Mānuka honey
Mānuka honey is honey from the nectar of the New Zealand shrub mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium), whose origin is checked against a scientific definition.
Mānuka honey is made by bees from the nectar of mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium), the dominant Leptospermum species in New Zealand, a member of the myrtle family. It is a well-known New Zealand export, so its origin is checked against scientific criteria rather than by the label wording alone.
The criteria were developed in New Zealand in research led by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). They combine four chemicals from mānuka nectar (2'-methoxyacetophenone, 2-methoxybenzoic acid, 3-phenyllactic acid and 4-hydroxyphenyllactic acid) with a DNA marker from mānuka pollen. Monofloral honey must meet all five attributes; multifloral honey has separate limits.
The difficulty is that honey always comes from several plants and its composition varies by place and season. The closely related kānuka (Kunzea ericoides) blooms nearby, and 3-phenyllactic acid also occurs in it. So no single measurement can confirm the origin.
Labels use industry-agreed grading systems, most often based on methylglyoxal (MGO); some also state at least 70 % mānuka pollen. Yet methylglyoxal is not unique to mānuka, and its level rises and then falls over time. The EU directive lists mānuka among the exceptions that may exceed 0.8 mS/cm; FAO counts it among viscous, thixotropic honeys.
Why this matters to you: the word "mānuka" and an MGO number or pollen percentage are trade markings, not scientific proof. If origin matters, check whether monofloral or multifloral is stated, along with the country, and expect no properties the label cannot prove.
Facts
| Raw material | Nectar of mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium) |
|---|---|
| Region | New Zealand (Leptospermum also grows in Australia) |
| Legal basis | Scientific definition led by MPI: 4 chemical markers + pollen DNA |
| Taste | Viscous, thixotropic (FAO) |
How it connects to Honey & beekeeping
Mānuka honey → kind of → Blossom and honeydew honey → kind of → 🍯 Honey
Links
- Part of
- Monofloral honey, Blossom and honeydew honey
- Similar and different
- Leatherwood honey, Comvita, Manuka Health, Airborne Honey, Rowse Honey, Langnese Flotte Biene Spender, Bihophar, Capilano, Capilano Single Floral Varietal, Capilano Bioactive Manuka
and 25 more
Nate's Honey, Superbee, Arataki Honey, Egmont Honey, Barnes Naturals, Mossop's Honey, Hoyer, Nate's Manuka Honey, Barnes Naturals Manuka Honey, Mossop's UMF Manuka Honey, Yamada Bee Farm Selected Imported Honey, Yamada Bee Farm Rare Honey, Nate's Honey Minis, Langnese Flotte Biene Manuka-Honig MGO 100+, Capilano Floral Manuka Honey, Rowse 250+MGO Monofloral Manuka Honey, Rowse 500+MGO Monofloral Manuka Honey, Nate's UMF 5+ Manuka Honey, Barnes Naturals Australian Manuka Honey MGO 100+, Nate's UMF 10+ Manuka Honey, Nate's UMF 15+ Manuka Honey, Mossop's UMF 5+ Manuka Honey, Mossop's UMF 10+ Manuka Honey, Capilano Active Manuka Honey MGO100+, Nate's UMF 10+ Manuka Honey Minis - Which plants it comes from
- Mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium)
Frequently asked questions
What is mānuka honey made from?
From the nectar of mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium), the dominant Leptospermum species in New Zealand.
How is genuine mānuka honey identified?
By New Zealand's scientific definition: four chemical markers from the nectar plus a DNA marker from the pollen; monofloral honey must meet all five.
What does MGO on the label mean?
The methylglyoxal content used by industry grading systems; it is not proof of origin, because it also occurs outside mānuka and changes over time.
Is it true that 70 % mānuka pollen guarantees authenticity?
No. The 70 % threshold came from a small study, and pollen counts cannot tell mānuka from the related kānuka.
Is kānuka honey the same as mānuka honey?
The related kānuka (Kunzea ericoides) blooms alongside, and some markers overlap, so a single measurement cannot settle the origin.
What to read next
- Langnese Flotte Biene Manuka-Honig MGO 100+ — Manuka honey from New Zealand labelled MGO 100+, in the Langnese Flotte Biene dispenser.
- Leatherwood honey — Leatherwood honey is a monofloral honey from the nectar of Tasmanian leatherwood (Eucryphia lucida), a rainforest tree that grows only in Tasmania.
- Langnese Flotte Biene Spender — Langnese's dispenser range of 15 honeys, from acacia and linden blends to organic, Fairtrade and manuka.
- Nate's Honey — Nate's Honey is an American honey brand that began with a single backyard beehive.
- Capilano Floral Manuka Honey — Australian manuka honey from the Capilano Single Floral Varietal range, in a 340 g squeeze bottle.
Similar
Eucalyptus honey · Sunflower honey · Acacia honey · Lavender honey · Lime (linden) honey · Dandelion honey
ℹ️ Honey is mostly sugars: about 82 g per 100 g. Do not give honey to babies under 1 year old because of the risk of infant botulism.
Sources
- McDonald C.M. et al. (2018) Using chemical and DNA marker analysis to authenticate a high-value food, manuka honey. npj Science of Food (MPI-led study), DOI 10.1038/s41538-018-0016-6
- Directive 2001/110/EC relating to honey (consolidated text, EUR-Lex)
- FAO, Krell R. (1996) Value-added products from beekeeping, Chapter 2 Honey