What is Manuka Honey?

Authentic Manuka honey is the powerhouse superstar of honey. Manuka honey is a type of honey bees produce when they pollinate a the Manuka bush. The manuka bush or leptospermum scoparium bush, is a tree/bush that grows exclusively in New Zealand and Australia and is what bees use to produce the Manuka honey. This specific type of honey has been found to have many health benefits and healing properties for numerous ailments.

How is it different from regular honey?

Manuka honey has a compound called methylglyoxal (MGO) that has tremendous antibacterial properties. These antibacterial compounds are not found in other types of honey which is what gives manuka honey its superpowers. Higher MGO levels mean greater healing abilities for the honey. When the MGO levels reach a certain concentration the honey is considered the highest quality and medical grade which can then be used to treat severe skin wounds or burns.

What are the health benefits of Manuka honey?

First and foremost, I am not a medical professional so always consult one before following any advice found on the internet. I am highly skilled at research and have obtained a master’s degree, which required extensive research, so those skills are what I am using here. Manuka honey is considered a powerful antibacterial treatment and has medical studies to back its antibacterial abilities and use for medicinal purposes. This study from the 2018 AIMS Microbiology medical journal states there are high levels of antibacterial activity in manuka honey and it can be safely used as a natural antibiotic. They go on to state that it hasn’t been found to have antibiotic resistance like traditional antibiotics and should be studied more for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. There are many more studies in medical journals touting the medicinal properties of genuine Manuka honey. Now you may be thinking ok but what specifically are we talking about, so here is a list of specific health issues manuka honey could help.

• Wound treatment and wound healing
• Oral health; can inhibit bacterial growth in the mouth
• Calm a sore throat
• Stomach ulcers
• Irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive issues
• Acne
• Eczema
• Eye Infections
• Immune system support
• Acid reflux (this is a newer finding and still needs more evidence before its fully supported by the medical community)

What are the different types of Manuka honey?

Manuka honey is typically categorized through the MGO levels because this information is needed depending on what you’ll be utilizing it for. The higher the MGO the more antibacterial components that specific Manuka honey contains. Very high MGO levels are considered appropriate for medicinal purposes such as the wound healing process or natural antibiotic treatment. Lower MGO levels are considered still highly beneficial for daily use to support overall health. There is also something called the unique manuka factor (UMF) that measures the MGO, DHA, and leptosprein in the honey and rates it based on those levels. To be considered therapeutic or medical grade it needs a UMF rating of at least +10. I personally would not be too concerned with the UMF certification rating because the medical community and medical studies have been based primarily on MGO rating; the UMF rating is a new system and not medically supported as of yet. The UMF rating does add an additional layer of assurance for testing and quality but some companies have equally high-quality products but choose not to spend large amounts of money on the UMF certification for their products.

Ok so before we get into the list of the best Manuka honey brands I want to say a few things regarding the work that went into this list. I looked through every brand myself and looked through each company’s about section, certifications, FAQs, and general information available. and certifications. I was literally dreaming about Manuka honey by the time I finished, funny but not a joke haha! I did leave a few popular companies off the list because I did not feel they were producing a quality product or being transparent about their product components. The companies on this list mostly ship worldwide but my focus was to ensure each of these companies shipped to the United States because that is where I am located. I did find a number of high-quality brands that only shipped within New Zealand, therefore they were not added to this list but their absence is not because of quality.

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1. Manukora

Manukora is sourced from New Zealand and has been in the manukora business since 1998. They have high-quality manuka honey with an MGO rating of 200+ all the way to 1123+. I love that this company focuses a lot on sustainability. They package their product in 100% recycled materials, compost, and work towards reforestation and water conservation.

2.  PRI Manuka Honey

PRI is a company that partners with beekeepers to source their honey from both New Zealand and Australia. They have been in business since 1987 and have the goal of creating Manuka honey products that are an affordable price and accessible for everyone. They donate a portion of proceeds to save the bees’ foundation and ensure their product is independently tested for quality assurance. They have manuka honey with an MGO of 50+ to 500+.

3. Comvita

Comvita has been around since 1974 and is really focused on creating the highest quality product. They are a smaller company that sources their own products and even has a link to their individual beekeepers on their page. They do take part in the UMF ratings if you’re interested in that extra rating system. They offer manuka honey with an MGO of 50+ to 829+. 

4. Wedderspoon 

Wedderspoon has a wide variety of manuka products that are all sourced from New Zealand. They partner with several non-profits and have been featured in a lot of popular media sources. They do not list the MGO rating on any of their products and seem to be geared more towards general consumption versus healing benefits. 

5. Manuka Health

Manuka Health started as a small business in a small town in New Zealand, where they are still based today. They house their own bees and employ their own workers to keep everything in-house. On their website, they state they were pioneers of the MGO testing and discovery. They have extensive endorsements including non-GMO, UMF rating system, halal certifications, and many more. They focus on regenerative practices for the environment and sustainability as well. Their manuka honey has an MGO range of 263+ to 700+. Manuka health is the real deal and is focused on all the right aspects of a responsible, ethical business in today’s world.

6. Wild Cape Honey

Wildcape manuka honey has been around for 40 years and one factor that makes them highly unique is that only harvest from the east cape region only making them a single source honey. They work with 15 full-time beekeepers and maintain close relationships with them making them closer to a small business than some of the other larger cooperations on this list. They have numerous professional certifications including the UMF certification for their honey. Their products range from MGO 263+ to MGO 829+. 

7. New Zealand Honey Company

The New Zealand honey company harvests their raw Manuka honey from all over New Zealand and has a tracking system that can track each bottle back to the exact hive it was extracted from. They have numerous professional certifications including the UMF certification and non-GMO verified as well. They package their products in 95% recycled materials making them very eco-friendly. My favorite part of this company is their transparency, they share the labs they get their products tested through, the exact materials in their packaging, and all their certifications from their various organizations. 

8. Yobees Honey 

Yobees was founded in 2013 and is a small family-owned business. They do not detail their certifications, testing process, or values on their page but appear to be UMF certified as it does appear on their bottles. They state their honey is pure New Zealand Manuka honey. Their products are labeled UMF 8+ to UMF 20+. I love that they are family owned but would prefer some more transparency on the work that goes into their products.

9. Happy Valley Manuka Honey

Happy Manuka has been in the commercial business realm since 1990 after 30+ years of personal beekeeping. They have numerous professional certifications including the UMF certification but do not detail all the specifics. They also state they regularly test their product and soil for purity and quality. Their honey is raw, unfiltered, and organic to offer the highest outstanding nutritional value. They offer an MGO 50+ honey that is a really great value and coming from a company that has such high standards is clearly a great choice. They also offer their UMF line of Manuka honey ranging from 5+ to 20+ UMF. 

10. Bees and Trees 

Bees and Trees was founded in 2009 by an American, Mike Everly, who was living in New Zealand for a few years at a time. He keeps the hives in highly remote locations in a specific region of New Zealand. Al batches of raw honey are tested through a lab to ensure authenticity. They do not appear to have as many certifications as some of the other companies but offer honey with MGO 350+ to 830+.

11. Manuka Doctor

Manuka Doctor appears to have been founded commercially in 2011 with the launch of their Manuka skincare line. They offer a hive-to-home promise so you can trace every product back to the hive it came from. Manuka doctor has a wider range of products than some of the other companies with their own skincare line and supplement line, which are infused with pure Manuka honey. They offer an MGO 35+ to MGO 1025+. They also offer a discount on their supplements if you buy their Manuka honey.

12. Onuku Honey

This company sources its product from local Maori people in New Zealand through a land trust process. They have the UMF authentication and a tracking system for quality assurance of their products. They don’t have a ton of information on their certifications or authentication process however which I wish they elaborated a bit on. They offer an MGO rating of 83+ to 1200+.

13. Manuka South

If you are looking for a luxury brand then Manuka South is it. They truly are doing things the right way and creating a high-quality product with a focus on sustainability, which in our failing climate is critical. They were founded in 1988 and are still family owned/operated today. They have regular honey, drops, bee pollen, and royal jelly products available. Their honey ranges from MGO 83+ to MGO 1835+. They have a limited reserve collection that is in absolutely beautiful packaging with very high UMF and MGO ratings but does come with a higher sticker price.

14. Alpha Honey Health 

Alpha honey health has a variety of skin care products with only one true raw Manuka honey product. This line seems to be more superficial and less focused on the healing and health benefits than others. Many of their products are infused with Manuka honey but there is no medical evidence that infused products carry the same benefits. Their one true Manuka product is well-priced with an MGO rating of 100+.

15. Melora Life

This company is all about the quality and assurance of its product. They have multiple certifications including the UMF certification. They also sell Manuka oil which they’ve led the way in creating a higher standard and quality assurance mark. Their Manuka honey ranges from MGO 185+ to 525+. Their product price ranges from $21.99 to $43.99.

16. Good Natured

This brand is one of the few that has Australian-sourced Manuka honey. They sell their products on Amazon and state they have independent lab testing and high standards with a certification from the Australian Manuka Association. Their products range from MGO 100+ to 1200+.

17. Steens Honey

Steens is another New Zealand based Manuka honey company. They have traceability features on their honey, UMF certification, and a really large selection of a variety of Manuka honey. They have products ranging from MGO 120+ to 829+. You can get both UMF and non UMF certified products as well. Their prices range from $11.00 to $121.00.

18. Mount Somers

Mount Somers is a high-quality New Zealand sourced brand that has numerous certifications. It was founded in 2016 and it is still locally owned and operated. They offer UMF-certified honey ranging from a UMF 5+ to 24+. Their prices range from $26.00 to $59.00.

19. Kiva

Kiva is a brand that sources its Manuka honey from New Zealand like many of the others on the list. They are not as transparent as others about their certifications, testing, and process but mention they submit to each on their about page. Kiva is also focused on other superfoods and has a number of other supplements and powders to purchase as well. Their honey ranges from MGO 83+ to 1122+, with a starting price of $14.99 to $199.00.

20. Manuka Emporium

This is a brand that produces small-batch honey and only creates each batch from one region never mixing kinds of honey which creates a monofloral Manuka honey, meaning the bees use just one plant to pollinate and make their honey. They state that this practice as well as the placement of hives and care creates a superior bold flavor. They have numerous certifications and assurances to support their superior product claims. They sell honey with an MGO rating of 100+ to 263+ with a price range of $23.99 to $32.99.

21. Puriti

This company was founded in just 2018 but is striving to truly create a high-quality product. They have numerous certifications including the UMF certification and non-GMO certification. They produce everything in New Zealand, as well as test and ship their products from there. They truly believe in the medicinal uses of their products they offer and that reflects in their high range of MGO ratings. Their products ranged from MGO 100+ to 1722+ which is the second-highest rating in any of the brands. Their prices range from $19.99 to $1499.00. 

22. Three Peaks Manuka Honey

This company started in 2009 with just 400 hives and now has over 8500 hives they take care of across New Zealand. They have numerous certifications including the UMF and allow for their products to be traced back to the source. They offer a Manuka honey ranging from the least UMF rating of 6+ to the highest UMF 20+. Their prices are on the higher end because they believe in the quality of their Manuka honey.

23. 100% Pure New Zealand Honey

This company was founded in 1996 and offers Manuka honey as well as other different kinds of New Zealand sourced honey. They infuse some with flowers and flavors to create really unique products. They do have a trace system to follow your honey back to the source and various certifications including the UMF certification. Their products range from an MGO 83+ to 1200+.

I hope you found this list helpful in selecting the perfect Manuka honey for you! Please let me know which brand is your favorite in the comments. If you are looking for a recipe to use your Manuka honey in be sure to check out my honey-lime grape recipe.