Insights From A Food Scientist: The Magic of New Zealand Manuka Honey

As a food scientist with a big sweet tooth, I love using Manuka Honey as a natural sugar alternative to sweeten my recipes and give my immune system some love. Manuka Honey is a native superfood of New Zealand packed with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. This liquid gold is produced by hardworking bees that pollinate the nectar from the native Manuka shrub (Leptospermum scoparium). Trust me, this golden goodness will add as much bling to your life as a shiny gold necklace!

Benefits of New Zealand Manuka Honey:

1. Nutrient Density:

As a food scientist, I mainly love using Manuka Honey as a sugar substitute because it’s a nutritional powerhouse! New Zealand Manuka Honey is a game-changing sugar substitute thanks to the fructose and glucose sugars. Plus, other sugars and oligosaccharides help promote gut health due to their prebiotic properties.

Manuka Honey is not just sweet – it’s smart too! It contains two important digestive enzymes – Invertase, which breaks down glucose and fructose from the honey, and Diastase, which breaks down starches. Glucose oxidase is another heroic enzyme that supports the body’s biological and antibacterial processes.

To top it all off, Manuka Honey is an excellent source of Vitamin C, a fantastic antioxidant, and B vitamins, calcium, zinc, magnesium, potassium and phosphorous – all to help us be in shape. Manuka Honey also contains a secret weapon – Methylglyoxal (MGO). This bioactive compound makes Manuka Honey significantly different from regular honey due to its antimicrobial properties, making our immune system happy.

2. Health Benefits: 

The immunity boost a little Manuka Honey can give us is insane. Manuka Honey contains natural sugars that boost natural energy without increasing blood sugar levels due to their low glycemic index. The enzymes in Manuka Honey support digestion, and the prebiotics keep the little friends in our guts healthy and happy. Manuka Honey can also fix the winter blues thanks to its wonderful anti- inflammatory properties. Not to mention, honey has antioxidants and is antibacterial, thanks to the vitamins and minerals that support our overall immunity. Some other bonus benefits of Manuka Honey include glowing skin and improved sleep.

3. Clean and natural ingredients:

New Zealand’s Manuka Honey is also clean and contains natural ingredients. Honestly, what’s not to love? There is a special chemical present in New Zealand’s Manuka Honey called Leptospermum. Leptospermum is a natural chemical marker. This means that if your Manuka Honey contains Leptospermum, it is high-quality, authentic honey. This is tested by the Unique Manuka Factor (UMF)grading system, which tests the presence of such chemical markers to ensure we are not the victims of a Manuka honey spam.

4 Easy Recipes With a Sweet Twist: 

Sweet, healthy, and versatile – what’s not to love? Here are some of my favourite ways to add a sweet nutritional bling to your diet: 

Immunity Boost Health Drink:

· 1 Orange

· Pinch of Turmeric

· Grated Fresh Ginger

· 1 Tbsp New Zealand Manuka Honey

· 1/2 Cup Coconut Water

· Black Pepper (optional)

 Blend all ingredients together, pour into a glass and enjoy.

Strawberry Brownie Baked Oats:

· 1/2 Cup Rolled Oats

· 1 Tbsp Cocoa Powder

· 1 Tsp Baking Powder

· 1 Tsp New Zealand Manuka Honey

· 1/2 Banana

· 1/2 Cup Milk

· Dark Chocolate Chips (Topping)

· Fresh Strawberries (Topping)

Blend all ingredients until smooth, top with dark chocolate chips and Strawberries, and bake at 170 °C for 15-20 minutes.

Manuka Honey Glazed Carrots:

· 1 Pack of Baby Carrots

· 1 Tbsp Butter

· 2 Tbsp New Zealand Manuka Honey

· Sesame Seeds or New Zealand Bee Pollen Granules (optional topping) 

Start by sauteing carrots in a pan with butter, then coat with honey until caramelised. Top off with sesame seeds or bee pollen granules, and enjoy.

Hot Honey Fries:

· Frozen Fries (or 2 large Potatoes)

· 2 Tbsp New Zealand Manuka Honey

· 1-2 Tbsp Hot Sauce (any kind)

· Salt (to taste)

· Sesame Seeds

In a bowl, mix hot sauce (1-2 tbsp depending on spice tolerance), and honey and salt until smooth. Cook fries until crispy, then coat and toss the fries in the sauce; top off with sesame seeds, and enjoy.

Conclusion:

New Zealand Manuka Honey is a nutritional sugar substitute that can be easily incorporated into the diet to enhance immunity and overall wellbeing for the body.

Salena Bakshi 

Qualified Food Scientist