Everything You Need to Know About the Health Benefits of Manuka Honey Much-Hyped Liquid Gold in a Jar

Here's everything you need to know about the price and health benefits of this much-hyped liquid gold in a jar.

Nature’s most magical product, honey isn’t just honey anymore. This thick, sweet liquid made by honeybees, has numerous health benefits associated with its antioxidant content. There’s a wide assortment of kinds of honey in various colors and tastes that is available today. Manuka honey in particular has been creating a lot of buzz these days. It is known for being earthier, richer, and more viscous than many other honey varieties. In its purest form, this honey can cost up to $99 per 100 grams. That's more than 100 times the price of normal honey.

Produced by the bees that pollinate the Manuka bush in New Zealand, Manuka honey is widely regarded as one of the most unique and beneficial forms of honey in the world. It differs from other types of honey because of its bioactive properties. This liquid jar of gold contains a unique ingredient, now identified as methylglyoxal (MGO), which forms naturally in the manuka flower’s nectar and is said to bear significant antimicrobial properties. 

So, what is UMF Manuka honey?

Many grading systems exist for manuka honey. Original Manuka honey comes from New Zealand and has such impressive antibacterial powers that honey producers developed a rating system based on Manuka honey called Unique Manuka Factor (UMF).

The UMF number refers to the level of anti-bacterial properties in the honey at the time of packaging. The higher the UMFw factor, the greater the antibacterial potency.

Manuka Health is a licensed manuka honey producer and a member of the UMFHA, the association that represents 100 companies, or about 70 percent of New Zealand’s manuka honey producers.

Only licensed producers and exporters can carry the UMFHA trademark, according to UMFHA spokesman John Rawcliffe. In addition, UMFHA members agree to be audited for manuka honey purity and quality regularly.

What exactly makes this product a new powerhouse in the health/beauty market?

1. Healing Wounds

The MGO present in Manuka honey acts as an additional antibacterial agent when used for skin healing. Its viscosity also creates a thicker barrier between the wound and the external environment as well as preventing tissue damage by reducing inflammation and increasing oxygenation.

2. Internal Healing

Manuka honey has become the new go-to natural treatment for digestive issues because of its ability to kill H. pylori bacteria which can cause a host of gastrointestinal issues including gastritis, ulcers, and bloating.

3. Antiviral Agent

All kinds of honey have been used as natural antibiotics throughout the centuries. Manuka honey takes this a step further by acting as an immune system stimulator for the prevention of infections and common colds. It also stimulates the production and growth of probiotics which contribute to better immune system function and digestive health.

4. Skin Care

Manuka honey can improve your skin's appearance. It can balance your skin's pH level and help slough away dead cell debris to keep your skin clean. Its anti-inflammatory effect can decrease local inflammation caused by acne. As an antibacterial, Manuka honey leaves fewer bacteria to infect pores and cause acne.

5. Wrinkle Away

Similar to the way it can heal acne, the special honey is packed full of vitamins, live enzymes, and antioxidants that neutralize free radicals, which are responsible for skin cell damage and have been shown to promote the structural growth of collagen skin cells for firm, youthful-looking skin.

Kourtney Kardashian, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Scarlett Johansson are fans of Manuka honey, but the stuff is pricey.

Why does Manuka honey cost so much?

COMVITA, manufacturers of Manuka honey say, "Manuka Honey is made by bees that pollinate the Manuka flower, which is native to New Zealand and blooms just 2-6 weeks per year." That small window combined with a higher degree of medical benefits is what puts a hefty price on Manuka.

Let's take a quick look at some of the best Manuka honey brands

Manuka Health MGO 400+

Certified for natural methylglyoxal content (minimum 400mg/kg) - scientifically proven to be a key natural compound in Manuka honey. MGO™ 400+ Manuka Honey has a delicious rich flavor and a smooth velvety texture.

Comvita Certified UMF 20+ (MGO 829+)

Ultra Premium Grade Raw Manuka Honey comes from the nectar of the Manuka flower in the pristine forests of New Zealand. Limited crop production makes UMF 20+ in scarce supply. Comvita Manuka Honey is Raw, Wild, Unpasteurized, non-GMO, Halal, Kosher, and Certified Gluten-Free.

Every batch of Comvita Manuka Honey is independently tested and certified by the UMF Honey Association. Only UMF measures the three signature compounds (Leptosperin, DHA, and MGO – the key antibacterial marker) found in genuine, monofloral Manuka Honey.

Tahi Manuka Honey UMF15+

This manuka honey is sustainably raised, with plants not subjected to any chemical influence. It is raw, unpasteurized, undamaged, and minimally filtered for maximum goodness. The super taste, aroma, and thick creaminess come from the fact that this honey has been crafted with care. It contains high levels of natural pollen and is created by free-roaming bees.

Happy Valley UMF 15+This honey’s UMF15+ rating ensures that you’re getting pure manuka honey, and it’s equivalent to a methylglyoxal (MGO) rating of 510 +. It also contains high levels of the special chemical markers, specific only to true manuka honey. With just one teaspoon a day, it will help with digestion, soothe sore throats and colds, boost your energy, help heal wounds, and help neutralize damaging free radicals.

Celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, Scarlett Johansson, and Kourtney Kardashian subscribe to the health claims associated with Manuka honey. If Cleopatra was still reigning today, there’s no doubt the world-famous advocate of natural beauty therapies would bathe and bask in this gold liquid. So should you be investing in manuka, honey? If your pocket allows you to spend so much on a tiny bottle, go ahead because it truly lives up to its hype.