Manuka honey

Manuka honey is made by bees from the nectar of the mānuka bush, Leptospermum scoparium, which flowers for only a few weeks a year in New Zealand. That short season, plus remote hive sites, explains the price. As the honey matures, a compound in the nectar converts into methylglyoxal, usually shortened to MGO. Methylglyoxal is the marker used to grade it.

What the numbers on the jar actually mean

Two systems sit on UK shelves. MGO is a measured amount of methylglyoxal per kilogram of honey: a plain number. UMF is a licensed quality mark that tests several natural markers, so it also checks that the honey is genuine mānuka and not a blend. A higher number means a stronger, more medicinal flavour and a higher price. It does not turn honey into something other than food.

The forms we stock

• Jars: the standard choice, by the spoon, on toast or stirred into warm drinks.
• Lozenges and pastilles: manuka combined with other ingredients, handy on the move; see all products in lozenge form.
• Single sachets: fixed portions for travel, no sticky jar in your bag.
• Blends with propolis, ginger or lemon, where flavour and convenience matter more than a high grade.

How we choose the manuka honey we stock

We keep this collection deliberately small. We only list honey that shows a grade on the label, MGO or UMF, backed by batch testing, because an unnumbered jar tells you nothing about what is inside. We buy directly from the brands, without intermediaries, so you know the jar is authentic, and our compliance team checks every label before it goes live. Where a brand offers a ladder of grades, we also stock the lower and middle ones: for everyday use they make more sense than collector grades. We test products ourselves and independent labs spot-check batches. You can read how we select.

Who it suits, and who can skip it

Manuka honey suits you if you already use honey daily and want a specific, well-documented origin with a graded label. It is also a common gift, which is why the higher grades exist in small jars. If you simply want something sweet for your porridge, a good local blossom honey does that job for far less money. Shoppers often browse this page alongside our immune system range, so it helps to be clear about the difference.

Honest context before you buy

Under UK and EU food law, no health claim is authorised for manuka honey. So we describe it as what it is: a food with a distinctive taste, a verified origin and a graded marker. If you are looking for a nutrient with an approved effect on the immune system, products with vitamin C are the clearer route, since vitamin C contributes to the normal function of the immune system.

Two practical points. Manuka honey is still around four fifths sugar, so a teaspoon is a portion, not a serving. And honey of any kind, including manuka, is not suitable for babies under twelve months. Store the jar closed at room temperature, away from sunlight, and use a dry spoon. Crystals or a firmer, creamed texture are normal and do not mean the honey has spoiled.