The use of honey dates back well over 7000 years – as evidenced in ancient Egyptian records. Being the first sweetener ever used, honey was prized for providing a highly nutritious energy source and is a popular antibacterial skincare ingredient.. Honey takes on the properties of the plants around the beehive, so every region in the world has a unique honey or two.
What is Manuka Honey?
Created by nature, Manuka Honey is formed by bees collecting nectar from Aotearoa’s native Manuka bush flowers (also known as Leptospermum scoparium). Manuka Honey has a distinctive deep flavour - but its unique properties make it stand out from the rest. . Manuka Honey has been extensively researched and has the world’s richest source of Manuka Factor found in nature, not found in other types of honey.
What is Honey UMF?
When you go to buy Manuka Honey, you will often find some letters and numbers on the pot – what do they all mean? What does UMF mean for honey?
UMF is short for Unique Manuka Factor, a special rating given to Manuka Honey to determine the strength or level of activity of the honey. The Unique Manuka Factor Honey Association (UMFHA) provides certification for Manuka Honey in New Zealand – giving confidence to those wanting to use Manuka Honey from around the world. The properties measured are:
- Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) - measures the honey’s shelf life.
- Methylglyoxal (MGO) - measures how potent the honey is.
- Leptosperin – ensures that the honey is an authentic Manuka Honey.
- HMF – measures how fresh the honey is.
The higher the Manuka Honey UMF rating, the better quality the Manuka Honey –choosing UMF honey gives confidence and reassurance of quality and the levels of manuka compounds. The range for UMF is usually between 5+ and 27+. Some honey makers only check for MGO, which is still a very valid measure of how potent a honey is. The range of MGO can go right up to 1356+ for the most premium of Manuka Honeys. Some brands will declare both measures on their labels.
What makes Manuka Honey special?
Manuka Honey gains much of its properties from the Manuka bush flowers themselves. Researchers have found over 2,300 unique Manuka health properties. They work synergistically together to support a wide variety of uses. Manuka honey has been shown to have antibacterial properties when applied to the skin.
What are the benefits of Manuka Honey?
Manuka Honey is a great all round health product to keep in your fridge, you can use it for a variety of purposes. UMF honey benefits include:
Manuka Honey for Healthy Skin
Extensive scientific research is being conducted on Manuka Honey's qualities. Being edible, you can rest assured that Manuka Honey is suitable to apply to your skin. Manuka honey is a popular ingredient in wound care products and skincare because of its antibacterial properties. Manuka Honey also functions as a humectant, which means that it helps retain moisture in the skin. It’s these special qualities that are abundant in high-grade Manuka Honey, making it an ideal for skincare products to support skin health.
Manuka Honey can be applied to skin blemishes, and minor scrapes to support skin regeneration. It works well on the family pet too!
Manuka Honey for Immune Health
Manuka Honey’s properties make it popular for people wanting to look after their immune health.
Manuka Honey for a scratchy throat
Have some Manuka Honey on hand to soothe your throat, whether that is after a long day of talking a lot, or for a scratchy, uncomfortable throat. Take straight off the spoon or add a little Manuka Honey to a warm cup of tea.
The Best Manuka Honey Products
Here are some of our favourite Manuka Honey products, sourced from around New Zealand, and tested for purity, and potency:
Biohoney Manuka Honey MG100+
100% pure Manuka Honey, straight from the hive to the pot! This beautiful honey hails from the South Island of New Zealand where it is carefully selected from Manuka Honey only hives. Biohoney prides itself in its ethical practice when it comes to taking care of bees and the environment. They also have a range of Manuka Honey skincare products.
- Independently batch tested for MGO.
- Family owned and operated business.
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New Zealand Raw Honey Company: RAW Manuka Honey MG0152+
Unprocessed, raw honey from the highlands of Central Otago. Very minimal processing has been used in order to preserve the delicate active enzymes in the honey. They ensure that the honey doesn’t get hotter than what it would normally in the hive. Single origin and single batch for a distinctive flavour in each pot.
- Qualified and accredited UMF member.
- New Zealand owned and operated company.
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Egmont Honey: Manuka Honey UMF 10+
Enjoy everything that Manuka Honey has to offer with this option from Egmont Honey. This honey is made by bees in the Taranaki region of the North Island, which is known for its distinctive flavour.
- Independently tested for UMF and MGO levels.
- Family run company based in South Taranaki.
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Comvita UMF 5+ Manuka Honey
Comvita blends the finest Manuka Honeys from around New Zealand to bring you a great value for money when it comes to using a highly rated Manuka Honey. Comvita is a well-loved company who formulate a number of specialised products that are loved the world over.
- Guaranteed to be at least UMF 5.
- World's largest manufacturer of quality Manuka Honey.
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High quality honey
Not all honey is the same, so when choosing a Manuka Honey, look for a reputable company that tests their products for its properties. To establish quality, and ensure product authenticity of Manuka Honey, look for the number on the label which represents the unique signature compounds characteristic of the Manuka Honey. At HealthPost, our range of Manuka Honey is expert approved, so you can be confident that that we stock the best brands that not only offer excellent quality, but also use environmentally sustainable practices.
As you can see, there are many Manuka Honey benefits. At HealthPost, we stock a wide range of Manuka Honey, and Manuka Honey products from trusted honey makers – check out all the Manuka Honey reviews found on our product pages to help you choose.
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