Manuka Honey
What is Manuka Honey ?
Manuka Honey is a monofloral honey produced from the nectar of the Manuka tree. It grows uncultivated throughout both southeastern Australia and New Zealand. Manuka Honey has a strong flavour, characterised as “earthy, oily, herbaceous” and “florid, rich and complex”.
Manuka Honey for export from New Zealand must be independently tested and pass the Manuka Honey Science Definition test as specified by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). You can access Mira Manuka Honey test results from the QR Code on the label.
MGO, or methylglyoxal, is the magic ingredient in Manuka Honey, with well-documented antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. All natural honey has some antibacterial effects, but scientists have discovered that Manuka's effects are much more potent, thanks to MGO.
What are the differences between UMF and MGO ?
UMF and MGO are standardised indicators of the concentration of some of the bioactive chemical compounds found in Manuka Honey in any given sample of the stuff. Bioactive chemical compounds, when applied to your skin or digested in your digestive tract, are able to give your body unique assistance in resisting infection, improving skin health and aiding digestion. UMF and MGO are two individual grading systems. UMF is an acronym meaning Unique Manuka Factor. UMF is a complete and advanced grading system. It incorporates the measurement of MG (MGO) levels, but also includes additional testing of authenticity markers of the Manuka Honey. This includes dihydroxyacetone and leptosperin. UMF is an indicator of quality and purity of Manuka Honey. MGO stands for methylglyoxal, the naturally occurring compound that makes Manuka Honey so unique. An MGO rating is a standardised measure of methylglyoxal content and is an indicator of quality.
What are the different gradings ?
A UMF grading is usually between 5 and 25. A UMF 30 honey is possible but uncommon. An MGO grading will be between double digits and 2000 (above 2000 is not common).
Below is a table of rough parities.
UMF 5 = MGO83
UMF10 = MGO263
UMF15 = MGO514
UMF20 = MGO829
UMF25 = MGO1200