While Australian manuka honey may also have benefits, it isn't as well-researched and regulated. New Zealand Manuka comes only from the leptosperum scoparium plant, commonly known as the Manuka plant, while Australian manuka can come from any plant in the leptosperum species.
More is more: Australia's unmatchable variety of Manuka
The diversity of Australia's Manuka trees is vastly superior to New Zealand. Australia is home to 83 species of Manuka, 12 of which have bioactive, medicinal properties, making them ideal for high-MGO Manuka production. In comparison, New Zealand has only one.
We now know Australia is host to over 80 species of Leptospermum, including the same plant - Leptospermum Scoparium - as is found in NZ. Because of this variety, along with other types of flora, Australian Manuka honey has a different flavor and color profile & is less likely to crystallize.
Honey products are permitted into most Australian states and territories. Honey products must be inspected by a biosecurity officer on arrival, to confirm the honey items are free from contamination. Items that do not meet these conditions will be exported or destroyed at the importer's expense.
Most people have heard of the benefits of Manuka Honey, and – thanks to clever marketing – many people believe it is only produced in New Zealand. The truth is, there are far more manuka trees in Australia than New Zealand.
Best Premium Manuka Honey
At 24-plus UMF and 1,122-plus MGO, New Zealand Honey Co. produces one of the most potent Manuka honeys on the market. Each batch of New is independently tested for purity and has a thick consistency that could work nicely as a spread.
1. New Zealand Honey Co. Dash of Butter raves about this brand above all others: “Having conducted a deep dive into 15 other leading brands of Manuka and purchasing over 6 of them, New Zealand Manuka Honey is the realist of the real and proved to be orders of magnitude better than the rest in both taste and nutrients.”
Manuka honey is more expensive than most other honey because it is rare and only produced in Australia and New Zealand. The flowers the bees collect the nectar from, to make Manuka honey are from the Leptospermum family, which is native to Australia. Farming Manuka honey costs more to produce than other honeys.
What makes New Zealand Manuka honey special, is it has over 200 compounds that are not found in other types of honey. The medicinal trilogy of leptosperin, dihydroxyacetone (DHA) and methylglyoxal (MGO) are signature compounds that are measured in the UMF™ rating to our Manuka honey.
Australia boasts more floral sources for honey bees to forage on than any other country in the world, making our honey the most unique in the world with its wide-ranging tastes and colours.
Tim Malfroy produces some of the world's best honey in the pristine world heritage Blue Mountains of Australia. Malfroy's honey is a great representation of the terroir of the Blue Mountains with its complex flora and pure environment. The depth of flavour is amazing; this honey is something special.
Woolworths Pure Blend Honey has a malty, mild floral flavour and is 100% natural.
What is the best medical grade honey? Manuka honey is considered to have the greatest health benefits with its unique antibacterial and antioxidant properties. The highest UMF™ grades of manuka honey are therefore regarded as the best medical grade honeys (UMF™ 24+ and UMF™ 26+).
Which Manuka honey should you buy? We recommend Manuka honey with a minimum of 100+ MGO. As there are no UK guidelines to classify Manuka honey grades, we recognise that it can be difficult to shop products and compare them to understand with Manuka honey which strength you should buy.
Australia's Manuka MGO 850+ medical grade TGA approved honey is a superior honey with bioactive properties suitable for wound care. Suitable for the treatment of minor cuts, abrasions and burns.
If a UMF Trademark is visible on the label it means that the product inside has been identified as natural mānuka Honey, assuring its purity and quality - the higher UMF level the better.
Manuka honey with higher levels of antibacterial properties is most often used in skincare and for health purposes – MGO 263+ (UMF 10+) or higher. Manuka honey with, relatively, lower levels of antibacterial properties (MGO 83+ or UMF 5+) is the perfect choice for daily consumption.
MGO stands for methylglyoxal. Methylglyoxal is a naturally-occuring compound found in raw honey, and is the main factor associated with its beneficial antibacterial and antioxidant properties². The MGO rating on a jar of manuka honey indicates its content; the higher the rating, the more methylglyoxal in that batch.
If you want a natural sweet hit every day, and you're not too worried about extra health benefits, then any honey will fill that gap. But if you're keen for a wellness kick or you want the medical benefits that have made manuka honey famous, then it's worth buying the real stuff.
MGO stands for Methylglyoxal which is the organic compound responsible for Manuka honey's strong antibacterial properties. Scientists are still researching exactly how methylglyoxal works with other components to produce Manuka's unique health benefits. Our Red Label Manuka Honey is certified as MGO 83+ Manuka Honey.
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. Let's draw some inspiration from Oscar Wilde here. “Everything in moderation, including moderation.”
Dabur Honey is World's No. 1 Honey brand that is 100% pure and natural, entirely sourced from Indigenous beekeepers.
The main difference between MGO and UMF™ is that MGO only measures the methylglyoxal element in Manuka honey and its potency. UMF™ on the other hand, measures three chemical compounds found in Manuka honey: dihydroxyacetone (DHA), leptosperin and methylglyoxal.