Manuka Honey FAQs

Honey is made when bees collect nectar from flowers. The type of flowers give the unique taste, colour and properties found in different types of honey. Manuka honey is made when bees collect nectar from the Mānuka tree.

Manuka Honey is unique to New Zealand and to obtain pure Manuka Honey is a specialised task for beekeepers. Manuka Honey is more difficult to extract and has a limited harvest period as it is only collected at certain times of the year. The unique properties of Manuka Honey create a high level of demand around the world.

The short answer is no. True New Zealand Manuka Honey comes from the plant Leptospermum Scoparium, otherwise known as the Mānuka tree, a special type of tea tree that is the only type that naturally occurs in NZ. Australian Manuka Honey is sourced from Leptospermum  - a large group of plants commonly known as tea tree. This results in differences in the pollen load and chemical markers of the two honeys, with Australian Manuka Honey displaying a more bitter taste due to elevated levels of 2-methoxybenzoic acid. In addition, the Australian developed  'mark of authenticity' falls well short of the standards set in NZ. In 2017 the United Kingdom Trade Mark Registry ruled that Manuka could only be used to refer to the New Zealand plant Leptospermum Scoparium, from which New Zealand Manuka Honey is derived. So if it doesn't originate in New Zealand, it's not authentic Manuka Honey.

Yes!  New Zealand is the only source of authentic Manuka Honey in the world.  If it didn’t originate from NZ it’s not Manuka Honey.

White (table) sugar contains 100g sugar per 100g. Manuka Honey contains less, around 78g sugar per 100g.  Choosing Manuka Honey is a lower-sugar sweetener option.

Manuka Honey has been taken by pregnant women for many years with no reported problems as a result of its ingestion. 

Only children over 3 years old should take Manuka honey

Although there’s no strict definition of 'raw' honey, the 'raw' is taken to mean that the honey has been processed at low temperatures. Generally less than 47 degrees Celsius (118 degrees Fahrenheit). Pasteurising or extracting honey at high temperatures is thought to reduce the amount of nutrients and antioxidants in the honey.

Manuka Honey has a rich, floral taste. It’s a golden honey but the higher MG /UMF Mānuka honeys are darker and more solid.

As Manuka Honey is considered an animal product people following a vegan diet tend to avoid honey. But it is enjoyed by many vegetarians.  Manuka Oil and Manuka Infused products are directly derived from the Mānuka Tree so are vegan friendly.  See vegan friendly products here.

Yes! It’s normal for honey to grow to crystals, and the more raw/unprocessed the honey is the more readily this occurs. Keeping your jar of honey somewhere warm may help to reduce crystal formation. Don’t be tempted to heat your honey to remove the crystals. You may also affect the taste and nutritional value of the honey. Give it a stir and keep enjoying your Manuka Honey.

Due to its high sugar and low moisture content honey can only degrade if it is contaminated or stored incorrectly, which is why it's often recognized as the only food in the world that doesn't spoil.  

For food products commercially sold, including honey, expiration or best before dates are a commercial requirement.  Honey jars are normally stamped with a "best before date" that suggests a shelf life of up to 5 years.

Honey is best kept in the pantry away from direct sunlight in a sealed container.  Extreme changes in temperature will alter the flavour and consistency of the honey so it’s not recommended to store in the refrigerator unless you live in a very hot climate.

Yes you can, but the premium Manuka Honeys and medicinal grade Honeys are mostly available in specialist stores or direct from the manufacturer.  Supermarkets generally offer the lower grade honeys and are limited on choice.  We only work with trusted brands and brands where the rating has been certified.  We ship them same day so you won't have to wait long for this liquid gold!

Many of our Manuka Honeys are halal certified.  The halal certified honeys along with other halal certified products will have a halal symbol in the product description. 

We also have products that are halal compliant.  This means that they are halal by definition - halal practices have been followed in the production process and the ingredients used.  Halal compliant products are visible in the bullet points of each product description. 

If you are unsure if a product in halal, please contact us; we are happy to let you know which of our stocked products are certified or compliant. Please click here to view our collection of halal certified and halal compliant products.