Manuka Honey MGO 400

Used for centuries by the Māori people in New Zealand to heal wounds and combat inflammations, mānuka honey is one of the world’s rarest, most valuable types of honey. After rigorous scientific studies run in the 1980s, we now know that honey from the nectar of New Zealand’s mānuka tea tree bushes is indeed more precious than any other honey: its unique MGO* content is to thank for its antibacterial properties and immunity, vitality and digestive health powers. A spoonful of true wonder!

Even though the Māori have been putting mānuka honey’s powers to good use for centuries, it was only quite recently that scientists finally were able to identify the “magic” ingredient that makes mānuka so powerful, beneficial and unique compared to other honey varieties: Methylglyoxal or “MGO”.

MGO is a powerful antibacterial compound not found in regular honey, but found in relative abundance in honey made from mānuka tree nectar. When looking at a honey’s MGO values, it’s good to remember that the higher the MGO value, the rarer, more valuable and more effective the honey - the darker in colour and richer in taste it is too!

What about “NPA”? It is a unit developed to measure the antibacterial properties when in relation to the honey’s MGO value, and the hydrogen peroxide (yes, the effective antibacterial substance) activity. For the science geeks, the NPA or “non-peroxide activity” unit assigns an equivalent value to disinfectant phenol solutions. For example, NPA 10+ has an antibacterial effect equivalent to a 10% phenol solution, NPA 12.5+ is as strong as a 12.5% phenol solution, and so on.

In sum, MGO and NPA values and their relationship with one another are used to evaluate mānuka honey and its antibacterial properties.

For maximum potency, enjoy your mānuka honey on its own in the morning or evening, as a gentle support to your body and immune system. One raw spoonful (20g) a day can do wonders! 

It is important to remember that mānuka honey’s antibacterial and other beneficial properties get damaged when the honey is exposed to high temperatures. This is why it’s best to eat your mānuka honey raw, or as a topping on cold or room temperature foods, instead of mixing it with hot drinks.

Each jar contains 250 grams of mānuka honey.

Can I put some mānuka honey in my tea?
It is important for you to remember that mānuka honey’s antibacterial and other beneficial properties get damaged when the honey is exposed to high temperatures. This is why we recommend that you eat your mānuka honey raw, or as a topping, instead of mixing it with hot drinks.

How do I store mānuka honey?
Avoid storing your honey in the fridge, to ensure a smoother consistency that is easier to get out and enjoy. Store below 25°C (ideally at around 20°C) in a dry, dark place. 

Why is mānuka honey so thick?
Thickness tends to be a marker of high purity and rawness when it comes to mānuka honey. This means that minimal to no processing has occurred for the honey, and its beneficial properties have thus remained intact - even if it means it is thick!

Why is the honey different from jar to jar?
As mānuka honey is a natural product, every batch produced can differ in its consistency, with some turning out slightly runnier and some more viscous or thicker.

Can I soften my mānuka honey?
If your honey has hardened you can soften it, yes! But please, do not put it in the microwave, as that can reduce its beneficial properties and burn it. Instead stand your jar in a bowl of warm (not boiling, 35°C max) water until it returns to a more fluid state, and then stir it.

Important:
Do not feed honey to infants under 1 year of age.

Mānuka honey, this rare golden treasure, is only produced by bees in New Zealand, where mānuka tea tree bushes thrive. This makes mānuka honey not only a rare and high-value commodity, but also one that needs to be carefully managed for the sake of nature and our planet. In order to bring you this wellness-boosting gem, three things mattered to us the most: the bees, the planet and the honey’s pureness.

Bees
Our beekeepers in New Zealand do everything to ensure the health, wellbeing and survival of the bees, and to safeguard this protected species against harmful environmental influences. In tune with nature, our honey’s bee colonies are only set up in non-overpopulated mānuka regions, where there is sufficient food for them.

Planet
In order to keep its environmental impact per kilo low, our mānuka honey is harvested in the largest quantities possible. It is then shipped by container to keep its ecological footprint as small as feasible.

Pureness
By sourcing our honey from the unspoilt valleys and mountains of New Zealand’s Wairarapa, we can ensure that we bring you only the highest purity, authentic, raw mānuka honey, with all its powerful beneficial properties intact.