There are more than a hundred varieties of honey available in the market. Each of them is categorised depending on the source from which they were harvested. Some can have a richer flavour, while others are more subtle. Some of them can have a darker hue, while others are light. Along with their differences in taste and appearance, different types of honey also offer various health benefits.
However, among these honey varieties, Manuka honey is considered the most prized honey due to its taste, appearance, and health benefits.
What Makes Manuka Honey Special?
Manuka honey has been used as a medicinal ingredient for centuries, yet not many people know what sets it apart from all the rest. To understand what makes Manuka honey special, you need to go back to its origins.
Real Manuka honey comes solely from the Manuka bush or flower, also known as Leptospermum scoparium, native to Australia and New Zealand. It blooms only a few weeks every year and is located in the country's most remote areas to ensure the highest quality honey and avoid contamination.
Besides location, Manuka honey is special due to its unique qualities. Unlike regular honey, studies have shown that Manuka honey has special antibacterial properties that result from its signature compounds known as methylglyoxal (MGO). On the other hand, MGO comes from another compound with a high concentration in the nectar of Manuka flowers called dihydroxyacetone or DHA. As a result, these compounds give Manuka honey incredible health benefits.
What are the Benefits of Manuka Honey?
As an active ingredient in Manuka honey’s antibacterial effects, MGO contributes to its antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory benefits, which include:
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Aiding in healing wounds
When applied directly on affected areas, it provides a protective barrier that keeps the wound moisturised while preventing microbial infections. In addition, Manuka honey can amplify tissue regeneration, optimise wound healing, and decrease pain due to its antibacterial qualities.
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Promoting oral health
Although it might seem counterintuitive to consume a sweet substance to promote good oral health, Manuka honey's MGO content prevents the growth of damaging oral bacteria that you can get from gum inflammation, tooth decay, and plaque formation. By destroying these bacteria, Manuka honey keeps your mouth healthy.
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Soothing sore throat
Another benefit of consuming Manuka honey is that it soothes sore throats. Its antibacterial and antiviral properties reduce inflammation and destroy the bacteria that causes pain. Moreover, its thick consistency coats your throat lining to extend its healing powers.
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Treating acne
Since bacteria is one of the main causes of acne, you can prevent breakouts by minimising the bacteria that penetrate the skin. Applying Manuka honey on the face provides a protective layer to fight against bacteria while it expedites the healing process of existing acne. To get the best results, you can combine Manuka honey with a low-pH facial product.
Overall, Manuka honey benefits are derived from its antibacterial components. Thus, the higher the MGO concentration, the more effective Manuka honey will be.
What do you need to consider when buying Manuka Honey in Singapore?
Now that you’re familiar with the advantages of Manuka honey, you might be wondering where you can get it.
Much like regular honey, Manuka honey comes in different brands, grades, and types, which you can find in supermarkets, organic shops, and online grocery stores. However, not all types of Manuka honey are made equal.
To help you sift through the diverse options, here are some tips and considerations in choosing the best Manuka honey for you.
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Grading
To judge good quality Manuka honey, you need to consider the following grading criteria:
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UMF: The Unique Manuka Factor or UMF accounts for MGO, DHA, and Leptosperin in the Manuka honey. It can range anywhere from 5+ UMF to 25+ UMF. This means, the higher the UMF rating, the more signature compounds the Manuka honey contains.
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Total Activity: Another factor to consider in grading is the Manuka honey’s total activity. This quantifies the antibacterial activity of the Manuka honey as opposed to the standard disinfectants. Therefore, the higher the degree of total activity, the more effective it is to kill bacteria.
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Sourcing
When looking for the best Manuka honey in Singapore, you need to look into its source. Does it come from an organic farm? Does the label contain the proper certifications to guarantee that the product is real? Does it contain additives?
Some Manuka honey brands dilute their products with other ingredients, thereby minimising its beneficial effects. To get the best out of your Manuka honey, you need to check the label. Great manuka honey products will contain labels such as "Certified Organic" and "Non-GMO" to ensure the purity of the honey.
If you need more information on the source, a reliable brand will share the details on their websites and other platforms for full transparency.
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Harvesting
Apart from sourcing, you also need to check the harvesting practices used by the farms and beekeepers from which they were sourced from.
Beekeepers should not feed their bees with corn syrup, sugar, or antibiotics that may affect the bee's health and thus the honey they produce. Moreover, they need to harvest Manuka honey with 20% moisture or less to ensure that it can be stored for longer periods without fermenting. As such, farms and beekeepers who sustainably work with their bees and properly take care of them guarantee longer-lasting, better quality, and a maximum purity of Manuka honey.
Choose the Best Manuka Honey in Singapore
Nature’s Glory Singapore offers the best quality Manuka honey by checking all the criteria for purity to give you the most antibacterial benefits.
| Nature’s Glory Manuka Honey | Popular Manuka Honey Brands in the Market |
|---|---|
| Our Manuka honey follows International Organic Standards and has been certified by AgriQuality NZ and NASAA. The products have gone through Total Activity testing from laboratories accredited by the New Zealand government. | Although all Manuka honey is sourced from Australia and New Zealand, they do not have other certifications to guarantee its pure organic quality. |
| They contain absolutely no antibiotics, chemicals, or sugar to ensure utmost purity and maintain beneficial properties. | Some brands contain additives like corn syrup and sugar to make the consistency thicker and increase mass production. |
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You can choose between:
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Most brands in Singapore generally offer Manuka honey with UMF 5+ and 10+, which are generally low in antibacterial components. In addition, they’re sold at exceedingly high price points, ranging from S$45 to S$68. Other brands with a UMF 20+ rating are priced over S$120 for 500g. |
| Nature Glory offers a higher Total Activity rating at affordable prices and bigger quantities. As one of our bestsellers, Manuka "XO" Honey is among the rarest and most potent products to fight against bacteria, with a pollen count of 80% to 95%. It's incredibly powerful and strong to combat common ailments and other conditions. | Popular brands in the supermarket offer Manuka Honey with low Total Activity rates at expensive price points. |
FAQs about Manuka Honey
First, you need to wash your hands and your bedsore to remove excess bacteria. Then, you apply an even coating of Manuka honey on the wound dressing and wrap it carefully on the affected area. Finally, replace the dressing once you notice a colour change on the bandage. Repeat these steps until your skin returns to normal.
The kind of Manuka honey you buy generally depends on your preference and purpose. However, a rule of thumb is to buy Manuka honey with a high UMF and Total Activity rating to ensure maximum benefits.
Nature’s Glory’s Organic New Zealand Manuka Honey Bioactive 15+ and Organic New Zealand Manuka XO are both organically certified by AgriQuality New Zealand and have high MGO concentrations that guarantee purity and potency.
Manuka honey has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties that are effective for wound healing and disease prevention. When taken regularly and moderately, it can improve your immune system and keep your body healthy by actively destroying harmful bacteria.
Ideally, you should limit Manuka honey intake to 1-2 tablespoons daily, which you can consume directly or mixed into food and drinks. Although it has incredible health benefits and a low glycaemic index, it should still be taken in moderation.
To tell if Manuka honey is real, you need to check the label. The product should have a quality UMF trademark, total activity rating, and organic certification. The label should also clearly state that the Manuka honey is produced in New Zealand and does not undergo pasteurisation or irradiation.
Yes, Manuka honey is beneficial for colds. Since common colds and flu are caused by viruses, consuming Manuka honey regularly can destroy the virus and prevent it from spreading to the rest of your system.
Simply put, raw honey is defined as honey from hive to shelf. It does not undergo a filtration process to preserve its integrity and keep all the natural vitamins and minerals intact. To ensure that Manuka honey keeps all its nutrients and antibacterial properties, it also doesn’t go through significant transformation though a short process may be involved to remove wax from Manuka honey and create a more refined product. For this reason, Manuka honey falls under the raw honey category, but it’s usually a unique classification in itself.
UMF stands for Unique Manuka Factor, and it takes into account the signature compounds found in Manuka honey, like Methylglyoxal (MGO), Dihydroxyacetone (DHA), and Leptosperin. The rating is based on the concentration of all these components combined are found in the manuka honey. As such, the higher the rating, the better the quality and the more potent its effects.
Not only does Manuka honey contain antibacterial properties, but it is also bacterial resistant. This means that the bacteria cannot build a tolerance to the product's antibacterial effects. Because of this, it has been used for treating all types of ailments ranging from sore throat and gastric ulcer to acne and wounds.
Unlike regular honey, Manuka honey cannot be produced in large quantities. It can only be sourced from a Manuka bush found in New Zealand and Australia, making it one of the rarer honey types in the market. In addition, it has high concentrations of MGO, which offers effective health benefits other honey types cannot achieve. That said, manuka honey is priced much higher than regular honey.
However, at Nature’s Glory, we offer top quality Organic New Zealand Manuka Honey Bioactive 15+ and Organic New Zealand Manuka XO Honey Bioactive 30+ at different volumes and affordable prices.
Manuka honey generally appears much darker and thicker than regular honey. In addition, Manuka honey has a distinct taste that's much richer and more earthy. It also contains more active antibacterial components that are arguably more effective than regular honey to cure sore throats, coughs, mouth ulcers, acne, and other health issues.
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Customer Testimonial
"Yummy and value for money! Much better than those umf certified manuka honey that I have purchased from Nature's Farm.
I m an old time client of nature's glory and have also made repeated purchase of other items from them.
They are one of the rare business who are deeply sincerely in offering the best to their clients!" - Linda C.
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Manuka Honey Products
Organic New Zealand Manuka Honey Bioactive TA 15+ Nature's Glory
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Organic New Zealand Manuka XO Honey Bioactive 30+ Nature's Glory
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