Manuka honey

What is Manuka Honey?

The Manuka bush was first discovered by James Cook, the discoverer of New Zealand. James Cook made beer from the Manuka bush. The crew of his ship used the leaves of the bush to make tea from. This later gave Manuka the name 'Tea Tree'. Manuka is honey derived from bees that just pick the Manuka bush for their nectar. This bush is found in Australia and New Zealand. Here, beekeepers set up hives in remote areas to produce very pure honey from Manuka. A Manuka bush is more similar in height to a tree than a shrub. The shrub is 2 to as tall as 5 metres! Manuka honey, like other types of honey, is deliciously sweet but also has a mildly spicy flavour. Its dark colour and subtle herbal taste distinguish Manuka honey from other types of honey.

What should you look out for when buying Manuka honey?

Manuka honey is pricey compared to other honeys. This is because of its rarity. Genuine pure Manuka honey has a hexagonal MGO seal. This seal guarantees pure, monofloral Manuka honey while also indicating its MGO value. The seal also indicates that the Manuka honey has been scientifically examined for that value. 'Monofloral' means that the honey comes from a single shrub. So in this case, the Manuka bush. By only buying Manuka honey with this seal, you can be sure that you are making a good purchase.

What does the MGO value in honey mean?

MGO stands for the content of the substance methylglyoxal in Manuka honey. No honey contains such a high percentage of MGO as Manuka honey. MGO stands for the number of milligrams of methylglyoxal the honey contains per kilogram at least. For example, Manuka honey contains MGO 100+, at least 100 milligrams of methylglyoxal per kilogram. The presence of methylglyoxal varies depending on the production of the honey. The MGO value can therefore vary from one production batch to another. Manuka honey is checked in laboratories for the presence of the amount of bioactive substances. This is how the MGO value of that particular batch is determined. The more bioactive substances, the more valuable the honey becomes. MGO is the only official scientific measure also used by the New Zealand government to measure the quality and strength of Manuka honey. Every jar of Manuka is tested and has an MGO seal. The MGO content is listed on the packaging. In addition, members of one of the beekeeping organisations in New Zealand called Manuka Honey Association use the UMF label/mark. The government does not accept UMF as a seal of approval because UMF is a less accurate measure of Manuka Honey's effectiveness. Therefore, quality brands such as Manuka New Zealand use designation "MGO" and not "UMF".

What is the best way to use Manuka honey?

Manuka honey has a subtle spicy aroma and therefore goes with many dishes. You can use Manuka honey in different ways (in your meal):

• Use it as a sweetener in homemade cakes
• Add it to your smoothie, cottage cheese, yoghurt or other sweet dishes
• Delicious in a cup of tea
• Soothing on your throat during colds
• Loose food from the pot with a spoon

Just keep in mind that the MGO value of the honey is lost as soon as you heat it strongly. Therefore, it is best to eat Manuka honey cold for its health benefits. It is best to take the honey with a spoon, up to five times a day. Hold a spoon on your tongue and let the honey melt. Afterwards, do not eat or drink anything for at least 15 minutes, this way the active bioactive substances will be properly absorbed into your body.

Where can you buy Manuka honey?

Want to buy real Manuka honey? At Hempishop you can find organic Manuka Honey from brands such as De Traay and Royal Green. These brands produce monofloral Manuka honey, i.e. honey that only comes from the Manuka bush. All pure Manuka honey in the range carries the MGO certificate, among others, so you know you are buying an authentic product. The honey is available in different MGO values, such as MGO 100+ and MGO 200+. Please consult your doctor before using Manuka honey if you are allergic to bee stings or/and honey. Children under 1 year of age should not use Manuka honey.