Long used in folk medicine and for home remedies, honey has been known for its healing, beneficial effects. The most prized type of honey is Manuka honey, which is popular and commonly sold in supermarkets and health stores for its purported health benefits. Not only does it taste great and be used as a healthy sugar substitute, but the myriad of health benefits are what makes Manuka honey different from regular honeys.
Common FAQs about Manuka Honey
What is Manuka honey?
Manuka honey comes from the Leptospermum scoparium -- the Manuka bush, native to Australia and New Zealand. It is rich, dark and intense and packed full of active antibacterial compounds that are not present in other honeys.
What is the difference between Manuka honey and regular honey?
Just based on appearances, Manuka honey is often darker and thicker as it is less processed than regular honey. It also tastes richer, with more intense flavours. Not only that, it has active antibacterial properties that help with sore throats, mouth ulcers, coughs, digestion issues and even wound healing of the skin. Thus it has to be known as a type of ‘medicinal’ honey.
Why is Manuka honey so expensive?
As Manuka honey comes from the Manuka bush, this plant is only native to New Zealand and parts of Australia. Thus, it is rarer than other types of honey along with its health properties, the price for Manuka honey can be more expensive than your other regular honeys.
At Nature’s Glory, our Manuka honeys like our Organic New Zealand Manuka Honey Bioactive 15+ Nature's Glory are affordable for the volume and quality of the honey.
How can you store Manuka Honey?
Manuka honey should be stored in a cool and dry place, it does not have to be refrigerated. Most honeys can be stored for years, however, for Nature’s Glory, we do encourage that our Manuka honey like Organic New Zealand Manuka XO Honey Bioactive 30+ Nature's Glory are consumed in 3 years after opening for the best quality.
How do you know the grade of Manuka Honey?
Manuka honey can be graded using different rating systems. Some brands use the Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) ratings to test for the 3 markers of Manuka honey - Leptosperin, Methylglyoxal and Dihydroxyacetone. The top rating of UMF is 16+ and up.
Alternatively, other Manuka honey brands use the MGO rating which measures the amount of methylglyoxal present in the honey. Once again, the higher the rating of MGO, the better.
However, at Nature’s Glory, we like to grade our Manuka honey according to Total Activity - the degree of antibacterial activity of the Manuka honey compared to a standard disinfectant solution. A Total Activity of 10+ or more is regarded as important in the killing of bacteria and germs that cause diseases, for example Staphylococcus Aureus. We prefer to use Total Activity ratings as the Manuka honey ratings are less likely to be tampered with through the use of added chemicals.
Our Manuka Honeys - Organic New Zealand Manuka Honey Bioactive 15+ Nature's Glory and Organic New Zealand Manuka XO Honey Bioactive 30+ Nature's Glory have a Total Activity rating of 15+ and 30+ respectively, well above the standard rating of TA 10+.
How much Manuka honey should I take everyday?
You can take 1-2 tablespoons of Manuka honey everyday, directly or mixed with your other food and drinks. Although Manuka honey has a lower glycemic index than white sugar, you should still take it in moderation.
How else can I use Manuka honey?
Besides eating a few spoons of honey daily, Manuka honey can also be used as a sugar substitute during baking or cooking, can be stirred into a cup of tea to soothe your throat, used as a natural DIY facial mask or even applied to cuts or burns on your skin.Â
The natural honey face mask can help even skin tone and redness due to its anti-inflammatory properties and for cuts and burns, you can apply a thin layer of honey onto your skin before bandaging or dressing the wound.
As you can see Manuka honey can be a versatile natural product, not just as an ingredient for consumption but also for topical use. Its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties give the product outstanding qualities, such that it is indeed worthy of the right to be the gold standard of all honeys.