Manuka honey is expensive due to its rarity (short bloom time, limited origin), high demand for its unique antibacterial properties (MGO content), complex harvesting in remote areas, and strict, costly testing and certification (UMF/MGO grading) required for authenticity, all adding to production and supply chain costs. The combination of low supply and proven health benefits drives its "champagne of honey" price.
While Mānuka honey may be more expensive than other honey varieties, its renowned wellness properties and distinctive flavor make it a worthwhile investment for those seeking the best in natural sweetness and wellness support.
Manuka honey is more expensive than most other honey because it is rare and only produced in Australia and New Zealand. The flowers the bees collect the nectar from, to make Manuka honey are from the Leptospermum family, which is native to Australia. Farming Manuka honey costs more to produce than other honeys.
1kg RRP: £99.99
High grade, premium New Zealand MGO™ 250+ Manuka Honey.
We harvest, pack, test and certify only the purest single origin raw Mānuka honey exclusively from New Zealand. This yields an elegant and velvety honey that melts in your mouth.
Honey can have an almost indefinite shelf life, lasting decades or longer if it's stored properly. Over time, it may crystallize, and the quality might not be as good as when you first purchased it, but the honey will still be safe to consume in most cases.
Does manuka honey need to be refrigerated? No, you should avoid refrigerating your manuka honey. It is best stored in a cool, dark place like a cupboard or pantry. Refrigeration of any honey — not just the special manuka variety — can cause crystallisation.
How to identify authentic Manuka honey from New Zealand
You can eat Manuka honey every day in small amounts. It's safe for most healthy adults, and it may give you benefits such as soothing a sore throat or supporting digestion. But it's still sugar, so too much can raise your blood sugar or add extra calories.
Is UMF or MGO Better? UMF is a more comprehensive grading system, while MGO is simpler and more direct to test. Because they measure different aspects of mānuka honey, neither system is inherently more reliable than the other.
While Manuka honey can often come with a hefty price tag, buckwheat honey provides an affordable alternative without compromising on quality or taste.
Below, we list some of the best honeys the world has to offer.
Manuka honey should start working straight away. For wound and burn care the area should be soothed and show noticeable changes overnight. For skin conditions it should soothes the skin quickly and then might take a few applications to get a good result.
MGO (or Methylglyoxal) is the natural compound found in Manuka honey that gives its unique superpowers. This compound is an important measure of the honey's potency and its antibacterial properties. The higher the MGO level, the more concentrated, and therefore more powerful, the Manuka honey is.
The company says: “We use the word 'active' as genuine manuka honey, such as Aldi's, must contain pollen from the manuka bush, which is only found in New Zealand,” says Giles Hurley, MD of corporate buying at Aldi.
Product details. Coles M? nuka MGO 50+ Multifloral Honey is made by bees in New Zealand from the flowers of the m? nuka tree and contains a natural combination of nectars with at least 50mg/kg methylglyoxal as tested by an independent IANZ laboratory.
Costco's Kirkland Signature Manuka Honey is genuine New Zealand-sourced honey with UMF certification (typically UMF 10+ or 15+). Prices run $20-$30 for 17.6oz—roughly 30% cheaper than specialty brands. Always check the UMF logo and batch number on the jar. Not safe for infants under 1 year due to botulism risk.
Although you can add it to smoothies, oatmeal or yoghurt, the best way to take Manuka Honey is straight from the jar. It is recommended to take it once in the morning and once at night. It is safe to have 2 to 4 teaspoons (10 to 20 mL) of Manuka Honey daily, but always remember to moderate how much you consume.
The USDA states that honey is safe to eat even after expiration, but its quality may decline. Honey expiration is rare; naturally, properly preserved honey can last thousands of years without expiring. Archaeologists have found honey in ancient Egyptian tombs that is still perfectly edible.
A honey well known for its antibacterial properties is manuka honey, which is obtained from manuka bush (Leptospermum scoparium) and contains substantial amounts of methylglyoxal (MGO). Methylglyoxal harbors selective toxicity to bacterial cells, causing bacterial cell death and inhibition of bacterial replication.
Archaeologists found 3,000-year-old honey in an Egyptian tomb, and it was still good to eat! Honey may be the only food in the world with a literal forever shelf life. Archaeologists excavating ancient Egyptian tombs have uncovered jars of honey sealed for over 3,000 years—and astonishingly, still perfectly edible.
There's actually nothing wrong with crystallized honey—and in fact, in Europe, honey is usually sold in that thicker, crystallized form, Fauvel says. That makes it much less messy to use, as it's less likely to drip or ooze off your toast or spoon.
Occasionally, honey contains bacteria that can produce toxins in a baby's intestines, leading to infant botulism, which is a very serious illness. Do not give your child honey until they're over 1 year old.