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What is mānuka honey?

Real mānuka honey only comes from New Zealand. It is made from the nectar bees collect from the flowers of the native mānuka bush (leptospermum scoparium). It is a combination of the nectar and the way the bee turns it into honey that gives it its unique properties.

What makes mānuka honey so special?

For one thing, mānuka honey is rarer because collecting it is not as simple as other types of honey. It’s impossible to make bees go only to a specific plant, but they will take what’s closest, so hives have to be located in areas densely populated by mānuka trees to ensure that’s all they’re collecting. On top of that, mānuka trees only flower for a few weeks every year (2-6 weeks approx) so there’s a limited time for it to be made. And the amount of honey made each year can also be influenced by weather conditions and how much nectar the flowers produce.

Methylglyoxal

Also known more simply as MGO, this is what gives mānuka honey its unique antibacterial properties. The level of MGO in mānuka honey is how it gets its UMF™ grade. You can learn more about what that means here.

Leptosperin

Also found in mānuka nectar, leptosperin is a signature compound that helps differentiate mānuka from other honey types.

Dihydroxyacetone (DHA)

This is what MGO is before it’s collected by the bees. DHA is found in the mānuka flower nectar and is converted to MGO when it is turned into honey.

Plus, there are those health and wellbeing benefits its famous for. There are three key chemical compounds that make mānuka so good:

1. Methylglyoxal
Also known more simply as MGO, this is what gives mānuka honey its unique antibacterial properties. The level of MGO in mānuka honey is how it gets its UMF® grade. You can learn more about what that means here.
2. Leptosperin
Also found in mānuka nectar, and in such large quantities, leptosperin is what separates mānuka honey from other types of honey.
3. Dihydroxyacetone (DHA)
This is what MGO is before it’s collected by the bees. DHA is found in the mānuka flower nectar and is converted to MGO when it is turned into honey.

Mānuka honey should be raw and unpasteurised

Ours is. At 100% Pure New Zealand Honey, the only thing we do is put it through our artisan Pure Flow™ method. Using pure seed honey, Pure Flow™ enhances the honeys’ superior goodness without pasteurisation or excess heat treatment, which can degrade the UMF® levels and alter the quality. There are also no preservatives or additives, just 100% pure New Zealand mānuka honey.

How do you take mānuka honey?

For many, many years, mānuka honey has been revered for its therapeutic and medicinal abilities. People use it to treat wounds, improve digestion, strengthen immune support and help soothe coughs and sore throats. You can eat it, mix it with water and drink it, some people even apply it to their skin!

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