What is Multifloral Mānuka Honey?

When you’re standing in the honey aisle - or browsing online - you’ll see a lot of fancy words on the labels. UMF, MGO, “Single Origin” and the two big words: monofloral and multifloral Mānuka honey. 

If you’ve ever felt a bit stuck on which one to drop into your cart, you’re not alone. At PURITI, we’re all about cutting through the smoke and mirrors to give you the straight facts. We know that when you’re looking for authentic Mānuka honey, you want to be sure that the jar in your hand matches the quality that’s promised on the label. 

Finding trusted Mānuka honey products shouldn’t feel like a guessing game, so let’s dive deep into what makes these varieties unique and how to choose the right one for your pantry. 

What Exactly is Multifloral Honey?

Let’s start with the name. 

In the world of honey, “floral” refers to the flowers, and of course, “multi” means many. Multifloral Mānuka honey is a natural, golden blend that’s created by nature itself - it’sa form of authentic Mānuka honey where the bees have visited the Mānuka tree, but they’ve also spent their day buzzing around other New Zealand wildflowers, clovers and native trees. 

When these bees take the nectar from these other plants and mix it with the nectar from the Mānuka tree, it creates a sort of “wildflower mix” that has a healthy, significant dose of Mānuka honey, but is often milder in taste and lighter in colour. 

It still carries the special properties we all love, butit’s just not as concentrated as the single-source varieties. When you buy from a brand that sells trusted Mānuka honey products, like PURITI, you can rest assured that even the multifloral blends meet therigorous quality standards. 

The Context of Multifloral Mānuka Honey Creation

All of PURTI’s honey comes from one place:the pristine, rugged back-country of New Zealand. Our bees are the ultimate foragers, so we place our hives in some of the most remote parts of the country - some spots are so remote that our beekeepers need helicopters to reach the hives. 

While the Mānuka tree is really the star of the show, New Zealand’s forests are exceptionally diverse. If a hive is placed in an area where Mānuka is growing alongside other native plants, the bees decide not to discriminate - they’ll take the best nectar from whatever they can find blooming.

The result is a beautiful, complex multifloral Mānuka honey that captures the essence of the entire forest; even though it’s a blend, the product remains a staple among trusted Mānuka honey products because of its pure, wild origin. 

The process of making authentic multifloral Mānuka honey is a true collaboration. To take a closer look at the steps involved:

Foraging:For roughly two to six weeks a year, the Mānuka tree blooms. During this window, worker bees head out to collect nectar. In the multifloral scenario, they’re visiting Mānuka blossoms plus whatever else is in season nearby. 

The Hive Magic:Back at the hive, the beeswill pass the nectar to the house bees, who add enzymes that begin changing the nectar’s chemistry and creating the foundation of multifloral Mānuka honey. 

The Dehydration:The bees will fan their wings over the honeycomb to evaporate excess water. This thickens the nectar into rich honey we recognise as authentic Mānuka honey. 

The PURITI Standard:Once the honey is ready, our beekeepers will harvest it sustainably, then have it taken toour state-of-the-art facility where it’s tested, certified and packed as one of our trusted Mānuka honey products. 

Why Does Knowing The Difference Matter?

At PURITI, we believe in higher standards of testing and quality. For us, transparency is everything - so the importance of knowing whether you’re buying monofloral or multifloral Mānuka honey really comes down to both intent and value. 

If you’re looking for a honey that has the highest possible combination ofunique compounds and properties, whether it’s for wellness or skincare, you’ll want monofloral Mānuka honey. It has the higher MGO levels that make authentic Mānuka honey such a globally sought-after product - and the UMF levels will reflect this. 

However, if you just want a delicious but high-quality New Zealand honey with some Mānuka benefits, and you’re keen to secure a jar at a more affordable price, the multifloral range will be your best friend. 

The danger in the honey market is when brands try to hide what’s on the jar. You don’t want to pay top-tier pricing for a blend, which is why we’ve raised our bar on testing at PURITI - we ensure that all of our Mānuka honey products are clearly labelled and honestly priced. 

Many companies follow the bare minimum legal requirements - the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industrieshas a strict scientific definition for what constitutes monofloral Mānuka honey. At PURITI, we believe that authentic Mānuka honey deserves better treatment. 

In our case, we’ll test for four chemical markers and a DNA test from the pollen. You can read more about our higher testing standardshere.

Some brands might use clever marketing words like “active”, “bio-active” and “100% natural” to try and distract you from the actual MGO (methylglyoxal) levels. If you aren’t seeing a clear distinction between multifloral and monofloral, you might be paying a premium for a product that doesn’t have the potent punch you’re looking for. 

So, when you’re shopping for Mānuka honey, look for the UMF (Unique Mānuka Factor) quality mark and a clear MGO rating. If a label just says “Mānuka honey” with no other context, it’s almost certainly a multifloral blend being sold at a monofloral price point. 

By choosing a brand that prioritises clear labelling, you’re supporting a more honest honey industry.

How To Tell The Difference

You won’t need to be a scientist, or Mānuka honey connoisseur to tell the two honey types apart - you just need to know what to look for in order to buy authentic Mānuka honey. 

Read the Label:By law, New Zealand Mānuka honey must state if it’s monofloral or multifloral. 

Check the MGO / UMF Rating:Monofloral Mānuka honey will usually start atUMF 5+ (or, MGO 85+) and go much higher. Multifloral Mānuka honey typically has a lower MGO rating, often between MGO 30 and 80. 

The Price Point:Because monofloral Mānuka honey is rarer and harder to harvest, it’s always going to be more expensive to buy. If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. 

The PURITI Security:In the case of PURITI, every one of our trusted Mānuka honey products come witheight anti-counterfeit features. We make it easy to verify that you’re consuming authentic Mānuka honey. 

Being a savvy shopper means looking past the pretty pictures and checking the fine print. Whether it’s a high-potency benefit you’re after, or the delicious nature of multifloral Mānuka honey, the details on the jar will always be your best friend. 

Pay attention to the MGO ratings and seek out the verified security features on the product, it’s your way of ensuring your money is well-spent on the real deal, not an expensive fake. 

Don’t Get Stung By Vague Marketing

In the world of high-end wellness, the word “vague” is usually code for “overpriced.” 

When you’re shopping for trusted Mānuka honey products, the terminology matters. You’ll often see jars that are labelled with broader words, without any mention of whether they’re multifloral or monofloral Mānuka honey. This ambiguity isn’t a mistake, it’s a way to hide the fact the honey is diluted with cheaper nectar sources, while still charging you a premium price. 

To find authentic Mānuka honey, you need to look for the UMF quality mark, a clear MGO rating and evidence on the sellers’ website of authenticating their products. If these things are missing, it’s a major red flag - so choose a brand that prioritises clear, honest labelling. 

This is exactly why PURITI exists. We don’t exist to meet the industry standard, we set our own “higher standards” that exceed the New Zealand legal requirements. When you choose PURITI, you’re getting a guarantee of potency, purity and total transparency. 

If you’re looking for the powerhouse benefits of our high-grade monofloral Mānuka honey, we make the choice easy and our quality is undeniable. Don’t settle for vague when you can have the best. Exploreour award-winning range today.