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How Much Fake Manuka Honey Is on the Market?
How to Spot Fake Manuka Honey & How to Buy the Real Thing
Fake and misleading Manuka honey is a real issue.
In fact, Callaghan Innovation reported in 2026 that six times more Manuka honey is sold globally than is produced in New Zealand.
To reduce the risk of buying fake or misleading Manuka honey:
✔️ Look for “Product of New Zealand”
✔️ Choose a recognised UMF™ certification or verified MGO grading
✔️ Check for batch numbers and traceability
✔️ Avoid unusually cheap high-strength claims
✔️ Buy from an established, reputable New Zealand supplier
Buying authentic Manuka honey is straightforward when you know what to look for.
Is Fake Manuka Honey Really a Problem?
Yes.
It says the most likely explanation for this discrepancy is food fraud, including dilution, substitution and mislabelling.
This does not mean that six out of every seven jars are fake. But it does highlight why provenance matters.
Because genuine New Zealand Manuka honey can command a premium price, there is an incentive for products to be:
- Diluted with cheaper honey
- Mislabelled
- Sold with unclear origins
- Marketed with unverified strength claims
Fortunately, genuine New Zealand Manuka honey is easy to find when you know what to check.
Authentic vs Fake or Misleading Manuka Honey
| Feature | Authentic New Zealand Manuka Honey | Potential Warning Sign |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Clearly states Product of New Zealand | Origin unclear or outside NZ |
| Producer | Clearly identified | Difficult to identify |
| Grading | UMF™ and/or verified MGO | Vague or unsupported strength claims |
| Testing | Appropriate laboratory testing | No meaningful testing information |
| Traceability | Batch number and traceable source | Little or no batch information |
| Price | Reflects grade and rarity | Suspiciously cheap for claimed strength |
| Supply Chain | Clear connection to NZ producer | Long or unclear chain of intermediaries |
| One warning sign alone does not automatically mean a product is fake. The key is to look at the whole picture. | ||
What Makes New Zealand Manuka Honey Authentic?
New Zealand MPI Manuka Honey Science Definition
New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries — MPI — has created a scientific definition for Manuka honey exported from New Zealand.
To be exported as New Zealand Manuka honey, it must meet specific chemical and DNA marker criteria and be tested by an MPI-recognised laboratory.
MPI uses:
- Four chemical markers
- One DNA marker
These tests help confirm whether the honey meets the New Zealand definition of monofloral or multifloral Manuka honey.
What Do UMF™ and MGO Mean?
Read our UMF vs MGO Guide
Two grading systems are commonly seen on New Zealand Manuka honey.
UMF™
UMF™ is an independent certification system operated by the UMF Honey Association.
It measures MGO alongside additional quality and authenticity markers.
MGO
MGO measures the concentration of methylglyoxal, one of the key naturally occurring compounds associated with Manuka honey.
Generally:
Higher MGO = higher measured methylglyoxal concentration.
Both UMF and MGO can be used by reputable New Zealand producers.
What matters is that the producer is credible, the grading is verifiable and the honey is traceable.
Can You Tell Fake Manuka Honey by Looking at It?
Usually, no.
Authentic Manuka honey can naturally vary in:
- Colour
- Texture
- Taste
- Aroma
- Crystallisation
These variations can occur between regions, seasons and harvests.
That means appearance alone is not a reliable way to determine authenticity.
Testing and traceability are far more meaningful.
Why Buying Manuka Honey Direct from New Zealand Matters
Why Buy Direct from New Zealand?
When six times more Manuka honey is reportedly sold globally than New Zealand produces, knowing your supply chain becomes especially important.
Buying from New Zealand alone is not proof of authenticity.
What matters is buying from a reputable New Zealand business with clear relationships back to established New Zealand producers.
A transparent supply chain may look like:
NZ producer → NZ packing facility → trusted NZ specialist → you
This makes it much easier to understand:
- Who produced the honey
- Where it came from
- How it was graded
- Whether it is traceable
- Who is accountable for the product
For rare and high-strength Manuka honey, this becomes even more important.
How We Source Manuka Honey at Manuka Honey of NZ
At Manuka Honey of NZ, we specialise in genuine New Zealand Manuka honey.
We:
- Stock vetted New Zealand brands
- Work with established New Zealand producers
- Source through New Zealand supply chains
- Select brands using appropriate testing and quality controls
- Make origin and grading information clear
Our goal is simple: to make genuine New Zealand Manuka honey easy to buy with confidence.
Explore Genuine New Zealand Manuka Honey
How to Buy Genuine Manuka Honey: 6 Things to Check
1. Look for “Product of New Zealand”
If you specifically want genuine New Zealand Manuka honey, New Zealand should be clearly stated as the country of origin.
2. Identify the Producer
A reputable product should have an identifiable business behind it.
3. Check the UMF or MGO Grade
Look for recognised grading rather than vague terms such as:
- “Active Manuka”
- “Premium Manuka”
- “Extra Strength”
without supporting information.
4. Look for Batch Traceability
Premium honey should have enough information to trace the product or batch.
5. Check the Seller
Know who you are actually buying from.
An established specialist retailer with direct producer relationships gives you greater transparency than an anonymous marketplace seller.
6. Be Cautious of Prices That Look Too Good to Be True
High-strength Manuka is expensive to produce, test and certify.
A low price is not proof of fraud, but exceptionally cheap high-grade Manuka deserves closer scrutiny.
For our range of rare and high-strength Manuka honey, you can see the grading, producer and traceability information clearly.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fake Manuka Honey
-
Check:
- Product of New Zealand
- Identifiable producer
- UMF™ or verified MGO grading
- Batch traceability
- Appropriate testing
- Reputable seller
-
There is no reliable percentage showing exactly how many jars sold worldwide are fake.
However, Callaghan Innovation reported in 2026 that six times more Manuka honey is sold globally than is produced in New Zealand.
-
They do different things.
MGO measures methylglyoxal concentration.
UMF™ is a broader independent certification system that includes MGO plus additional quality and authenticity markers.
Both can appear on genuine New Zealand Manuka honey.
For a full comparison, see our UMF vs MGO Guide.
-
Yes.
New Zealand’s MPI requires exported Manuka honey to meet its scientific definition and be tested by an MPI-recognised laboratory.
-
Buying from a reputable New Zealand producer or specialist retailer can provide a shorter and more transparent supply chain.
However, location alone is not enough. Check the producer, testing, grading and traceability as well.
-
Not automatically.
But very cheap high-grade Manuka should prompt you to check the producer, origin and testing more carefully.
-
No.
Natural Manuka honey varies between harvests, regions and seasons.
Testing and traceability are much more reliable indicators.
For more answers, visit our Manuka Honey FAQs.
Final Thoughts
Fake and misleading Manuka honey exists, but avoiding it does not need to be difficult.
And with Callaghan Innovation reporting that six times more Manuka honey is sold globally than is produced in New Zealand, provenance is more important than ever.
Before buying, check:
- Origin.
- Testing.
- Traceability.
- Producer.
- Reputation.
Don’t rely only on the word “Manuka” on the label.
Find out where it came from, who produced it and who you are buying it from.
Buying from an established New Zealand producer or reputable New Zealand Manuka honey specialist provides a clearer connection back to the source.
Genuine New Zealand Manuka honey. With provenance you can trust.
Explore Genuine New Zealand Manuka Honey
References
- Callaghan Innovation — Protecting New Zealand’s Premium Food Reputation (2026)
Reports that six times more Manuka honey is sold globally than is produced in New Zealand and discusses dilution, substitution and mislabelling. - New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries — Manuka Honey Science Definition
Official New Zealand government information on the chemical and DNA markers used to define New Zealand Manuka honey. - New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries — Ensuring Manuka Honey Is Authentic
Information on laboratory testing and export requirements for New Zealand Manuka honey. - UMF Honey Association — Unique Manuka Factor
Information about the UMF certification and grading system.