It is also rich in antioxidants and antibacterial properties, as well as iron, zinc, potassium, vitamin C, and calcium.Īcacia honey is often referred to as The Queen of Honeys-a well-deserved title in many ways. This honey has many proven health benefits and is, therefore, often compared to Manuka honey.Īcacia honey has a sweet and delightful floral flavor, with hints of vanilla. One of the best monofloral honeys in the world is the European Acacia honey. It is recommended that honey with MGO ratings higher than 300 should be consumed only occasionally, while the MGO 100+ honeys can be consumed on a daily basis for their antibacterial and other health benefits. The higher the MGO rating, the stronger the antibacterial properties and the more medicinal the taste will be.
How to Choose Manuka Honeyįor most of the Manuka honey brands, MGO ratings between 100+ ~200+ will taste like regular honey. Is higher always better? Well, that depends on your intended use of Manuka honey. The numbers following the MGO initials indicate the methylglyoxal level in mg/kg.
MGO stands for methylglyoxal, which is the organic compound responsible for Manuka honey’s strong antibacterial properties. The higher the number, the more potent the honey,-and also, the more expensive. UMF standards range from ten to 25, with the higher numbers having the higher rating. The honey will be certified as “monofloral Manuka honey” if more than 100 mg. The UMF tests for four factors: MGO (antibacterial element), dihydroxyacetone (or DHA, for shelf life), HMF (for freshness), and leptosperin (a quality only found in genuine Manuka honey). The UMF is the quality identifying mark for making sure that you have natural Manuka honey produced in New Zealand. As Manuka honey has become more recognized in the world, more counterfeit products have started to flow into the market.
New Zealand’s trade and industry groups have established indicators, such as monofloral (pure nectar of manuka), and multifloral (including nectar other than manuka), in order to identify genuine Manuka honey. But more importantly, you must check to make sure it is monofloral honey and has the UMF certificate labeled on the jar to identify that it is genuine Manuka honey. It is important to understand the MGO and UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) grades for Manuka honey.This makes it extremely difficult for bees to collect large quantities of nectar from the Manuka flower. Furthermore, these flowers are only in bloom for two to six weeks each year, and some individual flowers may only bloom for five days. That is because the Manuka flowers are extremely delicate and, therefore, are susceptible to variations in climate, rainfall, and wind. Manuka honey is one of the most expensive honeys in the world.Likewise, a jar of Manuka honey should not be part of your first-aid kit. The UMFHA (Unique Manuka Factor Honey Association) in New Zealand doesn’t recommend that so-called “Medical Grade”, or “Clinical Grade” Manuka honey be sold at regular grocery stores. It is sterilized and different from the jar of Manuka honey you buy in a grocery store. However, the honey to treat wounds is a medical grade honey. Medically, Manuka honey can be used for healing wounds and burns.Honey is acidic and will react with metal surfaces. Do not use a metal spoon with your honey.Therefore, anyone taking immunity suppressants should consult their doctor before consuming Manuka honey. Flavonoids in Manuka honey have important immunomodulatory effects.5 Facts About Manuka Honey You Ought to Know Manuka honey also contains a large number of phenolic compounds: flavonoids and phenolic acids, also known as polyphenols. It is rich in nutritional value: containing vitamin B, vitamin C, and minerals like calcium, iron, zinc, potassium, and magnesium. This honey also has higher antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties than regular honey. Manuka honey has high antibacterial properties, called methylglyoxal (MGO). Manuka honey is made by bees that pollinate the Manuka tree, which grows mainly in New Zealand. These gourmet honeys-like Manuka, Acacia, and Pohutukawa-have been getting more of the spotlight in recent years due to increasing health trends at all ages. Beyond the natural and raw honey that you normally find in the grocery store or market, New Zealand boasts some unique and healthful honey varieties.