As long as it is stored properly (out of direct sunlight, not exposed to direct heat and isn't frozen) it will last well beyond it's best before date. For health and safety purposes we recommend to consume your honey within three years of opening.
Does manuka honey need to be refrigerated? No, you should avoid refrigerating your manuka honey. It is best stored in a cool, dark place like a cupboard or pantry. Refrigeration of any honey — not just the special manuka variety — can cause crystallisation.
Studies have indicated that the activity of Australian active Manuka honeys can remain unchanged over a number of years. We recommend using your Manuka within 24 months and storing your Manuka properly below 25°C, in a cool, dry place.
Honey is best stored in your kitchen cupboard or pantry. That's because it's a coolish spot, out of direct sunlight. Between 10-20°C/50-68°F is perfect – as this temperature will keep it stable in the jar and not let it get too runny. And keep the lid tightly closed after each time to use it.
If you're considering throwing it away, think again. You don't have to toss that honey! Even if honey had been sitting on your shelf for 2,000 years, that honey would still be as good as the day you opened it. In a nutshell, well-stored honey never expires or spoils, even if it's been previously opened.
When honey is getting bad, it develops a cloudy yellow color instead of a clear golden one — the texture then becomes thicker until it's grainy. Once it's finally considered “bad,” the color becomes white, and the texture gets hard. This whole process is because of the crystallization of honey for a long time.
Most bacteria and other microbes cannot grow or reproduce in honey i.e. they are dormant and this is due to antibacterial activity of honey. Various bacteria have been inoculated into aseptically collected honey held at 20°C. The result showed loss of bacterial viability within 8–24 days 27.
From supercharging your breakfasts, stirring into hot drinks, or simply taken off the spoon every morning or night – there is no right or wrong way to take Manuka honey. It is simply a question of your own personal preference and getting into a routine that suits you.
To reap the digestive benefits of Manuka honey, you should eat 1 to 2 tablespoons of it each day.
Manuka honey boasts many natural, beneficial properties that make it healthy too. Eating it regularly in small amounts (a spoonful a day) is recommended. If you're using it as an alternative to sugar and natural sweeteners, manuka honey is absolutely the best option.
A maximum of two teaspoons a day (15g) is a good portion size of manuka honey, as while it has many impressive health benefits, it is still high in sugar. If you are using manuka honey as part of a balanced diet, try drizzling it over porridge, overnight oats or natural yogurt.
When is the best time to take manuka honey? However, anecdotal evidence suggests that consuming food on an empty stomach is best if you want it to reach your gut faster, but always check with a medical professional if you're unsure of the best approach for you.
The ideal serving per day of our Manuka Doctor honey is 21g. This roughly equates to a tablespoon daily – because Manuka honey is a heavy substance! Or if you prefer, you could take approximately 3 teaspoons per day.
Manuka honey's antibacterial properties are what set it apart from traditional honey. Methylglyoxal is its active ingredient and likely responsible for these antibacterial effects. Additionally, Manuka honey has antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits.
Manuka honey as a wound dressing is useful in maintaining a moist wound environment and acts as an autolytic debriding agent in debriding wounds. The rapid healing that was observed after topical honey application can be explained through a dual effect on the inflammatory response.
Manuka honey is worth the cost if you're looking for the health benefits that have made it famous. With its high levels of antibacterial, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, manuka honey is used in foods, skincare, and medicine throughout the world.
Although you can add it to smoothies, oatmeal or yoghurt, the best way to take Manuka Honey is straight from the jar. It is recommended to take it once in the morning and once at night.
Manuka honey produces a prebiotic called fructo-oligosaccharides, which helps probiotics in the gut to stay healthy. Emerging research has also found Manuka to be effective in eradicating more than 50 species of harmful bacteria, many of which specifically target our digestive system!
“Honey should be treated like all added sugars, something to include in your diet carefully and kept to a minimum,” Keating says. The American Heart Association recommends that men consume no more than nine teaspoons (36 grams) per day; women and children, no more than six teaspoons (24 grams) daily.
Honey helps your brain release melatonin, the hormone that your body uses to restore itself during sleep. This happens through a series of transformations in your brain: honey's sugars spike your insulin levels, releasing tryptophan, which becomes serotonin, which becomes melatonin.
Manuka Honey can also be used as a sweetener in Tea and Coffee although again you should not add it to boiling water.
Do not refrigerate honey. Keeping your honey in the refrigerator preserves it but the cool temperatures will cause your honey to form a semi-solid mass, so this method of storage is not recommended.
In addition to its use as a natural sweetener, honey is used as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial agent. People commonly use honey orally to treat coughs and topically to treat burns and promote wound healing.
Current research suggests that certain kinds of honey can reduce the presence of infection-causing bacteria in the gut including Salmonella, Escherichia coli, and Clostridiodes difficile, while simultaneously stimulating the growth of potentially beneficial species, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria.