What is Mānuka?
Mānuka is a white-flowering tree native to New Zealand and Australia.
The tree's branches are adorned with clusters of single flowers. At the heart of each flower is a tiny cup-like structure that secretes nectar. Sometimes, the nectar is so abundant that it fills the cup to the brim.
For bees, this nectar is a delightful, sugary treat that they eagerly collect and bring back to their hives, where it is transformed into the prized mānuka honey.
What Makes Mānuka Honey so Unique?
Mānuka honey is a rich, creamy, amber honey crafted by bees from the nectar of mānuka trees. Our independent beekeepers harvest primarily on New Zealand’s East Cape – a region renowned for producing the world’s highest-quality mānuka honey. Unique environmental conditions here have driven the evolution of special mānuka tree variants, secreting nectar exceptionally rich in beneficial compounds.
Benefits of Mānuka
For thousands of years, honey has been cherished as a food and as a versatile and trusted natural remedy. Honey’s powerful antiseptic sugar content, and special compounds like hydrogen peroxide, antioxidants, and methylglyoxal (found in high-quality mānuka honey) allow honey to fight bacteria, fungi, and viruses while soothing inflammation and supporting the immune system.
MĀNUKA HONEY
What is UMF and MGO?
Unique Mānuka Factor (UMF) is a quality trademark and grading system developed by the Unique Manuka Factor Honey Association (UMFHA). It is a guarantee that you're getting genuine, high-quality Mānuka Honey from New Zealand. It is an assurance of quality, potency and authenticity.
The grading system measures the concentration of specific compounds, including Methylglyoxal (MGO) and Leptosperin, which are unique to Manuka Honey. These compounds are responsible for the honey's renowned antibacterial and health-promoting properties. The higher the UMF rating, the greater the concentration of these beneficial compounds. Whether you're looking to boost your immune system, improve digestion, or even treat skin conditions, UMF-graded Manuka Honey offers a range of advantages that go beyond its delicious taste.
The Factors
MGO for Potency
Methylglyoxal, to give it its full name, is the source of golden Mānuka honey’s special antibacterial properties and an important potency measure. The higher the MGO, the stronger the concentration of MGO. The UMFTM guarantee means that you can be sure that Mānuka honey bearing the UMFTM mark contains the special activity.
DHA for Shelf Life
Dihydroxyacetone is slowly converted to MGO in healthy living honey. The higher the DHA content, the longer the life of the MGO content in your Mānuka honey – which is why the best mānuka honey must have more than 70 mg/ kg DHA to be UMFTM certified.
Leptosperin for Authenticity
Leptosperin is a compound found only in mānuka flower nectar and can only be created by nature. Measuring this unique component ensures the authenticity of Mānuka honey. Laboratory research also shows leptosperin content has anti-inflammatory properties that grows as the UMFTM scale increases.
HMF for Freshness
We test for hydroxymethylfurfural, since this long-named compound assures honey has not been overheated or stored too long, and is in the best condition to maintain the unique blend of living properties in mānuka honey as promised by your favourite supplier.
FAQs
What is Mānuka honey?
Mānuka honey is a rich, creamy and often dark honey produced by bees from the nectar of flowers of the Mānuka tree. It contains unique antioxidants, prebiotics and an antibacterial compound called Methylglyoxal (MGO).
What does MGO mean?
Methylglyoxal (MGO) is the unique naturally occurring antibacterial compound in Mānuka honey.
Higher MGO values indicate higher antibacterial activity, it also indicates higher levels of other active, beneficial compounds in the Mānuka honey. In simple terms, the higher the MGO, the higher the potency of Mānuka honey.
What are the benefits of Mānuka honey?
Mānuka honey contains a wide range of nutrients to help maintain daily wellness and vitality, and support optimal digestive and immune health. You can enjoy this superfood directly from the spoon, or paired with your favorite food or beverage for healthy indulgence.
How is Mānuka honey different to local honey?
We are big supporters of local honey and all of the benefits that it can bring, however, Mānuka honey is very different, and unique to New Zealand. It has extremely high levels of bioactive compounds (including MGO, Leptosperin and oligosaccharides).
These have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and prebiotic properties not found in any other honeys. Many of our customers choose to have both local honey and Mānuka honey in their households, as they serve different purposes
How does RaKiwi differ from other Mānuka brands?
Our customers choose our brand due to our:
- Higher potency
- Additional certifications I.E B Corp Certified, and Independent Testing to ensure our product is glyphosate residue-free and antibiotic-free
- Independent test results available by scanning QR code on each jar. This shows the test results for each specific batch of honey, and location in New Zealand where each jar of honey was sourced
- We source our product directly from Beekepers who practice the art of ethical beekeeping and take extremely good care of the bees.
Where does your Mānuka honey come from?
Mānuka Honey is from New Zealand. We source our product directly from beekeepers in the East Cape as well as North and Central North Island. These areas are renowned for producing the most bioactive Mānuka nectar in the world.
Is your Mānuka honey pasteurised?
Our raw RaKiwi Mānuka honey is not pasteurised.
What format is your Mānuka honey in?
Our Mānuka honey is raw to maintain it’s healing and health and wellbeing properties and comes as a creamed, liquid form.
How do I use Mānuka honey?
There are many different ways to enjoy Mānuka Honey, including eating the honey straight from the spoon adding it to drinks such as teas or smoothies, applying topically, or adding it to your favourite food.
What Mānuka honey is best for face and skin treatments?
The higher the UMF and MGO levels the more potent thhe honey. For skin treatments and use in cosmetics, we recommend our more potent and bioactive RaKiwi Mānuka honey UMF 20+ (MGO 830+) or higher.