say that my girl friends and I find it wonderful as a healer, skin repairer and all round miracle in our wellness regimes.

This post is my explanation, and the extensive research that I’ve done explaining to you why Manuka honey is so expensive.

It’s easy to find a 250-gram or around a 9 ounze jar for anywhere in excess of $300 (US). It seems that the higher the numbers on the front that you see, the higher the value of the Manuka honey.

To understand why Manuka honey is so expensive, we really need to go back to the beginning of the journey.

1: Manuka is often found in hard to reach places

The Manuka tree or bush is from the Latin name, Leptospermum scoparium. This bush is found mostly in very remote areas and tends to survive well in very harsh conditions.

If you travel through New Zealand through a lot of the thermal and volcanic parts of New Zealand, which are famous for boiling mud, boiling water and thermal activity, you will often see a lot of Manuka bush around as it’s one of the only things that can survive in those environments.

Likewise, if you travel to the far North of New Zealand to the very top where the heat is high, the conditions are windy and harsh, you’ll also find Manuka thriving there. And in fact, scientists have been doing research into what makes the Manuka bush survive so well in these conditions.

If you travel to the tops of the mountains in some of the South Island locations of New Zealand, you’ll also find that the Manuka tree is one of the only trees that seems to at least survive and often thrive in those conditions.

Because of this remote and often harsh environment, it also means that placing hives near the Manuka tree makes it often a difficult and expensive exercise.

Generally speaking, you will find a lot of higher-grade Manuka honey comes from these most wild and remote locations.

There’s no perfect science to getting Manuka honey that has high MGO (Methylglyoxal) levels, and there’s a lot of effort that goes into collecting the honey.

The location of these hives can often only be reached by helicopter, by heavy-duty four-wheel drive trucks, that have to often travel long distances to collect the honey before returning it to the production facilities.

This cost is not only high, but in seasons where the Manuka honey and Manuka tree bloom is short, means there can be a lot of expense with very little return.

2: The manuka tree has a short flowering season

Another reason that Manuka honey is so expensive, which ties into its remote locations and the difficulties in reaching these locations and expense, is the season for the Manuka bush to flower, is usually in the heart of summer in New Zealand.

This season can start early some years and late in others. And so, when the Manuka bush flowers, it often only flowers for between two to six weeks depending on the conditions.

This means that Manuka honey apiarists, have to work extra hard during the season and have to achieve very high yields in order to supply the demand that the market provides.

This is not a year-round or summer-long activity, and if the season is not a good one, it can mean a shortage in supply for the year or the years to come.

If you have more than one bad year, then there can be critical issues obtaining, especially the higher grades of Manuka honey.

3: Weather conditions need to be just right

Number three is an extension of number two but also deserves its own mention, and that is that there are a lot of conditions that need to align for a Manuka harvest of honey to be bountiful.

The weather conditions for the season, the minerals and the soil that the Manuka bush draws from the amount of moisture and rainfall, the health of the plants, and general environmental conditions all have to align for the best Manuka bloom each year.

When the beekeepers place their hives in locations around Manuka bushes, they have to hope that the location they have chosen will be conducive for a good season.

4: Rarity

Honey itself is not that rare.

In fact, it’s quite a commodity. And to achieve a regular table honey, you can put beehives anywhere there are flowers.

Which is often the result to get clover honey or any other table honey that has been produced from bees visiting multiple types of flowers and plants during its bee collection season.

Multifloral Manuka Honey

Stepping up from normal table honey, we get to a multifloral Manuka honey, where the bees have had access to the Manuka bush but have also pollinated and traveled between other flowers to collect nectar, which means that the honey is a mix of flowers and is therefore called a multifloral.

This is actually something that can be tested for in laboratories.

Monofloral Manuka Honey

A monofloral honey is where the honey has been produced from predominantly one flower variety, in this case, the Manuka flower. So, when beekeepers place their hives for a Manuka season, the hives have to be in an area where there’s really little else but Manuka for the bees to visit.

This, in itself, limits the ability of the beekeepers to produce a monofloral Manuka honey.

Once a monofloral honey is established, there really is a, ‘it’s up to the gods’ element to what MGO levels that honey will reach.

It’s very common and easy to find a UMF 5+ or MGO 40+, 50+, 80+ or 100+ as these are very close to a multifloral classification.

As soon as you get up into the higher grades of Manuka honey and higher MGO levels including 400+, 600+, 800+, and even over a thousand, these kind of numbers become more and more rare.

If you think of a triangle with something at around UMF 24/MGO 1200+ at the top, which is the most common and highest Manuka honey numbers that you’ll typically see in retail stores, and at the bottom of the triangle is a 5+ or around an MGO 80+ or 100+, you can better visualize how the scarcity of Manuka honey works.

It’s important to understand, and reiterate, that you can’t always make these high numbers happen, and sometimes they are in the hands of Mother Nature.

You can optimize the area where the hives go because typically, you get a high MGO level in that area, but you still cannot manipulate or manually cause these numbers to happen.

Manuka honey is a natural product and the resulting MGO levels in the honey are natural and cannot be controlled. This is a wonderful thing, but continues to demonstrate why Manuka honey in the higher grades is very rare.

6: Higher grades = More antibacterial properties

So we understand with Manuka honey in the higher grades, the high levels of methylglyoxal content also mean that the honey has more efficacious properties – higher antibacterial properties.

Methylglyoxal in Manuka honey is essentially the antibacterial properties that the honey possesses, and the higher the MGO number, the higher the health benefits.

So, not only is it rare, hard to harvest and hard to get in the higher grades, but the higher grades are also more potent and powerful.

This also means that the price increases as all of these factors combine to mean that the scarcity of the high MGO numbers, the scarcity of locations that can even produce the higher numbers, the cost of getting the honey from those locations, all comes together to mean that just to get the honey into the production drums or vats is an expensive exercise AND as the rarer, higher grades are more powerful with higher antibacterial qualities, it’s therefore worth more.

Like the most effective medicines are typically more costly, this natural product also comes at a cost.

Think of it like a really fine aged Whiskey (I don’t know about Whiskey but I think this analogy works) – it’s likely a limited edition run, aged and carefully crafted, stored for many many years and, it has amazing flavor.

Not a brilliant analogy but you get the idea.

7: Testing and certifying Manuka Honey costs money

From here there are additional costs that also drive up the cost of Manuka honey.

A lot of testing needs to be done to meet the New Zealand government standards.

And if a company is registered with an association such as the UMFHA, then they also need to pay license fees to belong to such organizations.

The UMFHA, as an example, provides consumers with a lot more confidence on the honey they’re buying because a honey exporter has to meet certain standards and the honey is tested for certain chemical markers to ensure that it meets that standard.

So, it’s usually better to choose a UMF honey over others as this provides you some confidence that it is neither fake, nor altered in any way.

These additional costs for testing to meet the government standards and association fees and additional testing for those associations also increases the cost for Manuka honey producers.

Things like Glyphosate are also things companies test for.

There was a big fuss in Japan when someone in NZ tried to export honey in to Japan but it failed the glyphosate (herbicide) testing.

Ideally, a Manuka honey will be produced, packed and labeled in New Zealand to give consumers ultimate confidence.

Most Manuka honey exporters will say this if they do it as it’s important to them that people know that it leaves NZ in a finished state.

And as Manuka honey is exclusive to New Zealand (there is a thing about Australia too but no one likes to talk about it), shipping this honey to other parts of the world can also be very expensive.

8: Shipping Manuka honey from New Zealand to you is expensive

Many Manuka honey companies ship by sea and many ship by air depending on the demand around the world.

By the time the product arrives in your country and all of the local regulations and compliance requirements around food labeling for that country have been achieved, the product that you receive in your hand has undergone many, many costs, expenses, and sweat and tears to get to you.

Manuka Honey here in the USA probably arrives by ship to the West Coast but I expect some flies in also.

As honey is heavy, think of it like the weight of water, it’s not cheap to ship.

Unlike an electronic device like a phone or clothing, something that’s been manufactured in a warehouse can be shipped without such care.

Manuka honey’s amazing natural qualities and properties make it stand out as a very, very special creation of Mother Nature and bees.

This is why I study it and share my knowledge with you.

I has been a part of my natural wellness regime for years.

If you have any specific questions about the cost of Manuka honey or what brands adhere to what standards, or any other details about the production cycle, I would welcome them in the comments below and can answer them based on the research, extensive research that I’ve undertaken.

If I don’t know, I’ll tell you that too.

Peace,

Lisa

Does Manuka Honey taste different from regular honey?

The answer to that question is a little complicated. It’s both yes and no.

Manuka Honey comes in a lot of different grades. 

The chemical compounds and properties that makeup manuka honey change based on the chemical markers that can be tested for in each jar of Manuka Honey.

So, if you’re wondering if Manuka Honey tastes the same as many other typical table honeys, then that will depend on those properties. 

One of the things that makes Manuka Honey unique to other honeys, is the levels of methylglyoxal in the honey.

It’s really the methylglyoxal (MGO) that gives Manuka Honey its unique wellness properties. 

Normal table honey does not have methylglyoxal the same as manuka honey. This is the biggest difference.

And as you buy Manuka Honey that has increasingly high methylglyoxal levels, the taste of the Manuka Honey changes.

In line with that, the easiest way to explain it is if you’re buying a Manuka Honey with very low methylglyoxal levels, it will taste quite similar to other table honeys that you might be used to. 

But as that methylglyoxal rises and goes to the very high numbers, even in to the thousands, the honey takes on a very different taste profile and for some, is not that tasty at all.

To explain this further, a monofloral Manuka Honey would typically start at a UMF 5+ or with a methylglyoxal rating of 80+. 

I’ll link you to our methylglyoxal and UMF table so that you’ll understand how the numbers correspond.

It’s important at this point to know that UMF is a grading system that looks at a few different markers in the honey to come up with an authenticity and quality grading, where as methylglyoxal is really just a measure of the amount of MGO in the honey. 

MGO is also part of the UMF grading so the two are connected by MGO just made measures that single chemical compound.

So, back to that levels thing, if you look at a UMF 5 which is around in MGO 80+, which typically means can be classified as a monofloral Manuka Honey, in alignment with New Zealand government regulations it’s going to be very sweet and tasty. 

And this is a great Manuka Honey to use on toast or baking or spreading of your cereal. If we take the extreme of the scale where you may see the methylglyoxal levels up to over 1200 or 1400 MGO. 

These higher grade manuka honey can become quite medicinal and bitter in taste.

And even the aroma of the honey can change to something slightly different. 

This certainly does not mean that the honey is bad or that there is anything wrong with it.

In fact, what it means is that it has very high antibacterial properties and is particularly good for topical wound use and other general health, and well-being functions. 

You may find that the balance of a medium MGO and UMF number is a great place to sit where you have honey that is still tasty and enjoyable on food, as well as in your coffee or similar.

But also, has high enough MGO levels that you can enjoy the medicinal benefits and has a high enough antibacterial count that you can really make this multi-use gift from nature everywhere. 

Any honey with water can have medicinal benefits has been researched and many people in the Manuka Honey industry will tell you that anywhere around in MGO of 200-250+ will start to be beneficial for topical use such as cuts and scars. 

The most popular MGO levels that balance between taste and efficacy probably sits around the 500-600 MGO level which is around a UMF 15+.

That’s a rather extended way of explaining that Manuka Honey does taste different to other honeys, particularly as you get high rough in the grades. 

The grades we have recommended in our list of some of the best manuka honey typically looks at mid-range grades.

A lot of people are surprised by the bitter medicinal flavor they might experience at a higher MGO’s but there are also a lot of people that really love this taste.

They buy the high grades, not only because of its increased health and wellness benefits but also because they love the flavor. 

It’s a little bit stronger, a little bit tastier, for many. If you got any questions, feel free to ask in the comments below.

Stay well.

Lisa

Mānuka honey is expensive. Everyone knows it and for many, they understand why.

Harking from the wild slopes and landscapes of New Zealand, Manuka honey is expensive. There are few reasons why and we’ll save the full detail to another post. For now, here are some high level reasons why Mānuka honey is expensive. Here are a few:

• Mānuka honey that has high MGO (Methylglyoxal Levels) are most often harvested from remote locations
• These remote locations often require helicopters to get access to the hives, or at least require a lot more effort to get to the hives
• It takes the right season, soil conditions, weather and more to create the right balance. As the MGO levels in Mānuka honey are naturally occurring you can’t manipulate the honey artificially. That means if you end up with a good result, it’s good fortune
• The Manuka flower only buds for 2-6 weeks of the year so if the season is bad, so is the resulting amount of Mānuka honey you get. A few weeks of rain can dampen everyones yields

Anyway, back to the most expensive Mānuka honey in the world.

It’s really the MGO levels that make these Manuka honey expensive. The MGO levels are what give Mānuka honey it’s rare antibacterial properties. All UMF Certified Honey is also tested for Leptosperin and DHA but MGO is the really reason to spend more on a Mānuka honey. The other ‘chemical markers’ just confirm that it is genuine Mānuka honey and has not been ‘cooked’ to gain artificial MGO results. This is important but less common as more NZ Government testing and export restrictions come in to place.

Will this list change?

This list will change over time. Why? Well, when there is a premium expensive Mānuka honey batch released it will be in limited supply – usually much less than 1000 250g/8.8oz units. Once it sells out, it won’t always be able to be replaced with another batch, especially if the harvest has been poor that year.

The other reason this list will need to be updated is that the activity levels in Manuka Honey, the MGO levels, do grow in the honey and then degrade over time. So it’s impossible to guarantee the MGO levels in a Mānuka honey indefinitely.

If it is stored in a cool dark place this will slow the activity in the honey to ensure better longevity in the Mānuka honey MGO levels. Mānuka honey is a living, growing product of nature and as such nature is always changing.

In some ways it’s a lot like the Wine industry, there are good batches and less good batches. Those that are really great command a higher price. They are subject to the weather also. Only difference is Mānuka honey doesn’t need a wine maker, it has the Bee’s as the master craftsmen.

Can you trust these brands?

Yes, everything on this list is a well known brand and most are members of the UMFHA, a member based organisation that focuses on quality testing and certifications from independent laboratories in New Zealand.

Traceability – Tracking to the Source

While a lot of Manuka Honey companies make a big deal of traceability, it’s actually a requirement of the MPI (…think New Zealand Government level stuff) that a honey company can trace it’s honey back to source.

As a food product it has to be traceable to the batch level and then beyond to where each contributing drum of honey in the batch came from.

1: True Honey Co. UMF 31+ | MGO 1700+ Mānuka honey

Currently Most Expensive Mānuka honey in the World

Price at the time of publishing: $2,171.00 NZD / $1,532.40 USD / 5,628.66 AED / 1,346.13 EUR / 9,756.81 RMB

Size: 8.8oz / 250g

The True Honey Co. UMF 31+ pretty much broke all the UMF/MGO calculators that were available at the time. Even the UMFHA wasn’t sure how to calculate the UMF level for a 1700+ MGO Mānuka honey.

This very rare Mānuka honey has been available for sale for a while now so either it was a good sized batch or they have managed to repeat the miracle.

This remarkably expensive Manuka Honey is UMF Certified and True Honey Co. are a member of the UMFHA.

This Mānuka honey is truly rare and it’s up to you to decide if the price is worth it.

2: Comvita UMF 25+ (MGO 1200+) Special Reserve Mānuka Honey

Currently the second most expensive Mānuka honey in the world is this Comvita Special Reserve Honey

Price at the time of publishing: $425.00 USD / $601.00 NZD / 373.36 Euro / 1,561.07 AED / 2,706.23 RMB

Size: 8.8oz / 250g

Comvita have always been a big name in Mānuka honey. It doesn’t necessarily mean they have ‘better’ Mānuka honey but it does mean they are trusted. The are also members of the UMFHA and have been a driving force in trying to protect the Mānuka honey industry and reputation in New Zealand.

They boast all the certifications and accreditaitons a lot of Mānuka honey has: Unpasteurized, Halal, Kosher, and Certified Gluten-Free. They are also Non-GMO Project Verified which takes a fair amount of paperwork. There are a more and more companies becoming certified non-GMO, Glyphosate Free, Halal etc including Manukora.

Comvita has done a lovely job with this limited release. A solid wood lid and glass jar which is attractive for the traditional Mānuka honey market.

If your budget can stretch, you can at least trust the brand for this large investment.

3: STEENS UMF 27+ (MGO 1359) Raw Mānuka honey

Award winning box design and a slightly different jar size

Price at the time of publishing: $349.99 USD / $495 NZD / 307.00 EURO / 1285.55 AED / 2230 RMB

Size: 7.4oz / 209.8g

Steens are another long standing brand in the Mānuka honey space. They, like Comvita and True Honey Co. are members of the UMFHA and export Manuka Honey all around the world.

Like Comvita, they have their own hives and beekeeping is a strong part of their history – family history.

One thing less prevalent on their glass jar is certifications. Truth is honey by nature is typically Kosher, Halal and free from Glyphosate and GMOs. New Zealand has a non-GMO stance and Glyphosate is rarely used in close proximity to where this high grade Mānuka honey would be harvested.

The packing for this expensive Steens UMF 27+ Mānuka honey won awards and is not only colorful but a great representation of the hive with an enjoyable unboxing experience. A great gift idea.

4: New Zealand Honey Co. Raw Manuka Honey UMF 26+ 

The most affordable expensive Manuka Honey in the World

The UMF rating on this Manuka Honey is 26+ which is very high and very rare. So, while it isn’t actually the most expensive Manuka Honey in the world it could be.

It seems New Zealand Honey Co. have chosen to make this particular UMF 26+ with 1282+ MGO levels affordable and accessible to more people.

The colourful jar also makes a statement on the kitchen bench.

If you want a highly rated and effective Manuka Honey with great MGO levels then this cheap but expensive UMF 26+ is a great choice.

Summary

If you have the money you can certainly purchase very expensive Manuka honey. This list is the current most expensive Mānuka honey you can buy but there are plenty of effective slightly lower UMF graded honey with high MGO levels that you can look at if this list makes your wallet ache.

Have questions? Ask in the comments below.

The wellness benefits of Manuka Honey are internationally renown. It’s anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties have been researched and the increasing number of real-world examples of its use in everyday health and wellness routines is impressive.

With the best Manuka Honey typically being creamed in a jar, it’s not always the easiest product to take on the go with you. You might be looking for a more portable solution, or a solution that adds additional immunity, vitamin and wellness ingredients with the Manuka honey.

Manuka Honey gummies help to provide an easy to take wellness solution but providing the health benefits of Manuka honey in a gummy form.

Interestingly there is currently one company that sells Manuka Honey gummies, so it’s easy to recommend the best ones.

Wedderspoons offer a range of Manuka Honey gummies in their immunity and digestive range. These add additional vitamins and minerals depending in your needs.

Across their range they include the follow ingredients. Check each label for more details.

• DE111® Bacillus Subtilis Probiotics
• Elderberry
• Vitamin C
• Zinc
• Selenium

The Wedderspoon Manuka Honey gummies are made without:

• Corn Syrup
• Cane Sugar
• Added sucrose
• Glucose Syrup
• Artificial Sweeteners

It would have taken extensive testing and research to create a gummies without these fillers and sweeteners. The balance of a gummy is hard to produce as they can become sticky in heat and humidity.

The current best seller in the Wedderspoon range is the Berry flavoured immunity gummy.

1: Wedderspoon Manuka Honey Gummies – Immunity

These Manuka Honey gummies are made with 100% genuine New Zealand Manuka Honey.

The obvious benefits of Gummies is that they are easy for young and old to consume. It’s not always convenient to have a jar of honey close to hand. Gummies can be throw in your bag with the knowledge it’s easy to pull one or two out and eat them.

The recommended daily dose of Manuka Honey gummies is typically 2 gummies per day.

What about Manuka Honey Gummies for kids?

The recommended age for these gummies is for kids aged 4 years old an up. Typically, it is recommended that Manuka Honey, or any honey, is not given to anyone under the age of 1. This is because infants do not have a mature enough digestive system to deal with any mild bacteria that might exist as it is still a natural product.

The bottom line on these wedderspoon Manuka Honey gummies is that they are a powerful source of Vitamin C, taste great and have Manuka Honey all in the gummy.

2: Home Made Manuka Honey Gummies

If you love making healthy, yummy things for your family or just yourself then home made Manuka Honey gummies might be just the thing you’re after.

This recipe from Leslie at Balanced Life is a great option for making your own home made gummies. A UMF 5+ or UMF 10+ would be an excellent option for this.

You’ll need to scroll a long way down the page but Leslie includes all the ingredients and instructions. This includes fresh lemon juice, frozen berries (you can experiment with any berries you like), Manuka Honey and grass-fed gelatin to firm tings up.

These are super easy to make.

You can see the full recipe here.

Delicious!

What do UMF and KFactor measure?

In North America there is a brand that stands out for its strong sales, very affordable price and value for money. That is Wedderspoon. But when digging in to the testing and certification of Manuka Honey we have to ask if that is deserved or if there are better tested Manuka Honey brands on the market.

When buying Manuka Honey there are many numbers, grading systems and tests that show on labels. The most common ones include the UMF Grading system. This includes MGO testing. Some jars just have MGO. Others have MGS, KFactor, Bio-active and NPA.

Today we want to focus on Wedderspoon and their KFactor system and what it actually means.

Marketing can so often confuse how we understand products. Sometimes it’s the best marketing that wins, not the best product. In the case of Manuka Honey it can be so confusing seeing numbers and grading ‘systems’ on labels with very little explanation of that those mean.

Let’s start with monofloral export honey.

For a Manuka Honey to leave New Zealand labelled as a mono-floral Manuka Honey it must first pass testing criteria laid out by the New Zealand Government. This is enforced by the MPI – Ministry of Primary Industries.

This identifies if the honey can be labelled as a monofloral Manuka Honey, meaning the honey has been harvested predominantly from the Manuka Honey tree flower (Leptospermum scoparium tree for it’s full genus name). If the honey is not mostly harvested from the Manuka Tree then it is labelled as a monofloral Manuka Honey. This means it is Manuka Honey but there are other flowers that the bees have harvested from including the Manuka flower.

All monofloral Manuka Honey leaving New Zealand must undergo this MPI testing. Therefore all Manuka Honey exported from New Zealand has some testing already completed on it.

What that testing doesn’t let you know is how good the quality of the honey is. What the difference chemical markers in the honey have returned in testing to understand the antibacterial levels in the honey. The things that make it special.

Now we get to the differences between a UMF Graded Honey and KFactor grading.

We now know that both UMF honey and Wedderspoon honey have passed the MPI testing to be able to be exported from New Zealand.

UMF vs KFactor

It’s important to note both the UMF and KFactor are both trademarked. The difference between the two is more than just what they test for.

The UMF is a grading system created and overseen by the UMFHA – Unique Manuka Factor Honey Association. It has many members who join the association and agree to meet certain criteria when producing their Manuka Honey.

KFactor is a ‘grading system’ invented by Wedderspoon that for all intents and purposes doesn’t seem to test anything much at all. Wedderspoon are the only people who can use the KFactor marketing slogan.

Here is a table using the UMF testing components compared to K-Factor.

Description	UMF	KFactor	What is this?
1: Methylgloxal Levels (MG/MGO)	✔		Denotes the special antibacterial levels in the Manuka Honey.
2: Leptosperin Levels	✔		Confirmation it is from the Leptospermum scoparium flower. Anti-inflammatory properties.
3: Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF)	✔		This ensures that the honey hasn’t been artificially heat treated to increase the MGO levels.
4: Dihydroxyacetone (DHA)	✔		MGO originates from DHA
5: Testing results can be verified	✔		UMF members have certificates for each batch of their honey available to customers.
6: non-GMO Project	–	✔	UMF members can achieve this but it is not a requirement
7: Glyphosate Free	–	✔	UMF members can achieve this via the detoxproject.org but it is not a requirement
8: Produced & Packed in NZ	✔	✔
9: Labelled in NZ	✔	✔
10: Raw & Unpasteurized	–	✔	Many UMF members offer Raw
11: Traceable	✔	✔	Most UMF members have tracing options. It is a requirement of how Manuka honey is shipped that it’s source is known. Each step is tracked from source to your table or ‘hive to table’ as Wedderspoon say.

It is impossible to understand what quality the Wedderspoon honey presents. It is also impossible to understand the MGO levels or HMF levels in the Manuka Honey.

Manuka Honey gets more expensive the higher the MGO levels go. It is harder to find and harvest Manuka Honey with high levels of methylgloxal. For this reason we can only assume the MGO levels in Wedderspoon are probably quite low.

What is good about Wedderspoon Manuka Honey?

Based on the above we do know that Wedderspoon Manuka Honey is a monofloral honey. We also know it is affordable and that it is non-GMO verified. They’ve made real efforts to give their customer confidence.

Note: New Zealand at this time has never actually produced GMO foods so getting non-GMO verified in NZ is usually just a lot of paperwork and validation. Regardless of this – it’s a really great thing that Wedderspoon have done.

Wedderspoon also have an Organic Manuka Honey. This is a great achievement on their part. While we don’t know the MGO/HMF levels of those honey we do know that it is very expensive and difficult to achieve an organic label for a Manuka Honey. Well done Wedderspoon!

They also hold their testing and production facilities to a high standard.

They test for antibiotics, glyphosate and pesticides but we’re not sure about how this is done and if it is reported.

The biggest shortfall is that we don’t know the MGO levels in Wedderspoon honey.

What is good about UMF Manuka Honey?

With a UMF Honey you are often going to get many of the same features that Wedderspoon offer. Most are Raw and Unpasteurised, most offer traceability programs, all have to be processed, packed and labelled in NZ (A UMF requirement to have the UMF badge), all now test for Glyphosate to ensure it’s exportability and as NZ doesn’t have GMO foods you can have confidence they are GMO free even if they don’t have the certification.

The benefit that UMF Honey offers is that you can request the laboratory testing certificate for the jar you may have purchased.

UMF Manuka Honey also gives you the information which relates to WHY you are willing to pay so much for a Manuka Honey. It gives you the measurements of the antibacterial properties of the Manuka Honey (MGO).

And some anti-inflammatory measurement.

In purchasing UMF graded honey you can see how high the levels are. This is most important when you are looking to purchase for specific use and need to know the antibacterial levels in the honey.

Summary of the UMF vs KFactor discussion

Wedderspoon is a great brand and they produce a very popular Manuka Honey, and other products. It just important to note that the Manuka Honey you are buying is likely a lower MGO level Manuka Honey.

The UMF is a full organisation with standards and criteria its members must adhere to. Its members honey is randomly tested off shelves all around the world to ensure it has not been adulterated or tampered with after production.

You can have confidence in buying Manuka Honey from either Wedderspoon or a UMF member.

The biggest note we’d add in is that if you are wanting to buy Manuka Honey for medicinal, skincare or wound healing purposes then it’s worth buying a higher MGO honey. Anything MGO 250+ or above is OK but anything over MGO 500+ is even better.

It is possible to buy Manuka Honey over MGO 1200+. These will have excellent medicinal properties but might be very bitter to eat due to the high anti-bacterial levels in the Manuka Honey.

If you just want to buy a yummy Manuka Honey to eat, any of the above will suit. You know your getting the best Manuka Honey.

If you have any questions, just ask them in to the comments below.

In a hurry? Here is our recommendation as the best Manuka Honey from New Zealand (mono-floral) based on price, traceability, UMF certification and MGO antibacterial levels. For the rest, see the list below.

Whether you’re looking for a Manuka Honey for its rare and special healing properties or just want a natural and organic sweetener for your sandwiches, baking or Manuka Honey tea, we’ve can help.

We’ve listed the best Manuka Honey on the market today. We’ve included Manuka Honey from lower UMF and MGO grades like UMF 5 right up to the high end Manuka Honey that has very high levels of MGO.

The higher levels of MGO are perfect for natural skincare use or healing on cuts and abrasions (a lot of people also use the higher MGO Manuka Honey on their dogs and pets to naturally heal sores, cuts and wounds).

Manuka Honey grade usage recommendations

Manuka Honey is incredibly flexible and can be used to cover a huge range of food, health & wellness applications. The following table provides recommendations based on the different grades of Manuka Honey you can buy.

It’s important to understand that UMF is a grading system by the UMFHA. This is an organisation that is based in New Zealand who manage the certification and authenticity of the Manuka Honey produced by its members. It is often recommended that UMF honey is best based on the additional testing and certification requirements enforced.

MGO is the measure of methylglyoxal in the honey. This is the anti-bacterial levels in the honey. The higher the number the higher the antibacterial and microbial properties.

So grading systems like UMF, MGS, K-Factor and BioActive are grading systems and all of them have a related MGO number.

To try to explain this easier we’ll use UMF as an example.

A UMF 15+ will have many chemical properties that can be tested. MG, or MGO (methylglyoxal) is one of the properties that is tested. If the UMF number goes up, so does the MGO levels. The two are tied together.

You can see this on UMF vs MGO calculators, when one goes up the other goes up relative. It’s not a UMF vs MGO, it’s UMF & MGO levels.

MGO is not the only thing that is tested for in UMF testing, there are other chemical markers as well but MGO is the main one as it is the activity levels, the antibacterial and healing levels in the honey.

Now that you understand how MGO and UMF work we’ll build the table of recommended usage based on the UMF and MGO grading.

Manuka Honey Usage Recommendations based on Grading numbers

UMF Level	MGO Level	Recommended Usage	Notes
UMF 5+	MGO 80+	Baking / Cooking / Food /Drinks / Manuka Honey Tea	This is about as low as Manuka Honey is graded at. Anything lower is a multi-floral. K-Factor 16 would also fit in here.
UMF 10+	MGO 250+	Baking / Cooking / Food /Drinks / Basic Topical use	Flavour increases and the healing properties start to show
UMF 15+	MGO 500+	Baking / Cooking / Topical Use / Cuts & Wounds / Basic skincare / Sore throats & Colds / Drinks	Most common and middle of the road price range where the antibacterial levels become effective
UMF 20+	MGO 820+	Skincare / Cuts / Wounds / Concentrated topical healing applications / Sore throats & Colds / Drinks	Increasingly powerful methylglyoxal levels with strong antibacterial and microbial properties. Flavour strengthens, more medicinal taste.
UMF 24+ and above	MGO 1000+	Skincare / Cuts / Wounds / Concentrated topical healing applications / Sore throats & Colds / Drinks	Very strong flavour with a bitter medicinal taste. Very rare and expensive due to its limited supply and high MGO levels. Very few brands operate here.

There are many different numbers you will see on the front of Manuka Honey jars but we have used UMF and MGO as they are the most common.

We also know they are attached to scientific and verified testing processes. Comvita are one of the oldest Manuka Honey companies in New Zealand and they champion the use of UMF when purchasing Manuka Honey.

Best Manuka Honey of New Zealand (monofloral)

Now that you understand the grading process and the different uses for Manuka Honey we’ll list the best Manuka Honey on the market right now. These are from companies who have testing certifications and confirmation from the New Zealand government to export their Manuka Honey.

1: Comvita UMF 10+ Manuka Honey

Comvita have been in the beekeeping business since 1974. That’s over 45 years. They own all their own facilities and are New Zealand largest Manuka Honey company.

Their UMF 10+ is a perfect addition to food and drinks. While it is slightly more expensive than some other Manuka Honey UMF 10+ your paying for all the work that goes in to their honey production which gives you confidence in the authenticity of the product you are purchasing.

Comvita are the most recognised New Zealand Manuka Honey company so it’s easy to believe when you are buying Comvita you are buying the best Manuka Honey available. This is true in part but as all New Zealand Manuka Honey exporters have to pass the required MPI testing, and UMF Certifications (if the producer is a member of the UMFHA) you can also have confidence in most of this list.

2: Wedderspoon Raw Manuka Honey – KFactor 16+

Wedderspoon take the award for selling the most Manuka Honey. The main reason for this is that it is very cheap and does not use any other grading system so it’s hard to know what the level of MGO is in their Manuka Honey.

It is very expensive to harvest and produce high level MGO Manuka Honey so we will assume that K-Factor is somewhere around a UMF 5+ or UMF 10+ Manuka Honey equivalent, probably closer to UMF 5+/MGO 83+.

The reason it makes this list is because it still passes the New Zealand governments MPI requirements as a monofloral Manuka Honey and if you are only planning to use your Manuka Honey in your drinks in food then it is perfect. It’s 17.6oz jar stretches a long way considering the affordable price.

If you’re looking for a high quality and highly graded Manuka Honey, there are other brands to choose from so look at the UMF and MGO levels.

3: Kiva Manuka Honey – UMF 15+

Kiva are a health food company and one of their strong sellers in their Kiva Manuka Honey UMF 15+ which has an MGO grading of 514+. This Manuka Honey is a perfect match for food and health and healing uses.

The UMF 15+ puts it in the middle of the available UMF range. It’s a balanced UMF number which makes it very flexible and isn’t the most expensive you can buy.

If you want a good Manuka Honey that is multi-purpose then this Kiva UMF 15+ is the perfect choice.

4: Manuka Health – MGO 400+ 

Manuka Health are a member of the UMF Honey Association but they have spent more time promoting their MGO levels than their UMF levels.

UMF 13+ is not a common UMF monofloral Manuka Honey as most companies focus on UMF 5+, UMF 10+ and UMF 15+ levels as they sound better.

Manuka Health also has a strong presence in the UK and Europe where people tend to shop based the MGO number (and levels) in the Manuka Honey.

When you’re buying Manuka Health Manuka Honey you know you’re purchasing from a long standing and quality brand in the market. This is also a brand well known in China and across Asia. You can buy Manuka Health with confidence.

5: Manukora UMF 20+ (MGO 830+) Raw Mānuka Honey

Manukora have grown significantly recently due to their broad selection of monofloral Manuka Honey, the pricing and their commitment to authentic certifications.

Their Manuka Honey is UMF Certified so it comes with all the confidence you need when purchasing. You can also scan the Manukora QR code on the jar to view more information on the specific graded honey you have purchased.

Manukora started rising as the best selling Manuka Honey when they priced their multi-floral Manuka Honey at an affordable and cheap price. At the time of writing their Manukora MGO 50+ Multifloral was priced at under $15 US. The Manuka levels in a 50+ are so low it’s more like a typical honey and the medicinal and antibacterial benefits are low but it still makes for an affordable Manuka Honey that gives people a lot of confidence.

In addition to their UMFHA membership, Manukora hold certifications for the non-GMO Project (nongmoproject.org) and Glyphosate Free (Detoxproject.org).

6: Steens Raw Monofloral Manuka Honey MGO 514+ (UMF 15) (Unpasteurised)

Steens pride themselves on their honey being Raw Manuka Honey. They define this as keeping the temperature of the honey around 20 degrees Celsius during the processing of the honey.

UMF Certified and batch tracing is available on their Manuka Honey. All Manuka Honey that is prepared for export must have complete tests to verify the levels in the honey and to ensure it is export quality. Steens meet these requirements as a UMFHA member.

Steens have been a family business since the 80’s around the time Peter Molan was discovering the benefits of Manuka Honey. They doubled down on Manuka and have since driven some innovative change around honey extraction processes and traceability programs.

Don’t let the pale label put you off – Steens sell some of the best Manuka Honey of high quality that is monofloral. They also have some multi-floral honey.

If you’re looking for an award winning ultra high grade Manuka Honey they the Steens UMF 27+ with it’s amazing retail packaging is hard to walk past. See more.

7: Egmont Honey New Zealand Manuka Honey MGO 263+ / UMF 10+

This UMF 10+ Monofloral Manuka Honey from Egmont is a well priced UMF Certified monofloral from New Zealand. While they boast the purest, finest Manuka Honey it must really be a general statement as the high end honey NZ exporters on this list all stand tall in terms of quality.

Mt Egmont (or Mt Taranaki as it’s known officially by its Maori name) is located in the lower East of the North Island of New Zealand. This area is predominantly covered with farmland and this allows Egmont to locate their hives in some remote areas. Not all Manuka Honey producers have their own hives but Egmont do with some so remote they are only accessible via helicopter.

I’ve haven’t been to the Taranaki area in 20 years but when last there there wasn’t much there so, I can attest to their claims of remoteness.

You get all the confidence with the UMF certifications and MPI export testing regulations having been passed to make this an affordable choice for food and drink with some topical uses with this UMF 10+ / MGO 263+

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There are more than 200 Manuka Honey producers in New Zealand. All are not the same but as a rule of thumb you will ideally want to look for UMF Certified Manuka Honey. This ensures the producer and exporter has meet the requirements of an association that holds its members to account.

UMF honey is not only certified for export based on the minimum required by the New Zealand Government (MPI), they also have to meet the requirements of the UMF Honey Association (UMFHA).

There are new Manuka Honey producers popping up regularly. If you’ve seen one that we haven’t included on the list that is one of your favourites, let us know in the comments below.

New Zealand Manuka Honey is tested for any unique properties in independent laboratories in New Zealand. There are many chemical markers that are tested and the results tell if the honey is a monofloral Manuka Honey or a Multifloral Manuka Honey.

NPA stands for Non-Peroxide Activity. Essentially it represents the antibacterial levels in the honey. This number is generated from the MG or Methylglyoxal levels in the honey.

The active elements in Manuka Honey that are tested for are:

• Leptosperin
• Dihydroxyacetone (DHA)
• Methylglyoxal (MG or MGO)
• Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF)

The Methylglyoxal levels in the honey represent the antibacterial levels in the Manuka honey. The NPA number is calculation based off the MGO levels.

To help simplify this further, you will also always find the NPA and UMF numbers will correspond. e.g. If the Manuka Honey is a UMF™ 5+ then the NPA will also be 5+. While NPA is the measurement of a specific metric, UMF is the measure of many different elements as listed above.

Purchasing UMF Honey ensures you are getting a quality honey as they UMF Honey Association also do further testing and checks on it’s members to ensure its Manuka Honey is never adulterated or

It is more common in countries like the UK to use the term NPA when purchasing Manuka Honey e.g. NPA 10+.

Europe tends to shop based on the actual MGO number e.g. MGO 550+

The rest of the world including USA, Canada, Kuwait, UAE, Saudi Arabia tend to buy Manuka Honey looking for a combination of MGO and UMF gradings.

UMFHA Manuka Honey provides more assurances for purchasers as the companies who are members have to maintain and adhere to specific guidelines.

Raw Organic Manuka Honey is rare and specially harvested to ensure quality

There is Manuka Honey, raw Manuka Honey and Organic Manuka Honey. So many choices!

For some of you, the most important thing for you is that your Manuka Honey is organic.

The challenge with saying honey is organic is that it may be organic naturally. By that we mean that the honey may be produced and harvested in a place and packing facility that naturally follows the requirements for organic Manuka Honey.

A lot of the farmlands in New Zealand where Manuka Honey hives are located are remote and not subjected to sprays and pesticides as there is nothing else around.

Because this Manuka tree grows especially well in remote and baron land it is not uncommon for it to be far away from farming activities.

Bee’s can travel up to 2 miles from a hive. So to be organic the Manuka hives need to be in an area that is at least that far from any other farming activites that might use spray. As you can see from the above picture, NZ’s South Island doesn’t have too much difficulty having a 2 mile safe space.

The North Island of New Zealand Manuka hives are more often located on or near farming land. The geographic make up of the areas in the North Island have higher populations (still not that bust compared to most countries).

It’s especially important to note that just because a Manuka Honey hive is near a farm that the farm does use sprays and pesticides, or supplement the Bees with antibiotics etc.

Officially Certified Organic Manuka Honey has completed the certification process to confirm that:

• The hives are placed in specific locations that allow for organic Manuka Honey production
• The production facility meets criteria for organic food production
• The hives are made from organic approved materials
• The diet of the Bees is monitored to ensure nothing non-organic is introduced to their Bees

Organic Manuka Honey Cost

It does cost more due to the increased costs associated with the product of the honey.

Often the placement of the hives is so remote it makes it expensive to manage and harvest. Trucks, helicopters and special equipment can be required to get the hives in and out.

You also need to remember if it is a bad weather season and the Manuka flower doesn’t come out for long that all that effort may only be for a couple of short weeks.

The total season is only 4-8 weeks total in a good year.

Certified Organic Manuka Honey – Monofloral

Below are the current approved and Certified Organic New Zealand Manuka Honey products available.

1: Wedderspoon Organic Manuka Honey – Raw

Wedderspoon are the first and currently the only certified raw organic Manuka Honey from New Zealand that is available in the USA.

They have long been a leader in the affordable Manuka Honey market. Their regular monofloral Manuka Honey has its own grading system called K-Factor. K-Factor doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence as it doesn’t seem to measure much other than the honey is approved monofloral honey from New Zealand.

The Organic Manuka Honey they have begun to produce requires a much higher standard, and a higher cost. If the organic certification is important to you then the price is what it is.

2: Wedderspoon Organic Manuka Honey – Pops

As we’re lacking any other Manuka Honey brands for this list we thought we would also include these kids lollipops made from Wedderspoon organic Manuka Honey.

There are 24 Manuka Honey lollipops in the packet. There are three flavors in the one packet which include Raspberry, Orange, and Grape.

These are a great way to get a natural boost of energy.