What is Mānuka Honey?

Mānuka Honey

What makes Mānuka Honey rare, authentic, and unique

Mānuka honey is one of nature’s rarest gifts, produced in New Zealand and celebrated worldwide for its unique profile. In our guide, you’ll discover what makes it different from regular honey, why its origins matter, and how trusted grading systems like Unique Mānuka Factor (UMF™) and methylglyoxal (MGO) help you choose with confidence.

Get to know Mānuka Honey
What Sets Comvita Mānuka Honey apart?
How to choose the right Mānuka Honey for you
Explore Mānuka Honey recipes and articles
Where can I buy Mānuka Honey?

Get to know Mānuka Honey

Mānuka honey is deeply tied to the land, people, and seasonal rhythms. The native Mānuka flower blooms for only a few short weeks each year, giving bees a brief window to collect its nectar. This fleeting season, combined with the rugged landscapes where Mānuka thrives, makes the honey rare and remarkable. It's this scarcity, along with its unique natural compounds, that make Mānuka honey unlike any other honey in the world.

Mānuka honey is a distinctive New Zealand honey recognised for its thick texture, deep amber colour, and flavour that balances sweetness with earthy, slightly bitter notes.

What truly sets it apart is its unique chemical profile, most notably methylglyoxal (MGO), making it one of the most extensively researched honeys in the world, particularly for its distinctive composition and naturally occurring compounds.

In New Zealand, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) sets a strict Scientific Definition for exported Mānuka honey, based on both chemical markers and DNA from Mānuka pollen. This ensures the honey is predominantly sourced from the Mānuka plant and meets recognised authenticity standards.

close up of manuka flower in remote areas of new zealand

Where does Mānuka Honey come from?

Genuine Mānuka honey comes exclusively from New Zealand, where the Mānuka bush (Leptospermum scoparium) grows in its natural, often remote habitats. These landscapes range from coastal plateaus to rugged mountain valleys. At Comvita, many hives are placed in untouched environments, sometimes accessible only by helicopter or hiking. This careful sourcing helps ensure the authenticity of every jar.

How is Mānuka Honey made?

The making of Mānuka honey begins in the hive. Bees collect nectar from Mānuka flowers, then transform it by reducing the water content from about 80% to 20% through constant fanning of their wings. They seal it with beeswax, preserving the honey naturally. Beekeepers step in only to guide hive placement, protect the colonies, and collect the honey.

Want to learn more about our hives? Read about our heroes - bees!

Why do people value Mānuka Honey?

Beyond its distinctive taste, Mānuka honey is valued for its naturally occurring compounds which are present at levels not typically found in regular honey. People enjoy it straight from the spoon, in warm drinks, or in recipes, and some also use it in natural skincare.

Discover why so many people choose Comvita Mānuka Honey.

What is MGO?

MGO stands for methylglyoxal, a naturally occurring compound found at uniquely high levels in Mānuka honey. The higher the MGO rating, the greater the concentration of this compound. Because it is stable over time, MGO is recognised as a key indicator of the honey’s unique profile. However, MGO alone is not enough to confirm authenticity, which is why the UMF™ system also measures other compounds.

What is UMF™ (Unique Mānuka Factor)?

UMF™ is an independent quality trademark that verifies the authenticity, purity, and strength of New Zealand Mānuka honey. It measures four key compounds: MGO, DHA, Leptosperin, and HMF, confirming potency, floral origin and shelf life. Every UMF™ product undergoes 34 quality checks and is independently tested and certified in New Zealand.

Learn more in our guide: What is UMF™ Mānuka Honey?

The four key compounds measured by UMF™

Methylglyoxal (MGO)

The benchmark compound used to measure potency.
Dihydroxyacetone (DHA)

Found in the Mānuka flower’s nectar; it naturally converts into MGO as honey matures.
Leptosperin

A plant-derived marker unique to Mānuka honey, confirming authenticity.
Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF)

An indicator of freshness; low levels show careful harvesting and storage.

Are MGO and UMF™ the same thing?

Not quite. An MGO rating measures only the concentration of one compound. UMF™, on the other hand, verifies four compounds while also confirming authenticity, purity, and freshness. Choosing UMF™-certified honey provides greater assurance of both strength and origin.

For a comparison see What is the difference between UMF™ & MGO?

How does Mānuka Honey taste?

Mānuka honey has a dense, velvety texture and ranges in colour from dark cream to deep amber. Its flavour balances natural sweetness with earthy, herbal, and slightly bitter notes. Higher UMF™ grades have a more intense, savoury taste, reflecting the concentration of compounds.

Why does Mānuka Honey cost more than regular honey?

As the Mānuka flower blooms for only a few weeks each year, bees have a short window of time to collect nectar. Many hives are located in remote areas, making placement, monitoring, and harvest complex.

Every batch also undergoes rigorous testing and certification. Factors such as rarity, challenging logistics, and strict quality control explain why genuine Mānuka honey commands a higher price.

What sets Comvita apart?

For nearly 50 years, Comvita has been dedicated to crafting trusted Mānuka honey. As a founding member of the UMF™ Honey Association and a leader in Mānuka research - including work on Comvita Lepteridine® - our reputation is built on integrity and quality. Each product is tested, traceable, and produced with respect for bees and the land.

Our story

Founded in 1974 by Claude Stratford and Alan Bougen, Comvita began with a handful of hives and a shared vision to help people live well through nature. Today, we are a global wellness company rooted in Mānuka honey and bee products.
Discover our full story
Our research

With over five decades of experience, Comvita continues to lead in Mānuka honey science. Each batch undergoes 34 quality checks, and our research spans from clinical studies on gut health to exploring Comvita Lepteridine®.
Learn more about our research
Our certifications

Comvita is a licensed member of the UMF™ Honey Association. Our honey is independently tested in accredited laboratories and produced under strict HACCP standards. Comvita is also a Certified B Corporation™.
Read about our testing and certification.

UMF™ Honey Association Licensee
Food Safe HACCP Certified
NZ MPI Registered Exporter
Ministry for Primary Industries RMPs
NZ Ministry of Health GMP Certified
Australian TGA GMP Certified

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Where and how is Comvita's Mānuka Honey tested?

To be legally labelled as ‘Mānuka honey,’ it must meet the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) definition, confirmed by chemical fingerprinting and pollen DNA analysis. Comvita goes further, testing for signature compounds like MGO, DHA, and Leptosperin, as well as Comvita Lepteridine®, a proprietary marker used in our research. These controls verify authenticity and quality.

How do I know if Comvita's Mānuka Honey is genuine?

Every jar carries the UMF™ mark, guaranteeing independent testing and certification. Each batch is fully traceable through our tracking system. Simply scan the code on your jar to see its harvest origin and test results. In addition to the UMF™ trademark, Comvita’s Mānuka honey meets MPI’s Scientific Definition for export, which verifies authenticity through advanced testing of natural compounds and pollen DNA.

Is Comvita's Mānuka Honey organic?

While our Mānuka honey is not certified organic, it is naturally non-GMO and minimally processed to retain its natural compounds. Handled with care from hive to jar, each batch is tested and traceable.

Does your Mānuka Honey contain antibiotics, hormones, or additives?

No. Comvita’s Mānuka honey is 100% natural and free from antibiotics, hormones, preservatives, or additives. What you taste is exactly what the bees create, harvested and bottled in New Zealand.

What about common herbicides like Glyphosate?

Comvita Mānuka honey is independently certified Glyphosate Residue Free by The Detox Project, with testing down to government-recognised limits of detection. This certification provides an additional layer of quality assurance.

Learn how Comvita tests for Glyphosate Residue Free certification.

What’s the difference between Australian and New Zealand Mānuka Honey?

New Zealand has a single native Mānuka species (Leptospermum scoparium). Australia has over 80 related species, which produce a variety of honeys. New Zealand’s UMF™ system also provides independent verification not used in Australia, making New Zealand the recognised source of genuine Mānuka honey.

Choosing a Mānuka Honey for you

Choosing the right Mānuka honey comes down to your needs. Some grades are ideal for everyday enjoyment, while others are valued for their higher concentration of unique compounds and more intense taste and flavour.

DAILY: Vitality & wellness

UMF™ 5+ is our most versatile grade of Mānuka honey.
Rich in natural compounds, with a smooth flavour, it’s easy to incorporate Mānuka goodness into your nutritious daily menu.
It’s a great snack, or sugar replacement that has the benefits of Mānuka.

chart showing levels of active properties on UMF 5+ Manuka Honey

UMF™ Level Guaranteed in every spoonful, to the bottom of the jar.

UMFᵀᴹ 5+ SHOP NOW

DAILY: Nourishing wellness

UMF™ 10+ is one of our best-selling grades of Mānuka honey.
Recommended grade for people seeking to maintain balance; consumed straight off the spoon, or as a tonic when mixed with warm water.
It also makes a great pre work-out energy boost.

chart showing levels of active properties on UMF 10+ Manuka Honey

UMF™ Level Guaranteed in every spoonful, to the bottom of the jar.

UMFᵀᴹ 10+ SHOP NOW

DAILY: Holistic health inside and out

UMF™ 15+ is recommended for people seeking the antibacterial, anti-inflammatory benefits of high UMF™ Mānuka honey.
Consume straight off the spoon
Soothing when applied to the skin for treating certain conditions.

chart showing levels of active properties on UMF 15+ Manuka Honey

UMF™ Level Guaranteed in every spoonful, to the bottom of the jar.

UMFᵀᴹ 15+ SHOP NOW

man taking manuka honey for his gut health

TARGETED: Strong and potent

UMF™ 18+ is recommended for people seeking to step up their everyday wellness regime and wanting an increased level of antibacterial activity provided through higher MGO levels.
Most effective when consumed straight off the spoon.

chart showing levels of active properties on UMF 18+ Manuka Honey

UMF™ Level Guaranteed in every spoonful, to the bottom of the jar.

UMF™ 18+ SHOP NOW