The short answer

Monofloral Manuka honey comes mostly from Manuka flowers. Multifloral Manuka honey comes from Manuka plus other flowers. Both are real Manuka honey, and both must pass the same New Zealand Government test. The difference is how much Manuka the test finds.

Here's where each type comes from, how New Zealand tells them apart, and what to look for on the label.

What monofloral Manuka honey means

Mono means one, so monofloral means from one flower. Here, that's the Manuka bush (Leptospermum scoparium), which grows wild across New Zealand.

Bees fly where they like, so no wild honey comes from just one flower. In practice, monofloral means mostly from one flower. Beekeepers place hives in remote areas thick with Manuka, so most of the nectar the bees find is Manuka. Bees can fly about 3 miles (5 km) for nectar, so the Manuka needs to cover a big area.

Timing matters too. Manuka flowers bloom for only 2 to 8 weeks a year. In rugged country, hives are sometimes collected by helicopter.

The taste is often described as earthy and rich, and less sweet than regular honey.

What multifloral Manuka honey means

Multifloral means from many flowers. The honey still contains Manuka, but the bees also visited other plants. It's an official classification, not a name for fake Manuka.

It usually happens in one of two ways:

• Mixed foraging. Manuka grows alongside other flowering plants, so the bees bring back a mix.
• Blending. Monofloral Manuka honey is mixed with other honey after harvest.

Multifloral Manuka tastes milder and costs less, and it's common in supermarkets. Monofloral is harder to find. It's usually sold by specialist stores, trusted online sellers, or the producer directly.

How New Zealand tells them apart

Since 2018, any honey exported from New Zealand as Manuka must pass a test set by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). An approved lab checks five things: four natural chemicals from Manuka nectar, and DNA from Manuka pollen. The honey must pass all five to be called Manuka. The levels found decide whether it's monofloral or multifloral.

Source: MPI Mānuka honey science definition

Two markers make the difference: 3-PLA and 2'-MAP. Honey that meets the multifloral levels but not the monofloral ones is labeled multifloral. Honey that misses any multifloral level isn't Manuka.

MPI built this test from a three-year study of more than 800 honey samples and 700 plants. A review finished in 2023 found no reason to change it.

Where UMF™ and MGO fit in

Monofloral or multifloral tells you how much of the honey is Manuka. A grade like UMF™ 15+ tells you how much of Manuka's natural compounds it contains.

UMF™ is a grading system run by the UMF Honey Association (UMFHA) since 1998. It tests for MGO, DHA, leptosperin, HMF and Manuka pollen DNA, and honey must have all of them to get a UMF™ grade. So a UMF™ number from a licensed producer means the honey is monofloral.

An MGO number on its own doesn't tell you that. MGO is just one compound, and multifloral honey can carry an MGO number too, usually a lower one. UMF™ also checks HMF, which shows whether the honey has been damaged by heat.

Want to compare the two? Try our UMF™ & MGO calculator.

How to read a Manuka label

Four quick checks:

1. Classification. Look for "monofloral" or "multifloral." If it says "blend" or nothing at all, look closer.
2. Grade. A UMF™ number from a licensed UMFHA member means independently graded monofloral honey.
3. Packing. Choose honey packed and sealed in New Zealand, so it hasn't been repacked along the way.
4. Traceability. Good producers let you look up the test results for your exact batch.

How our honey is classified

Every jar in our UMF™ Manuka honey range is certified monofloral, starting at UMF™ 10+ (MGO 263+). We're a licensed UMFHA member (licence 2060), and our honey is tested by Analytica Laboratories and Hill Laboratories in New Zealand.

Enter your label details into our PureTrace certificate search to see your batch's test results and where it came from. You can read more on our accreditations page.

The bottom line

Both types are real Manuka honey, checked by the same government test. The difference is how much Manuka the test finds. Check the label, look for a UMF™ grade, and trace your batch, and you'll know exactly what you're buying.

Not sure which grade suits you? Take our Manuka quiz or browse the full range.

Sources: MPI: Mānuka honey testing · MPI: science definition infographic · New Zealand Honey Co.: accreditations · New Zealand Honey Co.: monofloral guide