How to tell if Manuka honey is the real deal
MANUKA honey is delicious — and all the evidence points to it being good for you, too.
Research is in its infancy, but a promising study found it could potentially help to treat and prevent summer colds, thanks to potent anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties. And honey is well known as one of the best coughbusters around.
Manuka has also been linked with better gut health. And other studies suggest it could help to soothe hay fever and calm some skin conditions, such as eczema.
But how do you tell if the Manuka honey you’re buying is the real deal — or fake?
Estimates based on New Zealand export figures suggest up to half of all honey sold as Manuka may not contain what it claims on the jar.
To make sure you’re buying the real, valuable product and not getting ripped off with a poor-quality imitation, check it was packed in New Zealand, and displays a Tested Certified Manuka symbol.
If it was sealed into a jar in New Zealand, it should be safe from adulteration with cheaper honeys, sugar syrup and even added chemicals.
Check the MGO rating. This shows how much methylglyoxal, a natural compound
with antibacterial properties, it contains.
The higher the number, the greater the strength.
For added confidence, look for suppliers which test their honey in an independent laboratory both in New Zealand and on arrival in the UK.
Read the label carefully. Don’t be confused by statements that a honey is ‘100% pure’ or ‘100% New Zealand honey’. If a honey does not state whether it is ‘monofloral’ (primarily made from Manuka nectar) or ‘multifloral’ (made from a mix of Manuka and other nectars), and states it is a blend or has been blended, it is highly likely to have been mixed with cheaper European or Asian honey.
This means it could contain very little MGO — the natural compound that gives Manuka honey its special properties. Lastly, does it have the ‘Hive to Home’ promise? Reputable honey sellers can trace any jar of honey back to the beekeeper who harvested it.
When buying Manuka honey, check the packaging promises this traceability — if it doesn’t, you can’t be confident it’s come from a hive producing real New Zealand Manuka honey.