How To Choose The Best Mānuka Honey

How do we find the best Mānuka honey? This question is constantly asked but there isn’t necessarily a right or wrong answer. As one of New Zealand’s most iconic products, pure Mānuka honey is loved by many in New Zealand and across the seas. There has also been speculation within the scientific community that high strength Mānuka honey may bring about unique benefits.

This blog will explain the best method to find the ideal Mānuka honey for your situation. Once you realise what you wish to use Mānuka honey, you can then look into the different grading systems and strengths within those criteria to make your best judgement. 

What Grading Systems Are There For Mānuka Honey? 

There are several grading systems for Mānuka honey on the market. While many of them set reasonable standards of honey quality, only a few of them are sought after across the world. 

1. MGO 

MGO or methylglyoxal is one of the most fascinating compounds found within raw Mānuka honey. MGO can range greatly within monofloral Mānuka honey and can be considered to be very strong at higher concentrations and was first discovered by biochemist Dr Peter Molan in 1981. 

As a bioactive compound, this unique chemical has been linked to having reported antibacterial properties. With uses and applications that span everywhere between consuming it as a natural sweetener to formulating a DIY facial mask, pure Mānuka honey could be the missing ingredient in your day.

2. BioActive

BioActive is a less common grading system that measures both the peroxide and non-peroxide activity within Mānuka honey. As opposed to measuring the unique activity of MGO alone, this method also takes into account the H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide). 

However, MGO is still considered to be a higher standard of measure as the H2O2 denatures during the measuring process. This makes it very difficult to accurately observe. 

3. UMF™

The gold standard of Mānuka honey considers the four factors of potency, authenticity, shelf-life and freshness. Taking into account all of the unique bioactive ingredients within this gift from nature, the Unique Mānuka Factor or UMF™ is second to none. 

Known by honey connoisseurs around the world, UMF™ grades their honey between UMF™ 5+all the way to UMF™ 31+. As the number increases, so do the four factors above. Encompassing all necessary factors for quality Mānuka honey into one grade makes finding the right honey for you so much more convenient. 

4. K-Factor

K-Factor is a measure that is seldom used in the industry and one that has been reported to lack substantial factors. MGO, NPA and leptosperin have been suggested to be excluded in this consideration and instead reflect the pollen count of the flower. 

Is MGO Important When Choosing The Best Mānuka Honey? 

Most reputable brands will display both the UMF™ and MGO level on each jar of Mānuka honey. There are many customers who still base their purchase on the MGO alone as this is still the most unique ingredient according to the general scientific literature. 

Although high MGO is incredibly sought-after, there is one important factor to look out for when purchasing Mānuka honey without a UMF™ label. MGO has a biochemical precursor called dihydroxyacetone (DHA) which is only typically present in naturally occurring MGO within Mānuka honey. DHA is coincidentally one of the required substances to be present in Mānuka honey for a UMF™ certification. 

Without a UMF™ certification, you can’t be certain the MGO within this specific jar of honey is genuine. Only UMF™ takes into account the presence and concentration of DHA which is the universal marker for naturally-occuring MGO. 

Do I Need The Highest UMF™ Mānuka Honey? 

Although there are exceptionally premium Mānuka honey jars on the market, most of the time, you won’t need the most expensive jar. Depending on why you’re interested in this rare New Zealand gold will determine which Mānuka honey jar you should purchase. 

Here are the minimum UMF™/MGO levels you should look out for if you’re interested in these potential benefits: 

• Natural Sweetener - UMF™ 5+ or MGO 80+
• DIY Facial Masks - UMF™ 15+ or MGO 514+
• Prebiotic Supplementation - UMF™ 22+ or MGO 971+

Above are just a few of the uses that Mānuka honey can be used for. Although Mānuka honey can be made available as an ulta-premium product, there are several variations that are both cost-friendly and loaded with MGO. 

PURITI Can Provide You With 100% Pure New Zealand Mānuka Honey

At PURITI, we provide multi-purposeful UMF™-certified Mānuka honey that exceeds all requirements to guarantee purity and potency. EachMānuka honey product that we sell exceeds the minimum required leptosperin and MGO concentrations set by UMF™HA. As a result, consumers can buy from PURITI with confidence knowing that we are only selling 100% genuine New Zealand Mānuka honey.

PURITI also includes 11 separate anti-counterfeit measures within our packaging - we provide absolute quality assurance to our customers. As a sacred product of New Zealand, we want to ensure customers receive the best level of quality that PURITI can offer.  

If you’re looking to buy high-quality, genuine New Zealand Mānuka honey online, the great selection of items at PURITI will be the perfect place to browse an extensive range of premium products. 

Buy ourMānuka honey online for all your wellness needs.