Why is Mānuka honey worth the money?

The Mānuka bush is native to New Zealand. The flowering tree is also known as the Leptospermum Scoparium bush - or tea tree bush, and only flowers for 2-3 months a year. This means we have a limited time frame to produce Mānuka Honey.

Honey is a natural product. For the most part, Mother Nature runs the show. The people who produce it (like Happy Mānuka) are grateful for and at the mercy of her natural forces. Both good and bad weather can affect our yield for the entire year.

And, because the Mānuka bush flowers for such a short time of the year, we can only produce a small amount of Mānuka honey yearly, compared to normal honey.

What sets Mānuka Honey apart from regular honey?

Both Mānuka and non-Mānuka Honey contain some bacteria-killing properties, due to chemicals that produce hydrogen peroxide. However, research by NZ Professor Peter Molan¹ shows that after removing hydrogen peroxide, the antibacterial activity of Mānuka Honey remained.

Mānuka Honey’s ability to kill bacteria was pinpointed to the presence of Methylglyoxal (MGO). Mānuka honey features non-peroxide activity, giving it unique antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, and antibacterial properties. Studies have also suggested that, unlike antibiotics, Mānuka honey doesn’t promote resistant bacteria.

2. Genuine Mānuka Honey is Worth Extra Due to High Costs

To obtain Monofloral Mānuka Honey, we need to helicopter our hives into some of the most remote areas of New Zealand to find dense Mānuka bushland.

As worker bees can only travel up to 8km from the hive, we must ensure that an abundance of New Zealand Mānuka bush surrounds our bees. Then, they can collect nectar and pollinate the Mānuka flowers exclusively.

3. Mānuka Honey is worth it because real UMF Mānuka must be tested

We know that genuine Mānuka Honey, with all its amazing health benefits, is expensive! Unfortunately, like most expensive items on the market, you’ll always find someone trying to create a cheaper product.

To assure you that we are providing you with all the benefits of authentic Mānuka Honey, we use the UMF Manuka Honey Grading Process. We send every batch of our Mānuka Honey for independent testing to ensure it meets our own and UMF’s standards for authenticity, purity, and quality. Genuine Mānuka Honey will be labeled “Tested Certified Mānuka” and packed in New Zealand.

This research and testing process proves we provide the real deal - an internationally valued UMF® (Unique Mānuka Factor) certified graded honey.

In a Ministry of Primary Industries-recognized lab, our Mānuka Honey is tested for all three signature UMF® compounds: Leptosperin, DHA, and Methylglyoxal (MGO).

So why does some Mānuka honey cost more than others?

The New Zealand government rules state that Mānuka Honey must be labeled “monofloral” or “multi-floral.” Monofloral honey comes purely from the nectar of Mānuka flowers. Multi-floral honey is blended with honeys from the nectar of other flowers. Multi-floral Mānuka Honey is less expensive, as it does not contain the same levels of MGO as monofloral Mānuka Honey (UMF-rated honey).

Choosing the right Mānuka honey for you

Mānuka Honey is an excellent addition to a healthy lifestyle. While raw honey provides many of the same benefits, it’s not as potent. The MGO/UMF number on a jar of Mānuka Honey determines its potency. We use this scale to explain the benefits:

UMF 5+ & 10+ Mānuka honey for everyday wellness and cooking

The lower UMF/MGO content in these honeys makes them perfect for eating or drinking every day. Shop UMF 5+ MGO 83, On-the-Go UMF 5+ sticks, UMF 10+ MGO 263, and On-the-Go UMF 10+ sticks.

UMF 15+ & 18+ Mānuka honey for skin and wound care

The antioxidant properties of UMF 15+ and UMF 18+ make them ideal for topical usages such as DIY beauty treatments or to aid wound healing. Add to foods or drinks to soothe sore throats and help support general health and wellness. Shop UMF 15+ MGO 514 and UMF 18+ MGO 696.

UMF 20+ Mānuka honey for targeted medicinal use

To be considered medical-grade honey and potent enough to be therapeutic, Mānuka Honey needs a UMF/MGO rating of UMF 20+ MGO 829. However, more research is required to confirm the full extent of its medicinal properties as the first line of treatment for severe ailments and wounds.

UMF 20 is our highest UMF-rated honey - 10x higher than UMF 5+. The healing anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of UMF 20+ work wonders in treating burns, eczema, and minor wounds or wound infections. It also helps protect against pathogens and provides immunity support. Read more of the health benefits our customers have experienced.

So, is Mānuka honey better than other honey?

Genuine Mānuka Honey is worth the extra money because it is rare, takes a lot of work to produce, and is independently tested for quality and purity. If you’re looking for a health and wellness kick, it’s worth purchasing the real stuff. Buy your jar of happiness today.