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Looking to try Manuka honey but don't know where to start? From Manuka honey skincare to jars of honey, discover our top 8 Manuka honey products, here.
Our top 3 picks
1200+ MGO
Holland & Barrett
Holland & Barrett Manuka Honey MGO 1200+ Gift Box 250g
€149.99
525 MGO
Manuka Lab
Manuka Lab Manuka Honey MGO 525 250g
€64.99
240 MGO
Manuka Doctor
Manuka Doctor Premium Monofloral Manuka Honey MGO 240 250g
€49.99
Recognised for its delightfully sweet flavour and unique benefits, Manuka honey has captured the hearts of people worldwide. Cherished by indigenous communities for centuries, this golden liquid goes beyond your ordinary runny honey.
In fact, the demand for Manuka honey has grown so much that our store shelves are now stocked with a wide array of options. From delectable jars of Manuka honey to skincare products infused with its goodness, here’s our carefully curated selection of 8 Manuka honey products that deserve a place in your shopping basket.
The 8 best jars of Manuka honey
No matter how you wish to use Manuka honey, whether in recipes or as traditionally used for a sore throat, you'll want to make sure you choose the best. A pot of Manuka honey goes a long way and will fast become a food cupboard staple.
From high-strength honey to everyday-grade, if you’re looking for a pot of mouth-watering Manuka honey, here are our top eight picks of the best Manuka honey to buy.
A fantastic gift for the Manuka honey enthusiast or even for yourself, our boxed 1200+ MGO Manuka Honey is of exceptional quality. Its superior MGO (methylglyoxal) strength of 1200+ is rarely produced and these high levels mean it’s full to the brim with beneficial properties. Methylglyoxal, or MGO, is a compound found within Manuka honey that many people believe give this golden honey it’s unbeatable benefits.1,2
Make the most of this golden honey by adding it to smoothies, yoghurt, hot drinks, or even add to your favourite recipes to roast, glaze, or bake. As a truly versatile honey, the sky is the limit when it comes to its uses in your kitchen!
Our 1200+ Manuka honey is monofloral, made from the nectar of Manuka shrubs and carefully sourced from the Taranaki region of New Zealand. Packaged in a sleek gift box and equipped with a wooden spoon, it’s a great addition to any food cupboard.
Fully traceable from hive to home, Manuka Lab’s MGO 525 Manuka Honey is a unique type of honey from New Zealand.
With an MGO of 525, this Manuka honey is packed with properties that could benefit your overall wellbeing. It can be used like normal honey as a healthy sweetener for food or can be simply mixed with a warm cup of tea for a delicious drink.
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 back to the beekeeper it came from!
Lovingly sourced from the Taranaki region of New Zealand, this monofloral Manuka honey has a high strength of 800+ MGO. As such, our Manuka honey is packed full of antibacterial properties that may offer you great benefits.
Elevate your food by adding a spoonful of Manuka honey to your cooking and baking, or even sip straight from the spoon, stir into a hot cup of tea, or drizzle over your breakfast.
Manuka Doctor are specialists in high-quality Manuka honey harvested in New Zealand, and their award-winning range of genuine Manuka honey is guaranteed to be outstanding.
Each batch meets New Zealand’s strict export standards, due to rigorous testing processes that ensure its quality and purity. This monofloral honey is made from nectar collected only from the Manuka bush and, as a result, has a higher MGO content.
Darker in colour and with a more subtle, woody flavour than regular honey, this Manuka honey is sublime when used in smoothies, baking, and even stirred into hot drinks.
Looking for an easy way to add Manuka to your smoothies, breakfast bowls, or morning cuppa? Our squeezy MGO 70+ Manuka Honey combines the unbeatable benefits of Manuka honey with the no-fuss method of a squeezy bottle.
This multifloral squeezy honey is made using Manuka from the Taranaki region of New Zealand, and its MGO strength of 70+ means it’s a great everyday grade honey that still contains Manuka’s wonderful properties.
Store at room temperature in your food cupboard to keep this honey deliciously fresh.
Egmont Honey's MGO 100+ Manuka honey is monofloral, which means that it’s a purer form of Manuka honey as it comes solely from the nectar of the Manuka bush.
In addition, 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.
After collection, Egmont’s honey undergoes thorough testing to ensure its top-quality and to check the amount of MGO in a batch, as this determines the strength of the honey. This honey jar is nothing less than high-quality Manuka.
Make the most of Manuka’s benefits without breaking the bank with Manuka Doctor’s top-quality MGO 70 Manuka honey. This genuine Manuka honey undergoes five thorough testing processes to ensure its purity and quality before it hits the shelves.
Simply sipped from a spoon, added to your meal, dissolved in water, or perhaps a smoothie, this Manuka honey is a versatile alternative to sugar as a way of sweetening up your diet.
Manuka Doctor has long been one of our best-selling brands, with customers eager to get hold of the New Zealand-harvested honey that Manuka Doctor is known for.
This lower strength Manuka honey is ideal for daily use, yet still packed full of goodness – the ideal choice for sweetening recipes, adding to smoothies, or even a cup of tea. Store in a cool place, like a pantry or food cupboard, and away from direct sunlight to keep this honey fresh. If you find the consistency too hard, warm it gently to soften it up.
Manuka honey skincare
In skincare, Manuka honey is a valuable addition to hydrating products like moisturisers, body butters, and even face masks. It’s thought that the sugar content of Manuka honey helps to draw in and retain moisture, even working to help create a protective barrier when used on the skin.3
So, if your skin is looking like it needs a little TLC, why not give Manuka honey skincare a go? Here are our top picks:
For a cleanser that leaves your skin feeling moisturised and vibrant, try the Dr Organic Manuka Honey Gentle Face Wash. Featuring a blend of ingredients, this nourishing face wash is a great first step in any skincare routine.
Simply wet your face, then massage a small amount of face wash over the skin. Use small, circular motions, then rinse with cool water.
Keep your skin hydrated with the Dr Organic Manuka Honey Body Butter. Containing shea butter, aloe vera, jojoba, Manuka honey, and vitamin E, this smooth, non-greasy body butter works hard to moisturise your skin.
Apply a generous amount after your shower, or whenever you feel your skin needs a bit of love, and massage in using gentle circular motions.
Washing your hands, dry heat, pollution, and cold weather can all leave your hands feeling dry and even rough.
So, why not treat your hands to the Dr Organic Manuka Honey Hand & Nail Cream? A real saviour when it comes to keeping your hands soft and supple. You can even apply a small amount to other areas like your elbows and knees, if they’re feeling dry or rough.
Don’t forget to show your lips some love too! Dr Organic’s multi-action lip balm with SPF15 protection works to moisturise and soothe dry, chapped lips.
With a blend of specially selected ingredients and extracts, including Manuka oil, this luxurious lip balm is perfect for keeping in your bag and applying throughout the day.
FAQs
The name for Manuka honey derives from the Manuka bush (Leptospermum scoparium), which is indigenous to New Zealand.4 In the summer months of December and January, bees pollinate the flowers of the Manuka bush and take the nectar back to their hives to create Manuka honey.1
Aesthetically it's easy to spot the difference between normal and Manuka honey, mainly because of its colour and consistency. Regular honey is yellow or orange in colour and is usually runny and transparent. In comparison, Manuka honey has a thicker consistency and is more orangey brown.
More chemically speaking, Manuka honey contains methylglyoxal (MGO), a natural substance responsible for the antibacterial properties of honey.
Read more: Manuka honey vs. regular honey
Raw honey, like raw manuka honey, has long been traditionally used and has many advantages.5
Manuka honey contains methylglyoxal (MGO), which gives it its potential antibacterial properties.2 In regular honey, these effects are lost; however, in Manuka honey, its antibacterial properties remain.6,7,8
Highly versatile, Manuka honey has so many uses, most likely because so many well-being benefits are associated to it. From moisturising properties to helping with soothing a sore throat, the possible benefits of manuka honey are extensive.1 Although, more robust research is needed to determine the medicinal effects of manuka honey.
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 New Zealand under government guidelines.9 This testing ensures that customers get the purest, genuine and official Manuka honey, guaranteeing that the MGO strength is transparently presented.
You'll also be able to tell whether it’s 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. 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're considering trying Manuka honey, it's important to keep a few things in mind.
Although Manuka honey has many potential benefits, it could cause an allergic reaction if you suffer from a bee or pollen allergy.10 Also, consuming large quantities of honey could lead to a spike in blood sugar levels, as honey is a form of sugar.11
Additionally, some forms of Manuka honey are pasteurised, so it's recommended to avoid giving it to children under the age of one.12
If you have any concerns about whether Manuka honey is suitable for you, it's always best to consult a medical professional for advice.
The final say
A delicious product that has unique properties, Manuka honey may offer a range of health benefits. Plus, with different strengths and formats available, how you introduce Manuka honey to your routine is up to you.
A great addition to smoothies and stirred into cups of tea or even sipped straight from the spoon, your new pot of Manuka honey can go a long way. If you’re looking for some inspiration, check out our guide on the 14 ways to use Manuka honey.
However, it may not be suitable for everyone. People with a bee allergy, children under one year old, and individuals with diabetes should generally avoid Manuka honey, and if you have any concerns about consuming Manuka honey, you should always consult a medical professional.
The advice in this article is for information only and should not replace medical care. Please check with your GP or healthcare professional before trying. Food supplements must not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
1. Parmar M. Methylglyoxal. Elsevier eBooks [Internet]. 2014 Jan 1 [cited 2024 Jan 8];302–5. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/methylglyoxal
2. Hossain L, Lee Yong Lim, Hammer KA, D.S. Hettiarachchi, Locher C. Monitoring the Release of Methylglyoxal (MGO) from Honey and Honey-Based Formulations. Molecules [Internet]. 2023 Mar 22 [cited 2024 Jan 8];28(6):2858–8. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10051060/
3. Burlando B, Cornara L. Honey in dermatology and skin care: a review. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology [Internet]. 2013 Dec 1 [cited 2024 Jan 4];12(4):306–13. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24305429/
4. Johnston M, McBride M, Divakar Dahiya, Owusu-Apenten R, Poonam Singh Nigam. Antibacterial activity of Manuka honey and its components: An overview. AIMS microbiology [Internet]. 2018 Jan 1 [cited 2024 Feb 1];4(4):655–64. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6613335/
5. Hegazi NM, Ghada E. Abd El‐Ghani, Farag MA. The super-food Manuka honey, a comprehensive review of its analysis and authenticity approaches. Journal of Food Science and Technology [Internet]. 2021 Jun 30 [cited 2024 Jan 8];59(7):2527–34. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35734106/
6. Mandal M, Mandal S. Honey: its medicinal property and antibacterial activity. Asian pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine [Internet]. 2011 Apr 1 [cited 2024 Jan 10];1(2):154–60. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3609166/
7. Johnston M, McBride M, Divakar Dahiya, Owusu‐Apenten R, Singh P. Antibacterial activity of Manuka honey and its components: An overview. AIMS microbiology [Internet]. 2018 Jan 1 [cited 2024 Jan 10];4(4):655–64. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6613335/
8. Almasaudi SB. The antibacterial activities of honey. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences [Internet]. 2021 Apr 1 [cited 2024 Jan 10];28(4):2188–96. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1319562X20304952
9. Fera Science [Internet]. Fera.co.uk. 2017 [cited 2024 Jan 10]. Available from: https://www.fera.co.uk/
10. Wasp and Bee Sting Allergy | Allergy UK | National Charity [Internet]. Allergy UK | National Charity. 2021 [cited 2024 Jan 4]. Available from: https://www.allergyuk.org/resources/wasp-and-bee-sting-allergy/
11. JPMA - Journal Of Pakistan Medical Association [Internet]. Jpma.org.pk. 2022 [cited 2024 Jan 4]. Available from: https://jpma.org.pk/article-details/5744?article_id=5744
12. NHS Choices. Foods to avoid giving babies and young children [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2024 Jan 4]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/weaning-and-feeding/foods-to-avoid-giving-babies-and-young-children/
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