Although it's been around for thousands of years, Manuka honey has recently grown in popularity.
So much so that we now see our shelves scattered with various types of Manuka honey.
So, we've put together this guide to help you decide which Manuka honey is right for you, help you learn how to check it is real and understand its qualities and health benefits.
We'll cover all you need to know about Manuka honey, and which is the best Manuka honey available to buy in the UK in 2023.
The name for Manuka honey derives from the Manuka bush (Leptospermum scoparium), which is indigenous to the Wairarapa region of New Zealand.
In the summer months of December and January, bees in the north island pollinate the flower of the Manuka bush to create what is known as Manuka honey.
Aesthetically it's easy to spot the difference between normal and Manuka honey, mainly because of its colour and consistency.
Regular honey is yellow/orange in colour and is usually runny and transparent. In comparison, Manuka honey has a thicker consistency and is more orange/brown in colour.
More scientifically, Manuka honey contains methylglyoxal (MGO), a natural substance responsible for the antibacterial properties of honey.
Read more about how Manuka honey differs from traditional honey
You might have heard that Manuka honey may help relieve a sore throat or maybe even seen it listed as an ingredient in your favourite moisturiser.
Raw honey, like raw manuka honey, has long been regarded as a superfood and has many advantages.
Highly versatile, Manuka honey has so many uses, most likely because so many well-being benefits are linked to it. From hydrating your skin to soothing a sore throat, the benefits of manuka honey are extensive.
Manuka honey contains methylglyoxal (MGO), which gives it its unique antibacterial properties.
In regular honey, these effects are lost; however, in Manuka honey, its antibacterial properties remain.
If you're looking to buy manuka honey online, you'll want to make sure you're buying the best, genuine manuka honey from a brand you trust.
At Holland & Barrett, we adopted strict approved standards in 2018 to ensure our customers buy genuine New Zealand Manuka Honey.
All of our Manuka honey products are tested in both New Zealand under government guidelines and in the UK by Fera. This testing ensures that customers get the purest, strongest, undiluted, and official Manuka honey, guaranteeing that the MGO strength is transparently presented.
You'll also be able to tell whether it is genuine Manuka honey by looking out for certified labels. Different numbers on the label represent each Manuka honey's different qualities.
Manuka Honey, with a 10+ or higher certified UMF rating or an MGO of 300 and above, is considered the best quality and can be very therapeutic for the skin.
So, if you are looking for manuka honey, choose a product that fits this rating.
Understanding what these numbers mean can be tricky, so we've broken everything down in our Manuka honey guide.
For all other honey varieties, we ask our suppliers to meet Good Manufacturing Processes in quality, traceability, and taste, to ensure everything on our shelves is of the highest standard.
If you need some inspiration on how to use your new Manuka honey, we've showcased 14 ways you can use Manuka honey in your day-to-day life.
Top ten Manuka honeys available in the UK in 2023
No matter how you wish to use Manuka honey, whether in your skincare routine, recipes or as a remedy for a sore throat, you'll want to make sure you choose the best.
We've rounded up the ten best manuka honey products of 2022, so you can find the best Manuka honey to buy.
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Best MGO 525
Manuka Lab Manuka Honey MGO 525 - 500g
Fully traceable from hive to home, Manuka Lab Manuka Honey is a unique and powerful type of honey all the way from New Zealand.
With an MGO of 525, this Manuka honey is an antibacterial-packed sweetener with a difference. It can be used like a normal honey as healthy sweetener for food and drinks or can be simply mixed with a glass of warm water to help soothe a sore throat.
Because Manuka Lab takes the time to test and verify every product before it leaves New Zealand, you know you’re getting the real deal. You can even trace this honey all the way back to the beekeeper it came from!
What our customers think:
Anonymous – Manuka 525+ - 5/5 stars
“Perfect, extraordinary purchase. Made to make your mouth water. Returning customer. Recommend the public to purchase this item.”
AC J – Excellent product – 5/5 stars
“Lovely taste. Tastes very different from the other brands with lower MGO.”
Manuka Lab Manuka Honey MGO 525 - 500g
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Best MGO 400
Pure Gold Premium Select Manuka Honey MGO 400 - 375g
Pure Gold Manuka Honey complies to New Zealand MPI standards which identify this as genuine 400 MGO Manuka honey.
Like any other official Manuka honey, its tested by an internationally accredited New Zealand Government approved laboratory for MGO (dietary methylglyoxal), the key component that endows Manuka honey with its unique properties.
What our customers think:
Kristinamary – So so good – 5/5 stars
“I’ve been having my honey every morning for a couple weeks now and I love it. It tastes delicious! I eat mine drizzled on my breakfast of yogurt and fruit. This honey has so many health benefits, even my mum and sister have been asking for some!”
Pure Gold Premium Select Manuka Honey MGO 400 - 375g
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Best MGO 340
Manuka Doctor Premium Monofloral Manuka Honey MGO 340 - 250g
Manuka Doctor are specialists in guaranteed, high-quality New Zealand harvested Manuka Honey,
To ensure you are getting consistent quality, every batch of Manuka Doctor Manuka Honey is tested and verified in a laboratory to measure the various quality parameters, all before leaving New Zealand.
At Holland & Barrett you can be assured that you’re receiving Manuka Honey that has gone through scientific testing and can be traced all the way back to the beekeeper it came from.
What our customers think:
Piscia1998 – Best Honey – 5/5 stars
“This is the best taste of honey. I just love it. Thank you!”
Jackie32576 – Amazing taste – 5/5 stars
“This is the first time I have tried monofloral Manuka honey. I usually go for the standard version but this was half price so I thought I'd give it a try. The taste is incredible, like nothing I have taste before. I will be repurchasing!”
Manuka Doctor Premium Monofloral Manuka Honey MGO 340 - 250g
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Best MGO 300
Manuka Lab Manuka Honey MGO 300 - 500g
Manuka Honey is farmed and harvested exclusively in the rural pastures of New Zealand. Manuka has been used by the indigenous Maori population for centuries. By boiling the leaves and inhaling the vapour, or by burning the bark and using the ashes on their skin, the Maori would utilise Manuka.
Each batch of Manuka Lab Manuka Honey is tested by an internationally accredited New Zealand government approved laboratory for non-peroxide activity (NPA) and dietary methylglyoxa. The higher the number, the greater the level of activity.
What our customers think:
AuntyX – Superb, thank you Holland & Barrett – 5/5 stars
“I use this the whole family does different mgo this 300 mgo is good quality too highly recommend tastes great and too many health benefits.”
Rachel C – Soothing – 5/5 stars
“This is the third time I’ve bought this honey. It’s great for my throat as I’m a teacher and using my voice sometimes gives me a sore throat.”
Manuka Lab Manuka Honey MGO 300 - 500g
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Best MGO 240 Manuka Honey
Manuka Doctor Premium Monofloral Manuka Honey MGO 240 - 250g
Manuka Doctor are specialists in high quality New Zealand Harvested Manuka Honey, with the usual from hive to home guarantee. MGO (Methylglyoxal) rating in Manuka honey is derived from DHA which is naturally present in the nectar of the Manuka Bush. Within the hive DHA undergoes the Maillard reaction to form MGO. Our MGO levels are validated by independent labs in NZ and the UK.
What our customers think:
PinkKissamo – Straight from the bee – 5/5 stars
“Fabulous tasting honey great texture and colour. The honey is delicious straight off the spoon as well as in warm water for drinking. Really good quality and keeps the bugs away.”
SnowKitten – Great value – 5/5 stars
“For me this is the best for the price. Lovely smooth taste.”
Manuka Doctor Premium Monofloral Manuka Honey MGO 240 - 250g
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Best MGO 100+ Manuka honey
Egmont Honey Manuka Honey MGO 100+ - 500g
Egmont Honey's MGO 100+ Manuka honey is mono-floral Manuka, which means that it comes solely from the nectar of the Manuka bush. This means the Manuka Honey is higher quality, resulting in a higher MGO rating for users who are serious about getting the most out of their Manuka Honey.
Egmont Honey's hives are situated on remote forest blocks in the South Taranaki region of New Zealand, where bees harvest some of the purest and cleanest Manuka honey available.
What our customers think:
YenTran – Nice taste – 5/5 stars
“Nice taste and texture compared to other brands I have tried”
Egmont Honey Manuka Honey MGO 100+ - 500g
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Popular MGO 70 Manuka Honey
Manuka Doctor Manuka Honey MGO 70 - 500g
The MGO 70 rating of this Manuka Doctor honey is a measurement of its MGO (Methylglyoxal) levels and its antibacterial properties. Simply sipped from a spoon, added to your meal or dissolved in water or perhaps a smoothie, this Manuka honey is a versatile alternative to sugar as a way of sweetening up your diet without feeling too guilty.
What our customers think:
Mr JB – Lovely taste – 5/5 stars
“Lovely tasting honey and not at all sharp like some produce more commonly found in the shops.”
Manuka Doctor Manuka Honey MGO 70 - 500g
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Another popular MGO 70 alternative
Manuka Pharm Manuka Honey MGO 70 - 500g
Manuka Pharm are experts in high quality New Zealand Harvested Manuka Honey, Uniquely sourced and guaranteed 100% official Manuka honey. Validated in both New Zealand and on arrival to the UK.
What our customers think:
Lilly3 – Pure honey – 5/5 stars
“Never been used a Honey like this Manuka Honey. It’s pure and yummy in taste. Very very good Quality of Manuka Honey. Everyone should try it at least once in your life. Worth it”
Mama T – FIVE STAR – 5/5 stars
“Great product. I use it on a daily basis. Drink with warm water or use for tea. It’s not too sweet like the cheap honey.”
Manuka Pharm Manuka Honey MGO 70 - 500g
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Best MGO 55 Manuka Honey
Manuka Doctor Manuka Honey MGO 55 - 500g
Like all of the other products on this list, this Manuka Doctor Manuka honey is reliably sourced from New Zealand. It has a lower MGO number, which means it has a medium strength. This doesn’t particularly make too much difference to its taste, just the potency of its antibacterial qualities.
If you’re after hive-to-home honey that’s New Zealand approved and tested in the laboratory, then Manuka Doctor Manuka honey at Holland & Barrett comes highly recommended.
What our customers think:
Roxana Moise - Golden delight – 5/5 stars
“Delicious and full of goodness jar of honey, part of my daily diet”
Anonymous – Manuka honey – 5/5 stars
“Great product. The antiseptic properties are very good, especially the winter months. Always have some every year to ensure good health and wellbeing.”
Manuka Doctor Manuka Honey MGO 55 - 500g
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Best MGO 50 Manuka Honey
Manuka Doctor Manuka Honey MGO 40 - 250g
Manuka Doctor has long been one of our best-selling, Manuka honey-based brands – with customers eager to get hold of the New Zealand-harvested honey that Manuka Doctor is known for.
Get sweet relief from troublesome sore throats with the natural antibacterial properties of New Zealand Manuka honey, whether it’s straight off the spoon, with a meal or dissolved in water.
What our customers think:
Mrs62 - TheHunnyMummy – 5/5 stars
“I have purchased different honey from all different companies and outlets. I personally, find this particular brand as being very, very good. Whatever the MGO, it is well sealed, it is thick and luxurious, the colour and aroma is wonderful, and the taste is sweet and palatable. I use it in coffee, for baking, on toast, for sore throats etc. The packaging is tactile and to obtain the very last drop, (the good stuff is usually so expensive) I pour in a little hot water and putting the lid on, swish it around and let it cool. My four paws loves it in her porridge for breakfast.”
Manuka Doctor Manuka Honey MGO 40 - 250g
Last updated: 18 January 2023
- https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/manuka-honey-medicinal-uses#1-2
- https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/manuka-honey-medicinal-uses#1-2