You may be wondering what’s all the new hype with New Zealand’s manuka honey. Well first of all, it’s not just all about importing healthy honey. The fact that it is known as UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) gives it it’s value and quality.

UMF (Unique Manuka Factor)
This is the quality mark given to honey that has special non-peroxide activity that provides the honey with it’s anti-bacterial abilities. The University of Waikato has studied the honey for over 30 years to show that Manuka honey has superior anti-bacterial qualities and many other beneficial uses, such as treatment method for sore throats, stomach ulcers and various other health issues. You can even putting the honey on a cut to help it heal and prevent infection! While we can use all the chemicals to heal our body, nothing beats a natural method to allow our bodies to heal.

Make sure to look for a higher UMF® number as it means there is a stronger anti-bacterial ability to fight infections and heal wounds. The minimum UMF® mark is 5 and some honeys may receive a score of up to 25+. However, 15+ and 18.7+ UMF® is usually sustainable enough as a high quality product.

It’s origin
The reason why only the New Zealand Manuka Honey is a popular choice, is that it has been found to hold a significantly stronger and more stable bacteria fighting compound compared to other products in other countries. The honey comes from a single flower source (monofloral), where the bees pollinate the Manuka honey bush that grows in the lush green valleys of both the North and South islands of New Zealand. There’s also some available in small areas of Australia, but New Zealand has an abundant amount of product hence being a more popular choice.