What Makes Manuka Honey Unique?

Manuka honey is unique because it is only created by bees that forage the flowers of the Manuka tree in New Zealand. Manuka honey is also the only honey that contains the natural organic compound, Methylglyoxal (MGO), which contributes to its amazing health and wellness properties.

What Does MGO Mean in Manuka Honey?

MGO in Manuka honey refers to Methylglyoxal, a naturally occurring compound that contributes to the honey's unique antibacterial properties. It's measured in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg), indicating the honey's potency. The higher the MG concentrations, the more potent the honey.

In the early 1990s, Dr. Peter Molan from Waikato University in New Zealand was studying the ‘peroxide activity’ attributed to honey's antibacterial properties. He found that unlike the ‘peroxide activity’ of other types of honey, which was easily destroyed by exposure to fluids, heat, and sunlight, Manuka honey had a different, more potent, and more stable property that he called “non-peroxide activity” (NPA). Later, Professor Thomas Henle from the Technical University of Dresden in Germany set out to isolate what in Manuka honey was exhibiting this potent and stable antibacterial effect. He was able to isolate the methylglyoxal (MGO) as the compound producing the NPA.

How Can I Tell the Difference Between Real Manuka Honey and Fake Manuka Honey?

There are only two legitimate, industry-recognized, and independently verifiable ways to label Manuka Honey: Manuka Honey should be labeled with the actual MGO test results (in mg/kg). We label our honey with the actual MGO results and make our test results publicly available (example here). or Manuka Honey should be labeled with a rating on the UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) scale. UMF is trademarked and must appear on the label.

Where Can I Buy Manuka Honey?

You can buy authentic New Zealand Manuka honey directly on our website. At Bees & Trees, we are committed to producing the best quality Manuka honey. We harvest our honey in small batches to ensure high quality, minimally process it, and then pack it. We also publish our Methylglyoxal test reports on our product pages so you can shop confidently.

Why is Manuka Honey So Expensive?

Manuka honey is more expensive than other types of honey due to its limited supply from New Zealand and its unique wellness benefits. At Bees & Trees, we produce our own honey and sell it directly to you the consumer, bypassing traditional distribution and large retail chain profit margins. On a pricer per MGO per ounce, we are typically 30-50% lower than many of competing brands.