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Manuka Honey
Discover Australian Manuka honey, a distinctive premium honey known for its rich flavour, monofloral character and naturally occurring MGO. In this guide, explore how Australian Manuka honey is produced, what makes it different from other honeys, how MGO ratings work, and how to choose a Manuka honey that suits your preferences.
Understanding Manuka Honey
Manuka honey is a distinctive honey produced when bees collect nectar from flowering Manuka plants belonging to the Leptospermum genus. Monofloral Manuka honey is predominantly sourced from Manuka nectar, giving it its characteristic flavour and naturally occurring MGO content.
Australian Manuka honey comes from native Australian Leptospermum species and can have its own distinctive flavour, colour and texture. The naturally occurring compound methylglyoxal (MGO) is one of the key characteristics used to measure and compare the strength of Manuka honey.
Manuka honey production begins during the flowering season when beekeepers place hives in areas where Australian Manuka plants are abundant. Bees collect nectar from the flowers and carry it back to the hive, where natural enzymes and the gradual reduction of moisture transform the nectar into honey.
Once the honey has matured, it is harvested and extracted from the honeycomb. Quality Manuka honey can then undergo laboratory testing to determine its MGO concentration and other quality characteristics.
Because Manuka honey is a natural agricultural product, its flavour, colour, texture and MGO levels can naturally vary between harvests.
Bees play an essential role in producing Manuka honey. Worker bees collect nectar from Manuka flowers and return it to the hive, where the nectar undergoes a natural transformation through enzymatic activity and moisture reduction.
The floral source, season, weather and growing environment can all influence the characteristics of the finished honey. This natural process contributes to the distinctive flavour, texture and composition associated with Australian Manuka honey.
Benefits of Manuka Honey
One of the most researched characteristics of Manuka honey is its naturally occurring antibacterial activity. This is associated with compounds including methylglyoxal (MGO), which is present in Manuka honey at varying concentrations.
MGO is measured through laboratory testing and provides an indication of the concentration of methylglyoxal in the honey. Generally, a higher MGO rating means a higher concentration of MGO.
Manuka honey can be enjoyed as a premium food as part of a balanced diet. However, food-grade honey should not be considered a treatment for medical conditions or used as a replacement for professional medical advice.
Manuka honey is often valued as a premium natural food because of its distinctive flavour, floral source and naturally occurring compounds.
Like other honeys, it contains naturally occurring sugars and small amounts of compounds such as polyphenols and antioxidants. Manuka honey is particularly recognised for its naturally occurring MGO and unique flavour profile.
It can be enjoyed in many everyday ways, including on toast, yoghurt, porridge, fruit and smoothies, or stirred into a warm drink.
Rather than viewing Manuka honey as a cure-all, it is best appreciated as a distinctive premium honey with unique natural characteristics.
Manuka honey has been the subject of scientific research because of its naturally occurring antibacterial activity, including research into certain wound-care applications.
It is important to distinguish between food-grade Manuka honey and medical-grade honey. Medical-grade honey is specially prepared, tested and intended for specific clinical applications.
Food-grade Manuka honey should not automatically be used as a substitute for medical treatment or approved wound-care products. Sunhighlands Manuka honey is primarily a premium Australian food, made to be enjoyed as part of everyday life.
Manuka honey is commonly compared by its MGO (methylglyoxal) concentration. The MGO number indicates the measured amount of methylglyoxal in the honey, expressed in milligrams per kilogram.
| MGO RATING | MGO LEVEL | SUITABLE FOR |
|---|---|---|
| MGO 100+ | 100+ mg/kg | Daily wellness maintenance, natural sweetener, mild immune support |
| MGO 263+ | 263+ mg/kg | Daily digestive balance, soothing tea sweetener, general skincare |
| MGO 550+ | 550+ mg/kg | Active sore throat relief, targeted gut support, DIY facial masks |
| MGO 850+ | 850+ mg/kg | Intensive gut protocols, severe sore throat, dermatitis & wound care |
| MGO 1200+ | 1200+ mg/kg | High-potency therapeutic healing, chronic wound dressings |
| MGO 1500+ | 1500+ mg/kg | Maximum therapeutic bioactivity, specialised clinical use |
Lower MGO ratings such as MGO 100+ and MGO 263+ are excellent choices for enjoying Manuka honey as part of your everyday food and breakfast routine.
MGO 550+ and above offer higher concentrations of naturally occurring methylglyoxal and are ideal for customers looking for a stronger, premium Manuka honey.
Why Important?
MGO stands for methylglyoxal, a naturally occurring compound found in Manuka honey. It develops naturally as honey matures from compounds present in the nectar of certain Leptospermum flowers.
MGO is one of the key characteristics associated with Manuka honey's distinctive non-peroxide antibacterial activity. The MGO number on the jar indicates the measured concentration of methylglyoxal in the honey.
Generally, the higher the MGO number, the greater the concentration of MGO. This makes MGO a useful way for consumers to compare different Manuka honey strengths.
Manuka honey is available in a wide range of MGO ratings, from lower strengths designed for everyday enjoyment to higher strengths containing greater concentrations of naturally occurring MGO.
Lower MGO ratings such as MGO 100+ and MGO 263+ can be enjoyed as part of everyday meals and drinks. Higher ratings, including MGO 550+, MGO 850+, MGO 1200+ and MGO 1500+, provide increasingly concentrated levels of MGO.
A higher MGO rating generally means a higher concentration of methylglyoxal, but it does not automatically make one product the right choice for every person or purpose.
Choosing a Manuka honey MGO rating comes down to your personal preference, how you enjoy honey and your budget.
For everyday use, lower or moderate MGO ratings can be a great choice for breakfast, snacks, drinks and recipes. If you prefer a stronger and more concentrated Manuka honey, you may choose one of the higher MGO options.
There is no need to automatically choose the highest MGO rating. The best option is the one that matches your preferred flavour, intended use and budget.
Choosing the Best Manuka Honey
When choosing Manuka honey, MGO is important, but it should not be the only consideration. Look for a clearly stated MGO rating supported by appropriate laboratory testing, along with information about the honey's origin, floral source and authenticity.
Australian Manuka honey comes from native Australian Leptospermum species and can differ naturally from Manuka honey produced in other countries.
For monofloral Manuka honey, the floral source is particularly important. Monofloral honey is predominantly derived from the nectar of the stated floral source.
Colour, flavour and texture can also help you appreciate the natural characteristics of Manuka honey, although these can vary between harvests.
Sunhighlands offers Australian monofloral Manuka honey in a range of MGO strengths, making it easier to find an option that suits your preferences.
Our honey is proudly Australian and our jars carry the Australian Manuka Honey Association (AMHA) mark, supporting the authenticity of our Australian Manuka honey.
Every MGO rating is supported by laboratory testing, helping customers understand the measured strength of the honey they are purchasing.
Explore the Sunhighlands range to discover Australian Manuka honey from everyday MGO strengths through to our highest-strength options.
The flavour, colour and texture can vary naturally depending on the Manuka species, flowering conditions, season and location.
This distinctive flavour profile is one of the reasons Manuka honey is appreciated as a premium honey and enjoyed both on its own and in everyday foods.
It can also be used as a natural sweetener in drinks and recipes where its distinctive flavour can add depth as well as sweetness.
You can also enjoy it straight from the spoon when you want to appreciate its rich Australian Manuka flavour.
Whether you choose MGO 100+, MGO 263+, MGO 550+, MGO 850+, MGO 1200+ or MGO 1500+, Sunhighlands makes it easy to enjoy Australian monofloral Manuka honey your way.
Although the ultimate Australian manuka honey brand will depend on your needs and preferred MGO strength, many customers are choosing Sunhighlands due to its high quality and purity of Australian sourced Manuka honey, independently tested MGO ratings and commitment to purity and quality. Sunhighlands has provided a variety of certified Manuka honey products available on the daily wellness all the way to high-potency therapeutic use.
The best grade depends on use, but generally the higher the mgo number, the stronger its antibacterial strength. Many consumers use mgo ratings together with total activity values to determine product strength and select suitable natural products.
Australian Manuka honey is prized for high quality, purity and independently tested MGO levels. It is prepared in clean natural surroundings, and thus, it is a reliable option to health and wellness.
Australian Manuka honey is a natural honey produced from the nectar of native Leptospermum plants found in Australia. The product has a distinctive flavor and maintains its complete purity while delivering natural antibacterial effects.
Manuka honey can be used to maintain overall well-being, such as enhancing immunity, promoting digestion, and having natural anti-bacterial effects. It may also serve as a natural source of energy and to soothe sore throats.
The genuine product of Australian Manuka honey undergoes testing and certification processes which confirm its authenticity as a medical treatment and prevent its use as an inferior product.
The Manuka honey market in Australia is launched by a number of brands, among them being Capilano and Manuka Health. To have high quality and tested MGO levels, Sunhighlands has been the choice of many customers seeking trusted Australian Manuka honey.
MGO exists as a natural substance within Manuka honey which determines its capacity to fight bacterial infections. The health advantages of honey increase with the MGO content present in the honey sample.
The skin care benefits of Manuka honey are established through scientific research. The product contains natural antibacterial and moisturizing elements which provide relief for acne and dry skin and minor skin irritations, according to its known properties.
