NZ Manuka Honey:
The Ultimate Guide (2024)

Manuka Honey

Updated: June 7, 2024

If you are on a journey towards natural wellness, you may have already come across Manuka Honey, which is a valuable natural remedy. However, did you know that New Zealand is the heartland of this exceptional honey?

Sourced from the nectar of the native Manuka tree, New Zealand's Manuka Honey is not just an ordinary honey, but a treasure trove of health benefits wrapped in a delicious, earthy flavour. With its exceptional antibacterial properties, certified by the UMF grading system, this honey stands out from the rest.

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Key Highlights:

The UMF grading system guarantees manuka honey’s potency, with higher UMF numbers indicating stronger antibacterial properties, primarily due to higher concentrations of Methylglyoxal (MGO).

Manuka Honey, particularly with a UMF rating of 15 or higher, is renowned for its antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties. This has been known to assist in treating ailments such as bacterial infections, sore throats, digestive issues, and skin conditions like acne and eczema.

Each jar has a batch number linked to a detailed certification and test results, ensuring buyers are fully informed about their purchase.

Disclaimer:

Information in this article shouldn't be considered medical advice. If you are considering taking manuka honey, propolis, royal jelly or bee pollen for their health benefits and are currently taking medication, please consult your doctor first.

What Makes New Zealand Manuka Honey Unique?

closeup of manuka flowers

The origin of Manuka Honey is of utmost importance as it determines its quality. New Zealand is an ideal location for the Manuka tree to thrive due to its clean environment and diverse ecosystem. The Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) grading is what sets New Zealand Manuka Honey apart, and it is more than just a label - it guarantees the honey's quality and potency.

The UMF grading system independently tests and certifies Manuka Honey based on its antibacterial properties. The honey's potency is directly proportional to the UMF number, with higher numbers indicating more potent honey. For instance, when you see a jar labelled UMF 20+ or higher, it means you are purchasing honey with exceptional antibacterial properties.

New Zealand Manuka Honey has a unique chemical composition that sets it apart from other types of honey. It contains high levels of Methylglyoxal (MGO) - a natural compound that gives it exceptional antibacterial properties. This makes it more effective as a natural remedy and has been enjoyed in New Zealand for generations, revered for its medicinal properties, making it a popular natural remedy.

How is New Zealand Manuka Honey Produced?

Have you ever wondered how Manuka Honey goes from a bee to the jar on your shelf? The process is fascinating and meticulous, ensuring that you get only the best quality. It all begins with responsible beekeeping in New Zealand, where beekeepers place hives in remote areas abundant in the Manuka tree, far from pollutants and other contaminants.

Once the bees collect nectar from the Manuka flowers, beekeepers collect the honey and subject it to strict quality checks at independent labs. These checks guarantee the honey meets the high standards set by New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries, using the Manuka Honey Science Definition is used to certify the honey's purity and quality through a series of tests.

But the testing doesn't stop there. The honey undergoes further independent verification to confirm its Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) rating. This ensures that its region of origin and UMF grade are genuine. The goal is not just transparency but also to give you the confidence to know that you are choosing a pure, potent, and authentically New Zealand product.

Health Benefits of New Zealand Manuka Honey

propolis supporting immunity against winter colds and viruses

Manuka Honey from New Zealand is a powerful natural remedy that you can rely on. The honey's exceptional antibacterial qualities, primarily due to the presence of Methylglyoxal (MGO), make it an effective solution for a variety of bacterial infections. Moreover, this honey has multiple benefits.

Studies indicate that Manuka Honey with a UMF rating of 10 or higher is more efficient in its antibacterial properties. Manuka Honey also has antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. Whether you have a sore throat or want to improve your digestive health, taking a spoonful of Manuka Honey can work wonders.
In addition, Manuka Honey has potential in skincare. It's commonly used in skincare products to treat skin conditions like acne and eczema due to its natural healing properties.

The Health Benefits of Manuka Honey

How to Choose Quality: New Zealand Manuka Honey

Navigating through the world of Manuka Honey can be overwhelming, especially with various grading systems like UMF, MGO, and NPA. But don't worry, we're here to make it simpler for you. When you're shopping for New Zealand Manuka Honey, the first thing to look for is the UMF certification. This certification ensures that the honey has been tested independently for its unique antibacterial properties.

The UMF number on the label is more than just a number; it represents the amount of Methylglyoxal (MGO) in the container. The higher the UMF rating, the more potent the honey. So, if you're looking for something with strong antibacterial activity, aim for a UMF rating of 20 or higher.

Another key marker to look for is NPA (non-peroxide activity), an additional antibacterial factor that adds to the honey's unique antiseptic properties. And let's not forget Leptosperin, a naturally occurring chemical found only in the nectar of Manuka plants. Its presence is a surefire way to identify authentic Manuka Honey.
So, the next time you're in the honey aisle, remember these key markers: UMF certification, MGO levels, and NPA. Armed with this knowledge, you'll be able to select a jar of Mānuka Honey that's not only delicious but also packed with health benefits.

How to Choose the Right Grade of Manuka Honey

Why Choose Manuka South for New Zealand Manuka Honey?

Rob and Sam Haines Manuka South Manuka Honey New Zealand

At Manuka South, we believe that you should only settle for the best when it comes to Manuka Honey. Our commitment to offering the highest quality New Zealand Manuka Honey is unwavering. We ensure that our honey is pure, potent, and UMF-certified.

We understand that transparency is important to you. Each jar of honey has a batch number on it, and if you message us with that we can provide you with details on the honey's UMF certification and official test results. We believe in keeping you fully informed about the product you're bringing into your life.
By choosing Manuka South, you're not just buying a jar of honey. You're joining a community that values quality, transparency, and sustainability.

Check Your Batch of Manuka South Honey

Supporting your Wellness Journey

We are here to support you on your path to wellness by introducing you to the unique properties and health benefits of New Zealand Manuka Honey, and guiding you in selecting the best product to suit your individual needs. At Manuka South, we are committed to providing exceptional quality honey, thoroughly tested and sustainably sourced to ensure its purity and pristine quality, reflecting the unspoiled natural beauty of the land from which it originates.

FAQ

What is your honey process?

Our Mānuka Honey Process;

Bees collect nectar from Mānuka flowers here in New Zealand. 
The nectar is then made into honey by the bees and stored in the hive. 
Collect honey supers (honeycomb) from hive then extract the honey from the comb.
The raw honey is then poured into drums and carefully matured in temperature-controlled facilities.
When the raw Mānuka honey has reached the ultimate maturing level it gets poured into a mixing tank and slowly stirred to start the creaming process. This creaming process typically takes 3-7 days and gives the unique texture of NZ creamed manuka honey.
Next, we pack the honey straight into jars, ready for our customers.

What does UMF mean?

The UMF Honey Association has a world-leading science programme that is focussed on identifying the unique signature compounds of genuine Mānuka Honey,  UMF® stands for Unique Mānuka Factor. The most genuine, high-grade Mānuka honey from New Zealand displays a UMF® rating on the label and packaging. This represents the unique signature compounds characteristic of this honey which ensure purity and quality. These include: the key markers of  Leptosperin, DHA and Methylglyoxal.

The lowest UMF® rating number is 5+ and one of the highest is 35+. UMF® 35+ honey is very rare and not often seen in the marketplace. Any UMF® rating above 10+ has been historically described as ‘highly active’.

Always look for the UMF® rating to be confident that you are getting the level of quality that is associated with UMF® testing.

Why is Mānuka honey so expensive?

It is a labour of love from the hive to the jar. Our hives are placed in the most pure and untouched locations around New Zealand often only accessible with helicopter which makes it a real challenge for our intrepid beekeepers to get to our hives.

The harvesting of Mānuka honey is unlike any other as the Mānuka bush only flowers for 4-6 weeks each year so our apiarist work very hard during this period to ensure we get premium Mānuka honey while also looking after the bees. The biggest impact on our harvest is mother nature and rain and cold weather can ruin a honey vintage. If the weather is bad during flowering, then the bees cannot harvest nectar from the Mānuka bush and will instead eat the honey in the hive. Ethical bee keeping is part of our core values, we therefore only work with apiarist that ensure the bees have enough honey to keep the hive healthy.

When the harvest has finished our beekeepers submit honey samples to the Manuka South HQ to be part of our selection process.All samples go through rigorous certified testing. Our technical team analyze the results and only choose honey that exceeds the industry standards.

When the tech team has ensured the honey meets all regulatory requirements, it then goes on to the selection team that look at the colour, texture and of course taste of the honey.

The honey selected for our Limited Reserve and premium range of UMF honey also goes through rigorous DHA (Dihydroxyacetone) testing. DHA, a precursor chemical of MGO, is found in the nectar of (Mānuka) in New Zealand. The DHA levels are often still relatively high in freshly harvested honey.  Over a period of time, the DHA will convert to MGO in the honey, through a natural chemical process.

The honey that gets selected for our premium range is cellared in carefully temperature-controlled facilities to mature the honey to optimal UMF/MGO results.

How do you use Mānuka honey?

There are many ways that you can use Mānuka honey, it is part of the beauty of this product! The most popular ways that our customers use Mānuka are:

Straight off the spoon
Added to your meals
Added to your drinks
Directly added to wounds, cuts, and sores

How long does Mānuka honey keep for?

As long as Mānuka honey is stored properly (not exposed to too much heat, and out of direct sunlight - your honey will last well beyond its best before date.

What are the benefits of Mānuka honey?

This is a big topic that we dive more into over on our blogs however in short:

It is antibacterial: Mānuka honey has been proven time and time again to be a powerful weapon helping the body’s immunity against illness-causing bacteria. Not only does it help kill bugs, but it provides moisture and nourishment…double bonus!

Honey also has anti-inflammatory properties which have been harnessed by humans for centuries and used as a treatment for wounds and illness. When you apply Mānuka honey to inflamed skin, it can help reduce the redness, swelling and pain while remaining very gentle.

Why is Manuka honey so unique?

Mānuka honey is derived from the nectar of the Mānuka flower. A scarce and natural resource found only in New Zealand. Mānuka honey has a very limited harvest period and can only be collected during flowering that only lasts for 2- 6 weeks each year. The honey is unique as it contains special health properties using to support digestion, health, and healing. Mānuka honey is a complex honey that goes far beyond a simple table honey.

The most genuine, high-grade Mānuka honey from New Zealand displays a UMF® rating on the label and packaging. This represents the unique signature compounds characteristic of this honey which ensure purity and quality. These include: the key markers of Leptosperin, DHA and Methylglyoxal. 

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