Why Manuka Honey Is Good For You

Prized for its highest antibacterial properties, Manuka honey has been used for centuries for ailments such as wounds, sore throats, toothaches, gum disease, stomach health and much more. While not all honey is Manuka honey, there are also different standards to certify honey to ensure that we offer pure and natural organic Manuka honey from New Zealand.

What is Manuka Honey and what makes it so special?

What sets Manuka honey apart from other honeys is its strong antibacterial properties from active ingredients like methylglyoxal. Manuka honey is native to New Zealand and is produced when bees pollinate the flower Leptospermum scoparium or the Manuka bush. Not only does the Manuka flower only bloom 2-6 weeks out of the year, it grows in some of the most untouched parts of New Zealand, making crops limited and more expensive to harvest.

What are the benefits of Nature’s Glory Manuka Honey?

1. Harvested in a pollution-free area of South Island, New Zealand:

Our organic bioactive Manuka honey is harvested in an untouched area of the South Island of New Zealand, which is protected by the Department of Conservation. In this area, no tourists, farming or industrialisation is allowed, the land is rich in nutrients with clean air, and honey produced is natural and unaffected by pollutants and contaminants as much as possible.

2. Certified organically harvested & processed by NASAA Australia:

Being certified organic means every step from harvest to bottling and final sale is audited independently.  Look out for the NASAA logo and number on our bottles to assure that you are getting real honey, which is not adulterated with cheaper honeys or chemicals. Our NASAA Certificate number is 8131P.  You can verify the validity on www.nasaa.com.au. 

Likewise, our Manuka honey does not contain any chemicals, artificial additives, added sugar, and pesticides. Our bees are not fed any sugar or high fructose corn syrup, which cross-contaminates the honey. Other farmers may do this to cut costs instead of letting the bees feed on their own honey. We also don’t give our bees antibiotics, which affect their own gut microbiome and the quality of the honey that they produce.

3. Only harvested when honey is "Bee Ready": 

When the honey contains about 20% or less in moisture, the bees declare the honey as "ready" and will form a thin layer of wax over the cell to cover honey.  It is only at this time that our honey is harvested and not any earlier. This is Nature's own timing for the making of honey and it can then be stored for long periods of time without fermenting.

4. Tested for Total Activity over 15+: 

Total Activity (TA) is a measurement of the antibacterial levels in honey, with a higher rating as being more antibacterial than others. According to researchers, TA which is higher than 15+ is effective to kill bacteria that causes sore throat and ulcers. We currently only select honey that has TA higher than 15+. Every batch of our honey is tested by a New Zealand government- accredited laboratory for Total Activity (TA).  

5. Pollen count over 70%: 

Every batch of our honey is also tested for the percentage of manuka pollen count to determine if it can be called Manuka honey.  Based on European standards, a Manuka pollen count of 70% and above can be classified as Manuka honey.  On average, our Manuka honey has a 80% to 95% manuka pollen count.

6. No High Heat:

The average temperature of a beehive is between 35 to 37 degrees Celsius. Unlike many other honey bottlers, we do not use high heat to liquify our honey for faster bottling as this can destroy the important nutrients and properties of the honey.  High heat also unnaturally produces higher levels of chemicals like Methylglyoxal (MGO) within the honey.

7. No Ultra-High Pressure Filtration:

Manuka honey naturally contains pollen (high in minerals and vitamins), propolis (antiviral effects), waxes and sugars like glucose, fructose and other oligosaccharides. Oligosaccharides are an especially part of our immunity against bad bugs and have been found to promote the growth of friendly bacteria in our gut. Hence, to retain all the natural goodness, our honey is only lightly filtered to remove larger debris from the hive and insects. 

8. BPA Free Amber glass bottles: 

For our Manuka honey, we invest in using expensive amber glass bottles to protect the honey from light and heat.  Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical found in many plastics which has recently been linked to abnormalities of the brain, blood pressure, infertility, heart problems, and so on.  The safety of BPF and BPS plastic alternatives to BPA may not be safe either and thus we don’t use plastic containers for the packaging of our honey.

9. Our honey is exported from New Zealand and complies with standards set by:

• Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) New Zealand
• New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA)
• Australia & New Zealand Food Standards Code
• Codex Honey standard
• European Honey standard Council Directive 2001/110/EEC
• National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia (NASAA)

How is your Manuka honey graded?

Our Manuka honey is certified by the New Zealand independent government accredited labs, as well as certified as organic by NASAA.

Chemicals in honey like DHA (Dihydroxyacetone), MGO (Methylglyoxal) and Leptosperin– the same ones tested for in the UMF ratings can be potentially bought and added into manuka honey to enhance the antibacterial effects of the honey. 

The practice of adding these additives has occurred recently even in some Manuka sold in Singapore and worldwide. For example, on 26th February 2016, the Straits Times published an article about how the AVA recalled Evergreen Life Ltd Manuka Honey products due to unapproved additives used.

Instead of paying very high fees of membership and royalties to get the UMF logo, we would rather confirm the total effectiveness of the honey against bacteria through New Zealand independent government-accredited laboratories, so that the honey can be made much more affordable to everyone!

We focus our ratings on Total Activity, the level of antibacterial activity in honey, which takes into account both peroxide activity and non-peroxide activity. Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful antibacterial and antifungal property but is mild on human tissue and the digestive system. UMF ratings currently do not include non-peroxide activity. For TA, any honey with a TA rating of 15+ or more is deemed to have beneficial antibacterial properties caused by the natural enzymes in the honey. Our bioactive Manuka honeys range from 15+ and 30+. 

Our NASAA organic certifications also prohibit the additions of any chemicals or additives into our honey.

How to use and store your Manuka Honey

Manuka honey can be consumed internally as well as applied topically. Do take note that our instructions on usage and statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not meant to be taken as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare professional where necessary. 

Internally:

Take 1 to 2 teaspoons once daily to maintain good health. Take 2 teaspoons twice to three times daily for sore throat or ulcers.  Mix manuka honey in your mouth with saliva and swallow slowly, allowing the honey to act on the sore areas. If possible, do not take water for 15 minutes (after taking honey) to allow honey to continue acting on the affected parts without being washed away. 

Externally:

Apply liberally to cover wounds/ sores after washing and drying the wounds and sores.  Cover with clean plastic food wrap to prevent smearing of clothes and bedding.  Depending on the severity of the wound, the process may have to be repeated daily or every 2 days.

Precautions:

Use a clean and dry spoon only as moisture can damage the honey.  Wooden or ceramic spoons preferred over metal spoons as active enzymes present in honey can react with the metals. Cap tightly after use.  It is normal to see ants to enjoy your honey as much as you enjoy our honey. Store in a cool dry place. 

Our Range of Nature’s Glory Manuka Honeys include:

Organic Manuka Honey (Bioactive 15+)

Our Nature's Glory Organic Super Bioactive Manuka Honey is organically certified by Agriquality NZ (IFOAM Accredited) with no pesticides or additives used. The high antibacterial activity in Manuka honey termed as "Total Activity" has been attributed not only to the presence of hydrogen peroxide but also to non-peroxide components, which is stable and are not affected by environmental factors, unlike most honey.

Organic XO Manuka Honey Super Bioactive (Bioactive 30+)

Our Manuka "XO" Honey is rare, potent and effective honey against ulcers. It has an extremely high 30+ antibacterial activity than most manuka and other honey with more than 90% pollen count. It is organically certified by Agri quality NZ (IFOAM Accredited) with no pesticides or additives used and has one of the highest grades of all manuka honeys.

Click here for more details about organic honey!