Manuka Honey

Raw Manuka Honey is just sweet enough but not too sweet. A tint of a nutty flavour and a subtle bitter aftertaste are telling characteristics of the best Manuka Honey.

Just like a bottle of fine wine, New Zealand Manuka Honey tends to grow in flavour and darken in colour over time. 

Some have tried to replicate this flavour but it certainly can't compete with pure New Zealand Manuka Honey harvested from the native Manuka tree.

In combination with taste, the aroma of pure Manuka Honey certainly enforces the idea that New Zealand Manuka Honey is the best Honey in the world. A slightly nutty aroma with earthy and herbal tones will give a true sense of the Manuka tree.

At Lili's Honey, we truly believe we have some of the best Manuka Honey for sale. Buy Manuka Honey online directly from our online shop for some of New Zealand's best honey. If you are looking to buy Manuka Honey near me, look no further than Lili's Honey! We might be (a little) biased but we think that Lili's Honey has the best Manuka Honey for sale in New Zealand.

MGO stands for methylglyoxal, a natural compound that makes New Zealand Manuka Honey so special. Essentially, the number of Manuka Honey MGO equals to how much MGO is in your jar of MGO Honey, easy. Samples of expected MGO Honey are constantly sent for independent testing each season to determine the number of MGO in the Honey. Manuka Honey MGO hugely impacts New Zealand Manuka Honey price and the higher the MGO number, the more valuable the honey is.

Manuka Honey price can vary significantly and we hope to have brought pure Manuka Honey into the market, directly from beekeepers, at a reasonable price. For that reason, Lili's Honey is your go-to organic Manuka Honey shop with a reasonable Manuka Honey price.

Pure Manuka honey contains properties that aren’t found in any other. 

Bees have between 2 to 6 weeks each year to gather nectar from the Manuka flower. Areas in New Zealand with abundant native Manuka can be very remote with access by helicopter being the only option. And if it's raining, raw Manuka honey production becomes even more limited.

New Zealand Manuka honey is the most researched honey in the world. Hospitals and clinics use it regularly for applications. All types of honey have some natural peroxide in them. But what makes raw Manuka honey unique is that its the only one containing both peroxide and non-peroxide antibacterial compounds. Non-peroxide antibacterial compounds are generally more stable and not destroyed upon eating.

A simplistic way of describing pure Manuka honey is as the ultimate superfood. Not only does it taste great, but it has even more health benefits than regular honey. Labeled as the Unique Manuka Factor (UMF), they found it contained a special compound called Methylglyoxal (MGO). MGO in organic Manuka honey has a direct correlation with antibacterial properties. This is why you will often hear it being referred to as MGO honey or Manuka Honey MGO.  

Its makeup makes it effective in treating wounds and reducing inflammation, as it can speed up the healing process. It can also reduce dental plaque and improve oral health. Furthermore, it can also help with acne and keep your skin bacteria-free. It is hydrating due to the fructose, glucose, and amino acids it contains.

The best manuka honey is thick in consistency and has more intensity in color and taste. Its unique properties are why the cost to buy Manuka honey is at a premium. The price to buy Manuka honey online goes into hundreds if not thousands of dollars. 

The nectar of Manuka flowers is required in order to use the label ‘New Zealand Manuka Honey’ by law. Manuka honey is tested in labs for its special compounds, its quality and MGO honey rating to be gauged. Exports of pure Manuka Honey must adhere to scientific regulatory definitions based on chemical fingerprinting and pollen DNA marker analysis. This is enforced by the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI). For it to meet the definition, it must contain at least trace amounts of four phenolic compounds:

• Methylglyoxal (where the term ‘Manuka Honey MGO’ comes from)
• Phenyllactic Acid
• Hydroxyphenyllactic Acid
• Methoxybenzoic Acid

These compounds occur naturally in Manuka honey for sale because they are produced in the nectar of its flowers. The DNA test is also required to meet the scientific definition per MPI requirements. 

Manuka honey for sale in the US and abroad, is guaranteed to conform to all applicable MPI regulations and definitions. There is a threshold of each chemical presence that categorises it either as Monofloral Manuka honey or Multifloral Manuka honey. The higher the chemical presence, means it will be classified as monofloral past a certain threshold. That conveys you’re buying the best Manuka honey harvested which typically comes with a premium Manuka honey price. On the other hand, multiflora indicates that there’s a mix of other floral compounds and reduces the Manuka honey price.

Whether you buy Manuka honey online or from a Manuka honey shop, you’ll notice either a MGO or UMF rating. The higher that number is, the more of those chemicals it contains and is reflected on the Manuka honey price. 

New Zealand Manuka honey MGO rating indicates the concentration of methylglyoxal content in that particular batch. UMF is an alternative and more widely recognised rating system but both numbers show the methylglyoxal level in mg/kg. Each batch sold at a Manuka honey shop should be tested for its methylglyoxal level to find the rating. 

When it comes to the MGO honey number, your selection will depend on the intended use. Raw Manuka honey in the MGO ~60+ range is great to be used as a sweetener in pastries, tea, etc. Whereas, organic Manuka honey with MGO ~150+ is great as a supplement for digestive health and general well-being. The higher ratings of raw Manuka honey (MGO ~500+)  have the greatest antibacterial and antiviral properties. This is generally used to treat wounds and burns and comes with the highest pure Manuka honey price tag too. 

It’s worth noting that the antibacterial and antiviral properties are found in all three ratings of the best Manuka honey. You can easily enjoy those benefits in a smaller dose with ~60+ MGO honey in a wide range of applications. 

In summary, here are some application suggestions based on MGO honey rating:

• MGO 60+ New Zealand Manuka honey can be used as an everyday sweetener. 
• MGO 100+ provides everyday immune support.
• MGO 150+ helps with general, skin, and digestive health.
• MGO 500+ can be applied to the skin to treat wounds, burns, and conditions like Eczema.

Lili’s New Zealand Manuka honey has an MGO rating of ~160+, which means it is perfect for daily use. You can buy Manuka honey online through our store and it is delivered New Zealand-wide in a matter of days.