Nutrition Diet: How can you tell the best Manuka honey?

October 6, 2025 •

4 min read

With the global market for Manuka honey being susceptible to counterfeits and inconsistent quality, knowing how can you tell the best Manuka honey? is crucial for ensuring you get an authentic, potent product with the highest nutritional and therapeutic benefits.

Quick Summary

A guide to identifying high-quality Manuka honey by examining key certification metrics, confirming New Zealand origin and packaging, and avoiding misleading product labels. It outlines the significance of UMF and MGO ratings and provides tips for authenticating your purchase.

Key Points

Check Certifications: Look for either a UMF™ or MGO rating on the label to verify the honey's potency and authenticity.
Verify Origin: Authentic Manuka honey comes from New Zealand, and packaging should confirm its country of origin.
Understand Potency Grades: A higher UMF™ or MGO number signifies stronger antibacterial properties and a higher concentration of beneficial compounds.
Beware of Misleading Labels: Avoid products using vague terms like "Active" or "Bio-Active" without a specific UMF™ or MGO number, as they can be deceiving.
Review Brand Transparency: Opt for reputable brands that offer traceability, independent lab test results, and information on their ethical sourcing practices.
Differentiate Monofloral vs. Multifloral: Monofloral Manuka offers higher purity and potency compared to multifloral, with New Zealand government standards defining the difference.

Decoding the Manuka Honey Grading Systems

True Manuka honey is produced by bees that pollinate the native Leptospermum scoparium (Manuka) tree, which grows predominantly in New Zealand. Its unique antibacterial properties stem from a compound called methylglyoxal (MGO). While most honey has some antibacterial effect due to hydrogen peroxide, Manuka's non-peroxide activity (NPA) from MGO is more stable and potent. To ensure you are buying a genuine product, you must learn to navigate the different grading systems used to measure its quality and potency.

Understanding MGO Ratings

The MGO rating system directly measures the concentration of methylglyoxal in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) of honey. This is a straightforward indicator of the honey's strength. A higher MGO number signifies a greater concentration of this key antibacterial compound. For example, an MGO 525+ honey has at least 525mg of methylglyoxal per kilogram. MGO-rated honey can be packed anywhere in the world, though authentic Manuka will state its New Zealand origin.

The UMF™ Certification

For the most comprehensive assurance of quality, look for the UMF™ (Unique Manuka Factor) trademark. This grading system is more advanced and guarantees several aspects of the honey beyond just its MGO content. To earn a UMF™ certification, honey must be independently tested for four key chemical compounds that confirm its authenticity, purity, and freshness:

Methylglyoxal (MGO): Confirms the potency and antibacterial properties.
Dihydroxyacetone (DHA): This precursor naturally converts into MGO as the honey matures, and its level indicates the potential potency over time.
Leptosperin: A unique marker found only in Manuka nectar, verifying the floral source.
Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF): A freshness indicator, ensuring the honey has not been overheated.

UMF™ certified honey can only be processed and packed in New Zealand, adhering to strict government regulations. This offers a higher level of consumer protection against counterfeit products. The higher the UMF™ number, the greater the concentration of these beneficial compounds and the more potent the honey.

Monofloral vs. Multifloral Manuka

New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has a legal definition for Manuka honey that distinguishes between monofloral and multifloral varieties. All honey labeled as Manuka for export must be tested by an MPI-recognized lab to meet specific chemical and DNA markers.

Monofloral Manuka Honey: Primarily collected from bees foraging on the Manuka plant. It must meet more stringent criteria for its marker compounds, resulting in higher potency and purity.
Multifloral Manuka Honey: Derived from bees visiting various plants, with Manuka being a significant floral source. It meets a lower threshold of the specific markers and is typically milder.

Your Authenticity Checklist: What to Look For

To confidently purchase the best quality Manuka honey, follow this checklist:

New Zealand Origin: Look for clear labeling that states the honey was harvested and packed in New Zealand.
Accurate Ratings: Check for a certified UMF™ rating or a specific MGO number. Avoid products with vague terms like "Bio-Active," "Active," or "Total Activity" without a corresponding MGO or UMF™ value.
Traceability: Reputable brands often provide a batch number or QR code that allows you to trace the jar back to its origin and view independent lab results.
Brand Transparency: Choose brands that are open about their sourcing, processing, and testing methods.
Price Awareness: Be cautious of suspiciously low prices. The rarity and stringent production standards of authentic Manuka honey make it a premium product.

Navigating Manuka Honey Potency: A Comparison Table

Here is a simple comparison of UMF™ and MGO ratings to help you choose the right Manuka honey for your needs.


Grade (Approximate)	MGO Rating	Recommended Use	Antibacterial Potency
UMF™ 5+	83+	Daily wellness and vitality support	Mild
UMF™ 10+	263+	Everyday immunity boost and nutritional intake	Medium
UMF™ 15+	514+	Targeted digestive and holistic health support	High
UMF™ 20+	829+	Advanced therapeutic use for specific health issues	Superior

Ethical Sourcing and Sustainability

Beyond certification, the best Manuka honey often comes from brands committed to ethical and sustainable practices. Many New Zealand beekeepers prioritize protecting the Manuka forests and ensuring bee health through natural hive management. Choosing sustainably sourced honey supports these eco-friendly methods and contributes to the preservation of native habitats. Look for brands that highlight their commitment to ethical sourcing on their website or packaging, demonstrating their responsible stewardship of this precious natural resource. For more information on the standards and regulations, you can visit the UMF™ Honey Association website.

Conclusion: Making an Informed Choice

Determining the best Manuka honey requires moving beyond a simple glance at the label. By understanding and verifying recognized grading systems like UMF™ and MGO, confirming the New Zealand origin, and checking for traceability, consumers can confidently differentiate between an authentic, high-quality product and an imitative or low-potency alternative. A higher rating indicates stronger antibacterial properties, but even lower-grade certified Manuka offers excellent nutritional value and support for overall wellness. Always prioritize products from reputable brands that can verify their authenticity through independent testing and transparent practices.

Frequently Asked Questions

UMF™ (Unique Manuka Factor) is a comprehensive quality trademark that tests for four distinct compounds, including MGO, ensuring authenticity, potency, and freshness. MGO ratings measure only the concentration of methylglyoxal, the key antibacterial compound.

The premium price reflects its limited annual supply due to the short flowering season of the Manuka tree, the intensive production effort required by beekeepers, and the strict, independent testing and certification processes to ensure quality.

Look for a clear indication of New Zealand origin and a UMF™ or MGO certification. Be wary of ambiguously labeled products using terms like 'Active Factor' or those with a suspiciously low price, as they are often counterfeit or of lower quality.

For daily wellness, a lower grade such as UMF™ 5+ to 10+ (or MGO 83+ to 263+) is suitable. For more targeted, therapeutic applications, higher grades like UMF™ 15+ or 20+ (MGO 514+ or higher) are recommended.

While generally safe for most, infants under 12 months should not be given any honey due to the risk of botulism. Individuals with diabetes or a bee allergy should also consult a healthcare professional before use.

Traceability, often provided by a batch number or QR code on the jar, allows consumers to verify the honey's origin and independent lab test results. This builds confidence in the product's authenticity and purity.

Yes. Heating Manuka honey can reduce some of its beneficial properties. To preserve its active compounds, it is best added to lukewarm liquids or consumed raw, rather than used in high-heat cooking.