Why is high MGO Manuka honey so expensive?

December 10, 2025 •

4 min read

According to a 2024 market report, the global Manuka honey market size reached $502.1 million, fueled by demand for its unique health properties. The high price, particularly for high MGO Manuka honey, is driven by the rarity of the Manuka flower, challenging harvesting conditions, and rigorous quality testing.

Quick Summary

The premium cost of high-grade MGO Manuka honey is a result of limited geography, a short annual flowering season, and costly production logistics. Its unique antibacterial properties require rigorous testing and certification, further adding to the expense. High market demand for this potent natural product also influences its price.

Key Points

Rare Source and Short Harvest: The Manuka bush grows in a limited geographical area of New Zealand and Australia and flowers for only a few weeks each year, restricting supply.
MGO Maturation Process: Achieving high MGO levels requires a lengthy, controlled aging process, which adds significant time and cost to production.
Intensive Production Costs: Beekeepers must often use expensive methods, like helicopters, to access remote hives for the purest Manuka nectar.
Rigorous Testing and Certification: Every batch must be independently lab-tested and certified to verify its MGO content and authenticity, a process that adds to the final price.
High Demand Drives Prices: Global market demand for high-potency Manuka honey far exceeds the limited supply, naturally increasing its price point.
Anti-Counterfeit Measures: Reputable brands invest in advanced traceability and secure packaging to protect consumers from fake products, further elevating costs.
Potent Therapeutic Properties: The high MGO content gives the honey powerful antibacterial properties, justifying its premium price for targeted health applications.

The Scarcity of Manuka Blossom

One of the most fundamental reasons for the high cost of Manuka honey is its limited availability. Authentic Manuka honey can only be produced in New Zealand and certain parts of Australia, where the native Leptospermum scoparium (Manuka) plant grows.

Limited Geography and a Short Flowering Season

The Manuka bush thrives in remote, often rugged, terrain, making the placement and maintenance of beehives logistically difficult and expensive. Compounding this, the Manuka tree flowers for only 2 to 6 weeks each year, presenting a very narrow window for bees to collect nectar. Unfavourable weather conditions, such as rain or wind, can further reduce the available foraging time, significantly impacting the annual harvest yield.

The Role of Methylglyoxal (MGO)

Methylglyoxal, or MGO, is the key antibacterial compound that gives Manuka honey its medicinal fame. The higher the MGO rating, the more potent and valuable the honey. This potency is not uniform across all Manuka honey.

MGO Levels and Maturation

High MGO levels are not instantaneous. The compound, MGO, develops from another natural precursor called Dihydroxyacetone (DHA), which is present in the Manuka nectar. This conversion happens gradually as the honey matures in storage. To achieve the highest MGO ratings, producers must store the raw honey for extended periods (up to 12 months or more) under specific temperature and humidity conditions, a process that adds significant time, cost, and expertise to the production cycle.

Testing and Certification Costs

To prove the MGO content and ensure authenticity, every batch of Manuka honey must undergo independent laboratory testing. This rigorous testing, which is required for certifications like the UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) and validation under New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) standards, adds a substantial cost. Higher MGO ratings require more precise verification, further increasing testing complexity and expense.

Intensive and Costly Production Process

The remote locations of the hives and the intensive processes required to harvest and test Manuka honey add to its final price.

Remote Harvesting and Logistics

Beekeepers often need to transport hives to inaccessible, pristine wilderness areas to ensure the bees forage predominantly from Manuka blossoms, leading to the purer mono-floral honey. This can involve expensive transportation methods, including helicopters, especially for the high-potency harvests. The logistical challenges and specialised equipment drive up overall production costs.

Ethical Beekeeping and Sustainability

Many premium Manuka honey producers commit to sustainable and ethical beekeeping practices, which prioritise the health of the bee colonies and the environment. While admirable, these practices, such as maintaining hives in native forests and using eco-friendly methods, often cost more than conventional, large-scale beekeeping.

High Market Demand and Counterfeiting Concerns

The global reputation of Manuka honey for its antibacterial properties has created high demand that often outstrips supply, especially for the highest-grade products. This imbalance inherently drives up prices. The high value also attracts counterfeiters, leading to a proliferation of fake or low-grade products. To combat this, reputable brands invest heavily in advanced authentication methods, like blockchain tracing, and secure packaging, adding to the product’s final price.

Comparison of Honey Grades and Cost Factors

This table outlines the key differences in factors contributing to the price of Manuka honey versus regular honey.


Feature	Regular Honey	High MGO Manuka Honey
Source	Nectar from a wide variety of flowers.	Primarily nectar from the Manuka bush (Leptospermum scoparium).
Potency Factor	Natural hydrogen peroxide, which is less stable.	High and stable levels of Methylglyoxal (MGO).
Geographic Origin	Widespread production globally.	Limited to specific regions of New Zealand and Australia.
Harvest Season	Can be harvested multiple times a year.	Short flowering season (2-6 weeks).
Production Process	Standard beekeeping and processing.	Remote harvesting, careful aging, and specialised processing.
Testing & Certification	Minimal, if any, specific certification required for health claims.	Rigorous, third-party lab testing and certification (e.g., UMF, MPI) required to prove authenticity and MGO level.
Cost	Relatively low due to high supply and low barriers to entry.	High, driven by scarcity, potent properties, complex production, and authentication.

Conclusion: The Price Reflects a Unique, Premium Product

The high cost of high MGO Manuka honey is a direct reflection of its rare and unique characteristics. From the exclusive geographical source and a fleeting flowering season to the intensive maturation process required to develop its potent antibacterial MGO levels, each stage of production adds value and expense. The additional costs for rigorous third-party testing, sustainable harvesting, and combating counterfeiters ensure consumers receive a genuine, high-quality product. For many, the unique health benefits and proven quality justify the premium price tag, positioning high MGO Manuka honey as a powerful natural remedy rather than just a simple food item.

For more information on the MGO grading system, see Manuka South's guide on reading MGO labels.

Frequently Asked Questions

MGO, or Methylglyoxal, is a key antibacterial compound found naturally in Manuka honey. The MGO rating on a jar indicates its concentration, with higher numbers signifying greater potency and medicinal properties.

No, not all Manuka honey is equally expensive. The price is determined by its MGO or UMF rating; lower-grade Manuka honey is more affordable than high MGO varieties that are more potent and rare.

The main difference is the MGO content. While all honey has some antibacterial properties, Manuka honey contains significantly higher, more stable levels of MGO, giving it a much more potent antibacterial effect than regular honey.

To ensure authenticity, look for a recognized certification mark on the label, such as UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) or a verified MGO rating. Check that the product specifies its New Zealand origin and that the brand can provide third-party lab test results.

Manuka honey production is challenging due to several factors: the Manuka bush has a short flowering season (2-6 weeks), the plants grow in remote and rugged terrain, and the quality can be affected by weather conditions.

Higher MGO levels indicate a greater concentration of the antibacterial compound, suggesting stronger medicinal properties. This is often considered a sign of higher quality for therapeutic use, though lower MGO honey is perfectly suitable for general wellness and culinary purposes.

Whether Manuka honey is worth its price depends on its intended use. For specific medicinal applications that require potent antibacterial action, the cost is often justified by its unique properties. For everyday culinary use, a more affordable honey may be a better option.