There is a new craze in the healthy foods market, and it is a little-known honey all the way from New Zealand. Manuka honey, a highly medicinal honey found only in the tiny nation, has captured the attention of doctors, researchers and health freaks everywhere.

The honey, with potent anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, offers amazing benefits for skin care, digestion, and many other health issues. Often touted as a home remedy for anything from acne, wounds, eczema, herpes to gastritis and cancer, the demand for this wonder product is soaring, despite its odd taste and high price.

To be objective: not all sorts of Manuka honey are equally effective. Its anti-bacterial properties depend on the area, soil, and weather, intensity of blossoming of the shrub and sunlight activity. Besides, honey may differ in quality and composition from year to year.

In this review & buying guide, we will look at some of the best Manuka honey brands available online. Check out their pros and cons, UMF, MGO, Kfactor ratings as well the top features to look for in a premium Manuka brand.

Best Manuka Honey Brand Comparison Table

Best Manuka Honey Brand Reviews

Comvita Manuka Honey UMF 15+ – Best New Zealand Manuka Honey

Comvita is one of the best-known brands when it comes to authentic Manuka Honey.

They are a member of the UMF Association, which is the only authentic, independent certification on the planet for Manuka honey . This certification means that Comvita honey is real, authentic and traceable to the exact location of the beehive in New Zealand. The 15+ rating means that it has very high therapeutic values.

Talking about UMF ratings, the actual graph may have numbers as high as 25. But generally, anything above 16+ is considered of the highest quality regarding healing and anti-microbial capabilities. So 15+ is a pretty good rating, not the best, but certainly close to the top. If you want to use the Manuka honey for healing and therapeutic purposes, this is the minimum figure that you should be looking for.

Does the Comvita Manuka honey have any real flaws? The plastic packaging is just about the only issue we can find. It may get busted during shipping. And the price is on the higher side, but that is only to be expected when buying a premium product. Sure, you might find better brands out there with UMF 16+ ratings, but that doesn’t take anything away from Comvita. Incidentally, some people may have issues with the taste of this particular honey.

Comvita Manuka Honey is available in UMF 20+, UMF 15+, and UMF 10+.

Verdict

If you want a dependable, reliable, authentic Manuka honey source, you cannot go wrong with Comvita. They have Manuka honey options with different UMF ratings, suitable for various purposes. It is expensive, and the jar looks disappointing at just 3/4th full, but those are minor gripes. You can safely go for this brand.

Pros Has authentic Manuka honey, UMF certified

Has authentic Manuka honey, UMF certified UMF 15+ is premium therapeutic quality honey

UMF 15+ is premium therapeutic quality honey Has strong healing capabilities Cons Comes in plastic bottles

Comes in plastic bottles Slightly expensive

Slightly expensive The bottles are often not full

The honey comes with an official UMF 15+ rating, which means that you can rest assured that you will be getting your money’s worth when you pay for this Manuka honey. We have already explained the benefits of UMF 15+ in an earlier review, so there is no need to repeat that here.

Though it comes in a plastic bottle, the plastic is BPA free, and the black packaging does look quite attractive.

There are very few cons of note regarding the Kiva raw Manuka honey. The pricing and packaging to attract a fair amount of criticism, to be honest. It is expensive, as all authentic Manuka honey brands tend to be. But the way they leave the bottle almost a quarter empty can make one feel disappointed. Using a smaller bottle would have been a better option! When you pay good money, you at least expect a product that looks full, not half empty.

Kiva Manuka Honey is available in UMF 20+, and UMF 15+.

Verdict

But such minor gripes aside, Kiva is a dependable brand. If you want a Manuka brand for your cuts, burns, and other home remedies, it may be a solid choice. You get UMF certification; a premium 15+ rated product, and the ability to trace it right back to its source for authenticity. It ticks all the right boxes.

Pros Creamy and tasty Manuka honey

Creamy and tasty Manuka honey Has the authentic UMF rating

Has the authentic UMF rating UMF 15+ means good quality therapeutic honey

UMF 15+ means good quality therapeutic honey Packaging looks very handsome Cons Rather expensive

Rather expensive Bottles look half empty, which is quite disappointing

The market for manuka honey is kinda diverse, since the quality and the taste of the honey is highly variable.

This particular honey has the goodness of bee bread, which is a highly nutritious product found in a hive. The honey is raw, unpasteurized, and cold pressed to preserve all the nutrients.

You can trace it back to its source hive, which is a feature that we have come to see as mandatory on authentic Manuka honey products. The brand was created by a beekeeper couple, who have been in the business for more than three decades. They are licensed members of the UMF association.

Cold pressed honey has a higher content of beneficial nutrients and enzymes and a much thicker texture. Their unique extraction process ensures that Steen’s honey has a higher content of bee bread, which is a mix of pollen, enzymes, probiotics, and honey. This extremely nutritious material is what goes into the making of royal jelly.

Steen’s is available in UMF 5, 10, 15, 20, 24 rating, and you do have three options when it comes to quantity. There is a small 3.5 oz jar, a 12 oz jar, and the biggest 17.6 oz jar. The packing and labeling are pretty standard, with a combination of black and amber colors.

Verdict

Steens is not a bad brand at all. To their credit, they have all the relevant licensing, and they also undertake diligent testing and quality control. They have tried to improve the nutrition profile of their honey without tampering with its authenticity. This product is not hard to recommend.

Pros Cold pressed for improved quality.

Cold pressed for improved quality. Brand owners are themselves the beekeepers

Brand owners are themselves the beekeepers Has a high content of nutritious bee bread

Has a high content of nutritious bee bread Sweet taste Cons The jar is made from plastic.

And that is not an empty claim, since they have the all-important UMF rating and license. Their honey is tested by independent labs in New Zealand, and have a proven UMF rating of 20+, which means that it is extremely rich in methylglyoxal. The MGO content in this honey has been rated at 825+, which indicates that it has a high potency.

The honey is taken straight from the hive and into the jar, with as little processing as possible. Manukora uses a unique creaming process to ensure a thick consistency for their honey.

It also has a rather stronger flavor that some other manuka honey we tested. We believe that this is due to the particular region from which they source the honey.

Though that creaming process does sound promising, it does have an impact on the texture of this honey. You may not like the grainy texture that it often has. We have also encountered some level of crystallization, which may be a side effect of this process.

But as we have already mentioned, the honey is pure and has a high healing potency. The packing is also pretty good, with attractive black labeling. But the use of a plastic jar is a bit of a letdown for such a premium product.

You can buy manuka honey in two quantities from Manukora. There are the smaller 8.8 oz jar and the more significant 16 oz jar.

Manukora Manuka Honey is available in UMF 20+, UMF 15+, and UMF 10+.

Verdict

This is another great product from New Zealand. They are entirely legal, and you can trace each individual bottle all the way back to the source in New Zealand. That kind of attention to detail is commendable and extremely necessary in the lucrative Manuka honey market. Manukora seems like a trustworthy brand. This is not a bad product.

Pros Has the UMF certification

Has the UMF certification Very high MGO rating

Very high MGO rating Pure honey without any processing

Pure honey without any processing Strong taste and flavor Cons It is quite expensive

It is quite expensive Sometimes has a tendency to crystallize

Sometimes has a tendency to crystallize The texture may not feel good for some people

The texture may not feel good for some people Comes in a plastic jar

And that East Cape region in New Zealand gives this honey an advantage over other versions of Manuka honey. The East Cape honey is milder, sweeter and more palatable while having the same health benefits as other Manuka versions. And Wild Cape is a member of the UMF Association, so authenticity is guaranteed as well.

The honey is also ethically harvested, without unduly harming the bees. When you buy Wild Cape, what you get is high-grade UMF 15+ honey, packed in food grade plastic jars free from BPA.

There are no major flaws associated with this brand. The only thing to watch out for is the flavor of the honey. Manuka is not particularly well known for being a crowd-pleaser regarding taste. Some people are put off by its medicinal flavor. While the East Cape honey is considered sweeter, some may not like it.

Verdict

With all the proper licenses and source information, there is hardly anything to dislike about this brand. They are well worth a look if you need high quality, medical grade Manuka honey.

Pros Authentic East Cape Manuka honey from New Zealand

Authentic East Cape Manuka honey from New Zealand Comes with full information regarding geographical source

Comes with full information regarding geographical source UMF licensed brand

UMF licensed brand High-quality UMF 15+ rating Cons Comes in plastic jars

Comes in plastic jars Some people have issues with the flavor and sweetness

So there are no doubts or concerns regarding the reliability and authenticity of this particular brand. What you get is 100% real Manuka honey from New Zealand. And you may already have noticed; the UMF 15+ rating means that this is one of the best quality Manuka honey you can buy.

They also sell a lower grade UMF 10+ rated honey for those who need a less potent version of Manuka honey.

Though it comes in a plastic jar, it is BPA free and quite safe. The packaging looks quite pleasing, and they do keep it full, so you don’t end up feeling short changed! The honey itself has a rich flavor and is quite creamy. We found no major faults or flaws with the product.

Some individuals may have issues with the way Manuka honey tastes. As the taste can vary depending on the location and even the year, you may have to try a few brands until you get one that you like. So, you cannot fault the brand for this.

There have been reported issues of people paying for the UMF 15 product and receiving UMF 10 instead. Other than that, there are no major problems with the Happy Valley honey.

Verdict

This a reliable product, backed by the UMF guarantee. If you have the money to spare, it could be a good buy.

Pros Has the authentic UMF license

Has the authentic UMF license Available in UMF 15+ and UMF 10+ variants

Available in UMF 15+ and UMF 10+ variants Good quality honey

Good quality honey Excellent packing Cons Minor issues related to shipping

Minor issues related to shipping Some users have problems with the taste of this honey

So you can rest assured that you are getting the real deal from these guys. Their brand has an entirely legal UMF rating. When you buy a bottle of this honey, you are getting a product that can be traced all the way back to its source in New Zealand.

This honey has a UMF rating of 15+ which is on the higher side. Each batch is tested by an authorized and independent lab in New Zealand.

This particular honey comes from the North Island region, which one of the two main islands of New Zealand. The beekeepers are located near the city of Hamilton. The raw honey is 100% natural and hasn’t been heated or filtered. This can be used as a healthy spread, or as an alternative sweetener. It also has potent antibiotic properties.

Bee’s Inn sells three different grades of Manuka honey. You can choose between UMF 5+, 10+, and 15+ versions. All are available in 8 and 16-ounce jars. The packaging looks classy and has very detailed information on the labels.

We could not find any faults in this product. Sure it is expensive, but Manuka honey is a really rare product. And the taste does take some time to get used to, but that is not unique to this product.

Verdict

They are a legit brand, and you get the quality you want. The company is authentic, and they make their own honey in New Zealand. They are a part of the UMF organization and have a valid license. The options on UMF ratings are also nice, since you can choose more potent strains if you need the healing effect more. This is a great product, and we have no hesitation in recommending it.

Pros Pure Manuka honey from New Zealand

Pure Manuka honey from New Zealand The Bee’s Inn brand are authentic beekeepers

The Bee’s Inn brand are authentic beekeepers The highest grade honey has a UMF 15+ rating

The highest grade honey has a UMF 15+ rating Authentic taste, texture, and flavor Cons It is on the expensive side.

It is on the expensive side. Not available in the highest UMF 25+ rating

And that is what sets them apart from other licensed UMF honey brands. Yes, they have a license and produce authentic manuka honey in their New Zealand farms. But they do not follow any kind of commercial beekeeping practices and focus on creating organic environments for their bees.

They undertake a lot of steps in habitat restoration, and plant native species of trees, including the Manuka on their estates. Their estates are now home to 63 different species of endangered birds, and some of them adorn the label of this honey.

As for the actual honey itself, it is 100% pure and unadulterated. It is not pasteurized and has only undergone minimal filtration to ensure that each jar contains an extraordinarily pure and potent product. As for the actual potency, Tahi manuka honey has a UMF 15+ rating, which above average. This is what you should be aiming for if you want honey with superior healing powers.

As for the negative aspects, we could only note one or two. The consistency is a bit of a letdown, as it felt too watery. We have come to expect manuka honey that is very thick, and this one feels too runny for us. It is also somewhat sweeter and has a different color and texture. It might be due to the local conditions in their estate.

Standardization of taste and flavor is not possible for manuka honey. Each region in New Zealand produces a honey with a different flavor, texture, and color. Keeping that in mind, we cannot really fault Tahi for their honey. It may not seem pleasant for some people, while it may feel perfect for others.

Verdict

What we can reliably say is that they have an authentic product and that they also give a lot back to the environment. Theirs is a cause worthy of your contribution, provided you like the flavor and taste of course!

Pros Eco-friendly manufacturing practices

Eco-friendly manufacturing practices Sourced from their estate in New Zealand

Sourced from their estate in New Zealand High UMF rating of 15+

High UMF rating of 15+ Pure and unadulterated manuka honey Cons Unusual taste and texture

Unusual taste and texture Too sweet, and has a runny consistency

The brand is pretty legit and has a UMF official license. So you can be confident that what you get is pure manuka honey direct from New Zealand. What sets this particular brand apart is the emphasis they give to the storage of honey. Manuka honey can lose its potency if it is stored improperly and frequently transported.

This brand makes it a point to ensure that the honey is securely stored in their specially designed “honey rooms” and transported directly to the customer. The honey has a high potency of above 20+ on the UMF scale. That is one of the highest ratings you can get. This is a single origin honey, sourced from the East Cape region.

Does it have any unusual faults? The packaging could have been better since they use plastic bottles that don’t feel premium. But other than that, we could find no major issues. The taste is a bit off but is not unusual for manuka honey. If the taste is high on your priority list, you might want to look elsewhere.

The labels are bright and have pastel colors. This honey is only available in a single sized bottle. It is available in 8 oz bottles. We wish they also sold in more massive quantities.

Verdict

On the whole, Natural Solutions is not a lousy manuka honey brand. They have the UMF license, and their honey has passed all regulations and testing. The high potency is a significant factor to consider if you are thinking about buying this product. We would recommend it more for its therapeutic effects than as a food item.

Pros Pure Manuka honey from East Cape, New Zealand

Pure Manuka honey from East Cape, New Zealand Uses unique storage for improved quality

Uses unique storage for improved quality High UMF rating of 20+

High UMF rating of 20+ Single origin honey, unblended Cons Lackluster labels, and plastic jars

Lackluster labels, and plastic jars Taste is not the best out there

Taste is not the best out there Only available in one size jars

As a Manuka Honey brand without UMF membership, Manuka Health does manage to get a few things right. The certification and rating they have used are what separates them from some of the other UMF certified brands out there. Manuka Health uses MGO rating, and their honey is rated MGO 400+, which makes it comparable to a UMF 12 or 13 honey regarding health benefits.

As you can see in our buyer’s guide at the end of this review, MGO stands for Methylglyoxal, the active ingredient that makes Manuka honey so special. An MGO rating of 400 means that the honey has medicinal properties similar to a UMF rated 12+ honey. To clarify further, it may have some therapeutic or healing effects, but it is not comparable to a top of the shelf, UMF 16+ rated brand.

Verdict

In conclusion, Manuka Health is not a bad choice if you want honey for daily use, with some extra benefits over regular honey.

Pros All natural honey sourced from New Zealand

All natural honey sourced from New Zealand Affordable pricing

Affordable pricing High MGO content, provides moderate therapeutic benefits

High MGO content, provides moderate therapeutic benefits Better rating system than other non-UMF brands Cons MGO 400+ is only equal to a UMF 12+ rating, which is average

MGO 400+ is only equal to a UMF 12+ rating, which is average Sold in non-premium plastic packaging

It is one of the most affordable brands of Manuka honey out there, which probably contributes a lot to its popularity. According to the manufacturer, the honey is sourced directly from New Zealand, which is the only source of real Manuka honey in the world. It also has a unique KFactor 16 certification, recognized by the New Zealand Government.

Before we get to the cons of this honey, it is essential to explain the significance of the KFactor 16 certification. Unlike the universal UMF certification used by all Manuka manufacturers, KFactor is a certification used by Wedderspoon.

It only looks at the pollen content in the honey, with the logic that higher pollen content means healthier Manuka honey. But pollen in honey can come from other flowers as well, not just the Manuka plant. So this is not a very reliable certification for authentic Manuka honey.

Unfortunately, just because something is popular doesn’t mean that it is the best product available. And the same is true in the case of Wedderspoon. Its most significant flaw is the absence of the standard UMF certification. To be considered authentic Manuka honey, you need to have the UMF certification. And the price is also quite low, which is too good to be true. You can say that there is no such thing as cheap Manuka honey. The packaging is also quite cheap, with plastic bottles implying a less-than-premium product. There are also some wide variations in the taste and appearance of the honey in different batches.

Verdict

All in all, if you want an affordable honey of decent quality that has at least some amounts of the real Manuka honey in it, Wedderspoon is a good choice. They do not have the UMF certificate, and without that, any claims of 100% authenticity are just not valid. You should look at other brands if you want 100% proof of authenticity.

Pros Quite a low price

Quite a low price Certified non-GMO product

Certified non-GMO product Pure raw honey, not pasteurized

Pure raw honey, not pasteurized Sourced from genuine New Zealand honey manufacturers Cons Does not have UMF certification, may not be authentic Manuka honey

Does not have UMF certification, may not be authentic Manuka honey Cheap plastic bottles

Cheap plastic bottles Taste and quality varies wildly from batch to batch

Other Manuka Honey Brands

Read Reviews Manuka Doctor Bio Active Honey, 24+ Manuka Doctor throws out a lot of ratings and figures about their honey sourced from New Zealand. One of its pros seems to be the 24+ Bio Active rating, which shows the active peroxide content in the honey. Honey with higher peroxide activity is considered healthier. This appears to be an authentic all natural product from New Zealand. Manuka Doctor also has a lot of different grades and flavored variants of this honey for the discerning customer. Manuka Doctor throws out a lot of ratings and figures about their honey sourced from New Zealand. One of its pros seems to be the 24+ Bio Active rating, which shows the active peroxide content in the honey. Honey with higher peroxide activity is considered healthier. This appears to be an authentic all natural product from New Zealand. Manuka Doctor also has a lot of different grades and flavored variants of this honey for the discerning customer. Again, we feel the need to clear the air about these certifications thrown about by brands for marketing purposes. The Bio Active rating here is quite similar to the KFactor 16 rating used by Wedderspoon, in that both do not look at the things that matter in Manuka honey. All honey has peroxide and pollen. A particular honey cannot be branded Manuka just because it has high pollen or peroxide activity. UMF certification, along with MGO rating is what truly separates Manuka honey from the rest. That brings us to the main issues with the Manuka Doctor brand. This honey does not have a UMF Association certification. Only brands which are part of the Unique Manuka Factor association can claim to have truly authentic Manuka honey. This, unfortunately, does not apply to the Manuka Doctor brand. And the 24+ label doesn’t mean much since the best quality Manuka honey has the highest rating of UMF 16+. Also, it is quite cheap and comes in a plastic bottle, which does not exactly scream “premium quality.” Verdict We don’t want to appear too harsh on the Doctor Manuka brand. Their marketing is slightly disingenuous and misleading, but they have not indulged in any false advertising. If you want good quality honey from New Zealand, with some Manuka properties, this one may be a good choice. They have some nice flavored mixes as well. But for the entirely authentic goodness of real Manuka, stick to brands with UMF certification. Pros Cheap and very affordable

Cheap and very affordable Available in multiple ratings of Bio Activity

Available in multiple ratings of Bio Activity Available in flavored blends as well

Available in flavored blends as well Authentic New Zealand honey

Authentic New Zealand honey Pure and 100% natural, non-GMO Cons No UMF certification, so not authentic Manuka honey

No UMF certification, so not authentic Manuka honey Active 24+ is not equal to or better than UMF 16+

Active 24+ is not equal to or better than UMF 16+ Available only in plastic bottles

Available only in plastic bottles No details about important facts like exact place origin, or MGO figures Pacific Resources Mossops Manuka 20+ Bio Active When you buy this Manuka from Pacific Resources, you do get a lot of quantity, that too at a good price. This honey is available in different bio-active ratings, ranging from 5 to 20. The honey is sourced from Mossops, which is a recognized New Zealand company that produces authentic Manuka honey. This seems to be a good quality honey blend, rather than a single batch of honey. We feel it appropriate to give some clarification here. Yes, Mossops is a brand recognized by the New Zealand government, but that does not mean that every batch of honey they sell under that name is authentic Manuka honey. This particular variant is sourced by the US firm Pacific Resources and does not have the actual UMF certification. And that, in a nutshell, is our main issue with this product. You can have as many ratings and certifications as you please, but the gold standard when it comes to Manuka honey is the UMF. And this blend does not have that certification. Bio-active ratings are largely meaningless when you are looking for a unique product that grows in a small region in one country in the world. Verdict So, is this a bad product? Far from it, this one does have some positive features. It may not have the extreme benefits of real Manuka honey, but it is still a potent blend. And you do get it in bulk. Buy if you are satisfied with having pure New Zealand honey, which may have some benefits associated with Manuka honey. If you want the real thing, look for their UMF certified 10+ and 15+ variants. Pros Available in various specification, some with UMF certification

Available in various specification, some with UMF certification Available in larger quantity

Available in larger quantity Authentic natural honey from New Zealand certified Kosher

Authentic natural honey from New Zealand certified Kosher Affordable pricing Cons This particular variant does not have UMF certification

This particular variant does not have UMF certification Sold in plastic bottles

Sold in plastic bottles Flavor and quality is average YS Eco Bee Farms Raw Manuka Honey This honey is incredibly thick and creamy and feels more like a paste. The YS Eco Bee Farms is a rather unusual little brand on our list. They are quite legit, despite not having a UMF certification. They source their honey from an official UMF licensee, a cooperative in New Zealand to be exact. They are pretty transparent about their sources and supply chain. If you want therapeutic Manuka honey, they are probably a good choice. The honey is good quality, and it is packaged in a heavy glass jar. Granted, they don’t have the actual UMF + certification, but YS Eco is an exceptional case. They offer a legit source of pure Manuka honey, but if you want to be 100%, it may better to choose a brand with the actual UMF certificate. In a market dominated by fake and adulterated products, caution is the best policy. Verdict But if you are not too hung up about the lack of UMF license, YS Eco Bee Farms is an excellent brand. Their honey comes from legit Manuka sources, and it looks and feels like the real thing as well. Pros Authentic Manuka honey sourced from licensed manufacturer

Authentic Manuka honey sourced from licensed manufacturer Natural non-GMO product from New Zealand

Natural non-GMO product from New Zealand One of the few brands sold in high-quality glass jars

One of the few brands sold in high-quality glass jars High bio active rating Cons Lacks an actual UMF license for the brand

Lacks an actual UMF license for the brand Honey is a bit too thick like it has residues of beeswax in it Airborne Manuka Honey Airborne is a New Zealand brand that claims to have a potent blend of Manuka honey with several beneficial properties. It is available in a larger 17oz jar, which is more convenient for long term use than the smaller jars usually preferred by Manuka brands. Airborne offers its customers to trace the honey back to its source in New Zealand, which is a nice touch. The honey has a very high 70+ pollen rating. Airborne is a New Zealand brand that claims to have a potent blend of Manuka honey with several beneficial properties. It is available in a larger 17oz jar, which is more convenient for long term use than the smaller jars usually preferred by Manuka brands. Airborne offers its customers to trace the honey back to its source in New Zealand, which is a nice touch. The honey has a very high 70+ pollen rating. But all that is a bit moot, since Airborne does not have a UMF license. So you cannot say with 100% certainty that this is real Manuka honey. Without a UMF 15+ rating, you cannot consider this honey to be of medicinal value. Verdict It is a viable choice if you want a mild tasting New Zealand honey blend, with some benefits of Manuka honey. But for the real thing, look elsewhere. Pros Natural and organic honey blend

Natural and organic honey blend Sourced from apiaries in New Zealand

Sourced from apiaries in New Zealand High pollen content

High pollen content Mild taste Cons Does not have UMF license, so not 100% authentic

Best Manuka Honey Brand Buying Guide

Before thinking about buying Manuka honey, it is vital to understand this product and its unique purpose. Here are the major things to know about Manuka Honey:

1. Unique, Rare, and Expensive Product Manuka Honey is produced only in New Zealand. This honey is gathered by bees from a single medicinal plant, called Manuka , found only in the wild in New Zealand, and Australia. As a result, Manuka can only be manufactured in New Zealand (or Australia). It is highly sought after by the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry. Since demand is very high and supply is limited, Manuka honey is very expensive.

2. Medicinal Honey You don’t buy this expensive honey to add to your daily cereal or to spread on toast. Of course, you can do that as well, but the main reason for buying Manuka honey is because of its numerous medicinal benefits. It has potent healing and antimicrobial properties. It can be added to your diet for overall improvement in health and well being.

3. Unique Taste and Texture Not everybody will be a fan of the way this honey feels and tastes. It has a creamy texture and has an unusual flavor. The taste and sweetness vary from each batch of the honey, depending on the location and seasons of harvest.

4. Highly counterfeited product It is estimated that nearly 80% of all honey sold globally as Manuka honey is fake or adulterated ! The global sales were estimated at 10000 tons in 2014, while the actual production figures for that year in New Zealand was just 1700 tons!

So beware when you shop for the best Manuka honey brand. Look for the following features to get 100% authentic product:

1. Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) License & Certification

By far, this is the most important thing to look for when buying Manuka honey. This is the only reliable seal of authenticity that proves that a particular brand is selling real Manuka honey. The UMF is an independent industry association, the only one in the world, for manufacturers involved in producing Manuka honey in New Zealand.

2. UMF Rating

UMF Licensed brands will have a rating for their honey, usually between UMF 5+ to UMF 16+. This indicates the medicinal or therapeutic capacity of that particular batch of honey. The higher the number, the more potent the honey. You can learn more about the UMF rating system at their website.



What does UMF mean?

UMF grading system stands for measuring Methylglyoxal (MGO) contained in honey. MGO is a substance responsible for giving honey its well-known and proved therapeutic properties.

Consider the following UMF concentration list:

3. MGO Rating

This figure is directly related to the UMF rating of Manuka honey. MGO stands for methylglyoxal, a unique compound that gives Manuka its medicinal and healing powers. A higher UMF rating indicates that the amount of MGO in the honey is also high. You can find the correlation between the two here:

Best Manuka Honey UMF and MGO Ratings Compared

UMF RATING MGO RATING UMF 5+ 83-100 UMF 10+ 263 UMF 12+ 354-400 UMF 15+ 514-550 UMF 18+ 692 UMF 20+ 829

What does MGO stand for?

Methylglyoxal (MGO) was first mentioned by Professor Thomas Henle, the head of Institute of Food Chemistry at the Technical University of Dresden, Germany in 2007. Methylglyoxal can be found in all kinds of honey. However, its concentration ranges somewhere between 1 to 10 mg/kg.

What makes Manuka honey so beneficial and unique is its Methylglyoxal level varying within the range of 100 to 1000 mg/kg.

The higher Methylglyoxal level is, the stronger antibacterial properties Manuka honey has, hence the higher its health benefit is. Methylglyoxal concentration of 400 mg/kg and more is enough to fight a wide range of pathogenic flora microorganisms in the human body.

The following products contain the highest concentration Methylglyoxal in mg/kg:

Yogurt — Less than 2 mg/kg

Cheese — 4-11 mg/kg

Wine — Less than 2 mg/kg

Coffee — 23-47 mg/kg

Other kinds of honey — 0-10 mg/kg

Considering this data, we can rest assured that Manuka honey with its 100 — 1000 MGO mg/kg concentration is the only product capable of providing the human organism with this valuable substance.

What about KFactor? KFactor is another grading system for measuring Manuka honey effectiveness. It was discovered by the company Wedderspoon and it is now officially accepted by New Zealand’s Ministry. This rating system is totally different from that of UMF and MGO. It suggests measuring the following factors: Purity

Number of live enzymes

Phenolic compounds

Percentage of over 250 chemical compounds

PH level

Antioxidant level

And one of the most essential markers is the content of Manuka tree pollen. It is interesting that KFactor does not measure MGO, NPA, or leptosperin levels. No doubt any buyer would want to purchase honey containing maximum quantity of Manuka tree pollen being an essential element. Let’s now discuss what Kfactor numbers indicate: KFactor 22 indicates that honey contains minimum 90% of pollen taken from Manuka tree.

indicates that honey contains minimum 90% of pollen taken from Manuka tree. KFactor 16 means 75% of Manuka tree pollen is contained in a product.

means 75% of Manuka tree pollen is contained in a product. KFactor 12 corresponds to 65% of pollen in honey, being Manuka tree pollen. As you can see, the bigger K-Factor number is, the more Manuka tree pollen is contained in honey. New Zealand is a country with a rich fauna, a large number of flowering plants grow there. For instance, relater species of Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) is another endemic growing only in New Zealand. This plant is Kanuka (Kunzea ericoides). Hence it is not always possible to measure exact percentage of pollen of a particular tree in honey. For this reason, many respectable manufacturers refused using Kfactor rating system, giving their preference only to UMF/MGO grading systems instead. Yet manufacturer’s refusal to measure Kfactor is not a reason for mistrust. Using a well-known UMF Manuka honey quality and effectiveness rating system is more than enough.

Third-party Ratings Some brands which do not have UMF license use their rating systems to impress the consumer. “Bio-active” and “Pollen content” are two of the most common features used by such brands. Bio-active usually refers to the activity of naturally occurring Hydrogen Peroxide (HPA) in honey. But all types of honey have HPA. So you cannot take high HPA as a sign of authenticity of Manuka honey.

Pollen in honey can be of any plant. In New Zealand honey, pollen from Manuka often occurs alongside pollen from another plant called “kanuka.” So a high pollen content is also not a reliable sign of quality Manuka honey.



If you want authentic Manuka honey, always look for the UMF label. MGO content is the primary factor, which is only identified and certified by UMF.

4. Manuka Honey Should Be Raw

What I would like to say here first is that each of 15 products described in this review is raw Manuka honey. In case you wonder why this is crucial, check out interesting research results concerning this issue below.

When it comes to picking Manuka honey, make sure it is raw and unpasteurized Today strong demand for raw honey among buyers is closely connected with such popular eating trends as raw food diets and clean eating , which are no longer a fancy, but rather a lifestyle. However the term raw honey isn’t exactly the same thing as raw fruit, vegetables, or dairy products. When purchasing raw honey people hope to get the one with vitamins, minerals, and enzymes it is famous for above all. Moreover, practically any kind of raw unprocessed honey contains wax, bits of the plant, and even bees, making it less attractive for a buyer. In order to filter all these inclusions away, you need turn honey from a solid state to a liquid one. The only way to do this is heating. A very serious issue here is the temperature during filtration, which any manufacturer considers the most appropriate. Research shows that average temperature in a hive is somewhere about 33-38 degrees. Considering this we may say that obviously heating honey up to this temperature will not affect its health benefits. I have been thoroughly studying the most popular Manuka honey brands and included in my review only those manufacturers that filtrated previously heated honey maximum to 37 degrees. This can be proved both by manufacturers’ words and licenses issued by New Zealand Ministry after its thorough quality control. So, let me say it again, heating honey up to 37 degrees totally corresponds to raw diet principles. This is a human body temperature and it helps to keep the product as beneficial as possible. Pasteurizing Another popular honey processing method is pasteurizing. It is used for the following two reasons: Killing some kinds of yeasts, which naturally occur in honey and are capable of causing honey fermentation process. As a result, the product storing period is increased. Increasing the period of keeping honey in a liquid state up to 6-9 months. Needless to say, pasteurization lowers some quality benefits in honey. If we’re speaking about Manuka honey, this may mean removing all those positive properties that make it so unique. I can assure you that buying pasteurized Manuka honey is a great way to end up with wasting your money. Keeping in mind that this is a crucial point and in order to save my readers’ time, I described only unpasteurized products in my review. So, when it comes to picking Manuka honey, make sure it is raw and unpasteurized. Or just choose any product described on this page. Each of them meets necessary requirements. All you need to do is make your choice depending on the therapeutic effect you are looking for according to UMF factor.

What about Manuka Honey USDA Organic Certification? Studying issues connected with Manuka honey I found out that many buyers try to purchase honey that has USDA Organic certification. If you have no idea what it is, here is a brief explanation. This certification guarantees there are no unhealthy chemicals like pesticides or herbicides in the product. After studying various sources concerning this issue, I figured out that none of Manuka honey brands has this certification. No wonder, because USDA certifies American manufacturers only. Yet we all remember that natural and real Manuka honey is produced in New Zealand only. More than that, USDA gives its certificates neither to imported nor to American honey of any other kind. USDA hasn’t developed certification standards concerning honey. The reason is quite interesting and is connected with honey production as a substance. You can guess this reason taking a look at the picture: A typical honey-bee colony can work on 2.2 – 2.5 miles area from the place where the hive is placed (this area is marked with a red circle on the picture). This makes at least 16 square miles. In case there are not many plants to pollinate in the area, the honey-bee colony is capable of covering twice as big territory. The number of flowers each bee from the colony pollinates during one season is hard to imagine. We’re speaking about several million. Hence no one can guarantee that flowers growing in this area are not fertilized with herbicides as well as we can’t track thousands of bees in a colony. Thus technically USDA has no possibilities to approve of the fact that honey has organic origin. Yet the absence of USDA developed standards for organic honey certification doesn’t mean this kind of honey doesn’t exist. There are two possible ways of producing this kind of honey: Placement of the bees hive in the center of minimum 16 square miles area where organic plants grow can perfectly be enough to produce organic honey. Placement of the bees hive in a thick forest, where no human ever had agricultural business. For instance, this can be New Zealand mountain glen with Manuka plants growing around. This will provide an opportunity to get barrels of pure organic honey. Yet a beekeeper cannot fully control each of his million bees or the health of millions of flowers growing in the area even in New Zealand, which is famous for its impeccable ecology. Thus he can’t guarantee organic origin of his product. That’s the reason why there are no USDA standards for issuing Organic licenses on any kind of honey.da If we regard this problem from a different perspective, it will turn out that any natural honey is de facto organic. You should always keep in mind that a bee is a small hardworking insect. Once affected by herbicides that are so ruinous for the human organism, the bee will die. Thus it won’t be even able to bring poisonous nectar into the hive. I recommend you to check out this article. Never mind it was published in 2011, there hasn’t been any significant changes concerning this question since that time.

Valuable Information on Manuka Honey

Health Benefits of Manuka Honey

In 2007 The New Zealand Herald published the article “Scientists uncover key to manuka honey’s benefits”, in which the author said that finally scientists identified UMF marker, which they have been studying for 15 years. This ingredient was called Methylglyoxal (MGO) by a group of researchers led by Thomas Henle, the head of Institute of Food Chemistry at the Technical University of Dresden.

The results of Thomas Henle’s research were based on the fact that Manuka honey MGO marker is greater than in any other product. Hence it could be viewed as one of the most beneficial food. Due to MGO high concentration in Manuka honey, it is widely used in medicine for curing such issues as gastric ulcer, oral cavity diseases, skin conditions, and wound infections.

Check a list of some diseases, which can be effectively cured with MGO:

Nutritionists recommend eating Manuka honey on a regular basis as a preventive means in the following cases:

Immune system boosting. Manuka honey is a rich source of vitamins and other beneficial substances like Vitamin B1 – B3, B5, B6, Lysine, Niacin, Lysine, Tyrosine, Iron, Zinc, etc.

Improving skin condition, preventing acne, and smoothing your skin.

Thanks to calcium and phosphorus contained in honey you can strengthen your teeth.

Make your hair stronger and prevent such problems as split ends, hair loss, dry scalp, etc.

How to eat Manuka honey?

Taking into account the fact that Manuka honey is perfectly effective in curing a wide range of diseases and is great for preventive measures, it can be used in various ways, depending on therapeutic and prevention effect you need the most.

Manuka honey in preventive measures

In order to prevent certain diseases, to boost the immune system and improve your sleep we recommend taking 1 teaspoon of Manuka honey in the morning before meals. You can either eat it straight or mix one glass of water with 1 teaspoon of honey.

For this purpose UMF 10+ rating in honey is quite enough. It costs less than honey with greater UMF markers.

For treatment

It’s better to take honey with higher biological activity for treatment, which makes anything above UMF15+. Recommended daily value here is not more than 3 teaspoons.

Take Manuka honey for treatment the same way as for preventive measures.

If you have sore throat or oral cavity diseases, dissolving honey in the mouth is a good way to start treatment. In case of inner organs issues you can either dissolve honey or mix it with warm water for drinking.

Doctors from New Zealand recommend Manuka honey for curing the ulcer. You can find proofs concerning Manuka honey effectiveness in curing ulcer in works of a New Zealand Professor Piter Molan , who studied microbiology. According to his research eating Manuka honey makes the whole process of stomach tissues regeneration go faster. Literally, after 6 days of treatment the ulcer cicatrizes, intestine normal functionality is achieved and pain eases.

For curing outer organs, arthritis, and rheumatism we recommend putting gauze bandages on problem spots.

For curing skin conditions honey should be applied directly on skin with a thin layer, then rubbed gently until absorbed. You can also prepare various honey ointments, crèmes or masks for this purpose.

In order to heal infected wounds use special antiseptic surgical honey and sterile gauze wads. The critical point here is that wounds should, by all means, be assessed by your doctor.

Uses in Cosmetology

This precious beekeeping product is also used in cosmetology as a main ingredient for producing crèmes, decorative cosmetics, gels, serums, tonics, and lotions. If you use honey at home, apply some on your face dissolving it in some water first. Or you can buy medical cosmetics made of Manuka honey.

Minerals and vitamins contained in honey slower skin aging and withering, nourish it, make it softer, tenderer, more elastic, narrow pores, regenerate and fill skin cells with moist, which is extremely important for sensitive, dry and problem skin, and perfect for curing acne rash, irritation, and skin redness.

Many women from all parts of the planet admitted skin conditions improvement after using cosmetics made of this exotic product. Most people who tried to fight various diseases with its help or for skin care reasons admit fast positive results and general well-being mend.

Manuka honey should not be heated, put into hot tea or milk or drank with hot drinks. Otherwise, its beneficial properties will reduce. In order to apply thick honey on skin and make it softer, avoid heating, hold it in your hands for a minute instead.

Where To Buy Manuka Honey

But here are some cons in buying Manuka honey online: There is a wide range of brands and products online. You can buy here the product you trust 100%. You can contact the manufacturer directly to get answers and necessary information. More than that, before buying the product you can read feedback concerning the product. If most people write about the effectiveness of the product they used, then it might be a good deal. If the feedback is full of negative opinions, you can proceed to the page with comments on other products on the website. Presently you can buy natural Manuka honey practically anywhere. It’s likely you can find it at a local store, treatment center or drugstore.

Manuka Honey Counterindications

Knowing the way Manuka honey should be picked and used is important, yet it is equally crucial to learn about counter indications it may have.

First of all, honey with UMF marker 15+ and above is treated as medical. Roughly speaking it’s a broad spectrum remedy for fighting diseases. It’s recommended to use it for medical purposes only.

The main thing concerning health is about avoiding self-treatment when having a disease, but rather consulting a doctor!

Only qualified doctor has the right and can set the right diagnosis and assign proper treatment. If the doctor prescribed Manuka honey as a part of your treatment, then taking it exactly the way he prescribed is extremely important. Consider information on this page only as a buyer’s guide to picking a proper brand.

If you experience symptoms of a certain disease, please, immediately visit a doctor!

You will also need to learn possible counter indications even if you’re going to take Manuka honey for preventive purposes or for improving your health. Also, this product should not be used without a doctor’s consultation for the following group of people:

Children under 1 year. Any kind of raw honey is a source of bacteria capable of causing botulism. Those with idiosyncrasy. People with honey and beekeeping products allergy. People suffering from diabetes. Those who have wounds and cuts. In this case, you should use specially prepared sterile honey. Only a qualified doctor can assign a therapy and prescribe medicine. People suspecting they have some kind of disease. In this case, you need to undergo diagnostics and proper treatment assignment, which is possible only with the assistance of a qualified medical person.

Scientific Research

Manuka honey as a medicine

P. C. Molan, Honey Research Unit, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

Identification and quantification of methylglyoxal as the dominant antibacterial constituent of Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) honeys from New Zealand

Elvira Mavric, Silvia Wittmann, Gerold Barth, and Thomas Henle

Isolation by HPLC and characterisation of the bioactive fraction of New Zealand manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) honey

Christopher. J. Adams, Cherie H. Boult, Benjamin J. Deadman, Judie M. Farr, Megan N. C. Grainger, Merilyn Manley-Harris* and Melanie J. Snow

Conclusion

Disclaimer

The Manuka honey market is very lucrative. The benefits of the honey are real, and the demand is soaring with each passing year. Theft of beehives is becoming common in New Zealand as a result! Fake and adulterated products have flooded the market. UMF certification is the only way to ensure that you get an authentic product when you pay good money for Manuka honey.

United States Food and Drug Administration did not suggest the products described on this page as goods suitable for diagnostics, treatment or prevention of different diseases. Data on this page is intended to provide information only and shouldn’t be regarded as recommendations for treatment. This information can’t replace your personal doctor or other specialist’s recommendations. You can’t use information on this page for diagnostics or treatment of various diseases. You can’t use products mentioned on this page as an alternative to medications prescribed by your doctor.