What is UMF Manuka Honey?

Collected from the remote hills of New Zealand, Comvita Manuka Honey’s exclusive source and story help to make this honey one of a kind.

UMF Manuka Honey is becoming increasingly revered by dietitians, elite athletes and natural health consumers around the world - following in the footsteps of the indigenous Māori people of New Zealand who have used Manuka for its therapeutic and medicinal abilities for centuries.

But what is UMF Manuka Honey? What makes it so special? Where does genuine Manuka Honey come from? And what does UMF even mean? Read on to discover the story behind this very special gift from Mother Nature and why its source and strict quality controls really do matter.

What is Manuka Honey?
Manuka Honey is a unique and very special honey and truly the gold standard. Manuka Honey is produced from the characteristic nectar from the sweet-smelling flower of the Manuka tree.

Containing some amino acids, Vitamins B and C, antioxidants, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, and bioactive compounds, Manuka Honey is an amazing product that's at the forefront of natural health science. No other honey has the volume or complexity of natural components as Manuka Honey from New Zealand.

Delicious, thick, and with a characteristic dark cream to dark brown color, Manuka Honey has long been sought-after as an exceptional honey with a distinct, complex flavor and rich aroma unlike any other honey in the world.

What makes it different from other honeys?
Most home kitchen cupboards will contain a generic kind of bear-shapedbottle honey. But genuine Manuka Honey comes from the Manuka flower, a scarce and natural resource found only in New Zealand. It’s unique because it contains special health properties used by millions of people to support wellbeing, digestion and dry, scratchy throats.

As well as its unique qualities, the Manuka flower has a limited crop production (roughly only 2-6 weeks a year) and is incredibly sensitive to seasonal weather conditions. So, as you can imagine, it takes immense skill, planning and resources to harvest Manuka Honey - in fact, some hives are only accessible by helicopter.

These are just some of the reasons that Manuka Honey is much more expensive to produce than other types of honey - but only genuine Manuka Honey has such an abundance of natural and powerful qualities.

No other honey has the volume or complexity of natural components at work like Comvita New Zealand Manuka Honey.

What are the benefits and uses of Manuka Honey?
Manuka’s key natural compounds have shown to possess unique properties. Many people use nature’s powerful honey for:

• Daily wellness support
• Aiding digestive health
• Soothing dry, tickly throats
• A natural pre-workout energy boost
• DIY skincare to support a smooth, radiant complexion
• A face mask for glowing skin
• As a sweetener alternative for tea, coffee and smoothies

Manuka Honey is one of the most versatile and delicious ways to support your health and wellbeing.

What does UMF mean and why does it matter?
When premium, monofloral Manuka Honey from New Zealand possesses a complex collection of natural compounds, it can be considered for Unique Manuka Factor (UMF™) certification – UMF™ is the only quality and rating system that independently certifies the presence and quality of all factors that make New Zealand Manuka Honey unique, ensuring you get honey that meets your needs.

The Unique Manuka Factor Honey Association (UMFHA) independently tests and certifies every batch for four key factors that make the all-important UMF™ rating found on every jar of authentic Manuka Honey. With the UMF™ rating, you can confidently choose the right option for you when investing in your health and wellness.

Not all Manuka Honey is UMF™ rated – only those which have been independently tested and verified by UMFHA are given a UMF™ rating.

Comvita’s UMF(tm) strength ranges from 5+ to 20+, with UMF20+ Manuka Honey indicating the highest level of beneficial compounds. The higher the number, the higher the concentration of these compounds, which is why higher UMF levels also tend to have a darker color and distinctive taste (some might call it medicinal).

As the pioneer and trusted global leader, Comvita is committed to bringing you the most premium Manuka Honey, with the highest certifications and transparency. With nearly 50 years of beekeeping craftsmanship and a world-class, in-house testing lab, Comvita’s rigorous standards are unrivaled. All our Manuka Honey is MGO guaranteed, and our monofloral Manuka is UMF™ certified, ensuring every batch has been independently tested for purity and quality.

With the UMF™ rating, you can confidently choose the right option for you when investing in your health and wellness.

What makes Comvita the best UMF Manuka Honey?
With so many brands, confusing labeling and marketing hype out there we understand why customers can be confused. But you can rest assured that Comvita is genuine, New Zealand Manuka Honey - UMF(tm) graded by the rating system backed by the New Zealand government for its verification of quality and potency - and we trace every single drop from hive to shelf.

With a deep respect for nature, born from our pioneering and visionary beekeeping heritage and our heartfelt belief that food is the best medicine, Comvita is committed to leaving the world in a better place. We’re on a mission to help restore and strengthen the delicate balance between humans and nature, while generating positive social outcomes around the world.

Following principles of Kaitiakitanga (guardianship), we plant a native tree for every jar of our Manuka Honey sold, with 10 million trees already planted in some of New Zealand’s most fragile environments. Dedicated to bee welfare, we work to save 10 million bees around the world every year, donate 1% of profits to global community partnerships and lead the way in creating a circular and carbon neutral honey business.

We believe in and stand for a world where bees, nature and people can thrive in harmony. A better world for future generations.

Where can I find genuine Manuka Honey near me?
Here are a few things to look out for to ensure you’re getting the real deal:

• The Manuka Honey comes from New Zealand, just like real Champagne comes from France. New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) set new standards for what can be exported to the United States as “Manuka Honey” after August 2018.
• The honey is labeled as Monofloral (predominantly from the Manuka flower, ensuring its unique properties), or "Multifloral" (a blend of Manuka and other New Zealand wildflowers), both with a clearly labeled MGO level.
• The honey has the UMF™ independent certification, guaranteeing specific levels of Manuka’s four key compounds.
• The honey comes from real beekeepers. Choose a company with their own beekeeping operation, that is a responsible steward to the planet and its people. Manuka Honey is one of the Earth’s most rare and precious natural resources. Both the Manuka Flower and honeybees are incredibly sensitive to changing climate, so it matters that Manuka Honey is harvested sustainably and regeneratively. It also matters that it comes from equitable partnerships with beekeepers and New Zealand’s indigenous Māori people, who have valued the benefits of the Manuka flower for centuries.

Not all honey is the same! It’s important to know what to look for to make sure you’re getting genuine Manuka Honey.

So now you know what real Manuka Honey is, where it comes from and what to look for to ensure you’re getting the very best, you’re all set to benefit from its delicious taste and health properties. Enjoy!