EDUCATION
10 minutes, 30 seconds.
Essential Takeaways
Manuka honey is famous for its rich, creamy, caramel-like flavour and texture, offering a truly indulgent experience that customers find hard to beat. Generally considered more subtly sweet than other honey types, the flavour of Manuka can vary between different UMF™ grades.
UMF™ certified Manuka honey is collected and processed in a way that keeps it as natural as possible. So just as nature is dynamic and wild, Manuka honey batches can turn out slightly differently, too - in flavour, texture, and the potency of its unrivalled health benefits.
The lower UMF™ grades tend to have a lighter, sweeter, and milder taste. As the grades increase, the flavour tends to get earthier, with a thick, caramel-like texture and tone. This variation is the sign of a pure, all-natural and uncontaminated product.
“It’s unlike any other honey out there. Every spoonful delivers a taste of New Zealand's pristine landscapes and the unique flora that gives this honey its distinct character.”
- Verified buyer | Manuka Honey UMF™ 15+ | MGO 514+
From floral, fruity notes to wood, spice, butterscotch, and caramel - the taste of honey is complex.
It can be clear like water or thick and dark like molasses¹.
The sweetness of Manuka honey is generally considered more subtle compared with other honey types. Its rich, caramel-like consistency and undertone perfectly complement an earthier flavour, with slight variations based on a number of factors.
Just like the wild, rugged, and changeable New Zealand landscapes that produce the honey, this raw product is purposely kept as natural as possible, its flavour reflecting the dynamism of Mother Nature.
So what dictates these different honey flavours? How does the taste of manuka honey vary between UMF™ grades?
And what does bad honey taste like?
(Spoiler alert: it’s all delicious).
In this guide to Manuka honey taste:
What Impacts the Taste of Manuka Honey?
Bees make honey by collecting flower nectar, chewing it down to remove moisture, and packing it into honeycomb chambers.
At this stage it’s an all-natural product, and its chemistry depends on a few factors including²:
-
The flower nectar used
-
The geographical location and climate
-
The soil chemistry
-
Seasonal weather patterns
-
The bee species
These things all play a role in the flavour of the honey. And that’s before it has been harvested and processed by beekeepers.
Many of the mass-produced honeys sold in grocery stores often look and taste identical.
They may have been heavily processed through heating, filtering, and sometimes diluting with other types of sugar. This extends the stock and makes it more commercial, but the product is no longer pure and all-natural (despite what might be on the label).
Raw Manuka honey is different.
In its purest form, it has been found to offer significant health benefits:
“Manuka honey stands out from other honey types as a unique super-food with clinically proven antimicrobial and wound healing activities.”
The superfood Manuka honey, a 2021 review³.
To retain all that good stuff, extensive efforts go into keeping the honey as natural as possible.
This means minimal processing, no heating above the natural temperature of the hive, proper packaging, and a rigorous quality control system (which we’ll discuss later).
These factors, along with the scarcity of monofloral Manuka honey, all play a role in its high global demand and larger price tag.
Raw, pure Manuka honey has a unique flavour because:
-
It is monofloral (made only from mānuka nectar).
-
It can be harvested in all parts of New Zealand, from the Far North to Southland in the south, with an extremely wide range of variation in soil and climate.
-
It is made by the Western honeybee (Apis mellifera), which was introduced to New Zealand in the nineteenth century.
These variations that affect Manuka honey production impact not only the raw honey taste but also its composition and resulting health benefits.
Remember that rigorous quality control system we mentioned?
That is, UMF™.
The Unique Manuka Factor (UMF™) grading system was created to protect the integrity of genuine Manuka honey. It tests for authenticity, freshness, and antibacterial potency.
The higher the UMF™ grade, the more antibacterial activity it offers. The higher grades also tend to be less sweet, darker, and more earthy in flavour.
Let’s take a look at the Manuka honey flavour profiles in more detail.
What Does Manuka Honey Taste Like? (By UMF™ Grade)
As we’ve established, the taste of raw honey can vary based on numerous factors.
This is particularly true for Manuka honey. To retain its potent health benefits, it is kept as natural as possible - and that includes its flavour.
So it’s difficult to generalise. The flavour is slightly different for every batch and UMF™ grade. That said, some of the most common descriptions we receive from customers include that it has a subtle sweetness with caramel tones and a thick, creamy texture.
We use a sliding scale from “clean and sweet” to “bold and intense” to help you choose the right Manuka honey for you:
Here’s a deep-dive into the Manuka honey flavour profiles, textures and aromas, and how they change as you go up the UMF™ grades.
Starting at the very lightest and sweetest on our scale, we have The Anytime Honey.
This is one of the sweetest Manuka honeys with toffee and caramel tones and gentle floral notes.
At the lowest end of the antibacterial spectrum for our product range, this honey is ideal as a daily natural supplement for the whole family.
Here’s how our customers describe the taste of UMF™10+:
“Very sweet and medicinal tasting, I can definitely feel it supporting my gut and digestion.”
- Clayton S., verified buyer.
“I absolutely love this honey. It has a unique rich and creamy sweet flavor with benefits that other honey doesn't have.”
- Paul, verified buyer.
“Thick, rich, promising excellent flavor as well as its natural medicinal properties. Couldn't be better!”
- Joan A., verified buyer.
You can find more reviews specific to this honey at the bottom of this page.
Moving up the scale slightly, we have The Energiser.
Offering a powerful dose of antibacterial activity, its flavour is sweet but more subtle, perfectly complementing a delicious caramel undertone and smooth texture.
This honey is ideal for daily wellness and boosting your active lifestyle. You can also use it to ease allergies, stomach problems, colds and flu, and more.
Here’s how our customers describe the flavour of UMF™15+:
“It is smooth, not too sweet with a great flavor. Our household uses it in tea and coffee and on other occasions it is added to our teriyaki sauce.”
- Catherine B., verified buyer.
“It's unlike any other honey out there. Every spoonful delivers a taste of New Zealand's pristine landscapes and the unique flora that gives this honey its distinct character.”
- Anonymous, verified buyer.
“I really love this honey, it has a wonderful earthy flavor, it has just the right amount of bite, sweetness and flavor, yet not overwhelming.”
- Joseph B., verified buyer.
You can find more reviews specific to this honey at the bottom of this page.
Approaching the more earthy and distinctive Manuka honey flavours, we have The Enhancer.
Moving towards a thicker, more buttery texture, this honey may have slightly bitter undertones but retains an indulgent, velvety feel in the mouth and floral notes.
Firmly in the territory of medicinal-grade Manuka honey, this honey is more than a daily supplement. A spoonful a day will offer potent benefits but this honey can also be used for medical conditions like wound healing, skin complaints, joint pain, and more.
Here’s how our customers describe the flavour of UMF™20+:
“It’s like no other honey I’ve tried before, the taste is amazing and a little goes a long way. I’ve enjoyed it in my smoothies, teas and in dessert recipes as a substitute for sugar and I am never disappointed.”
- Kristin B., verified buyer.
“I love this honey. It is so smooth and has such a rich taste to it. With all that yum it's hard to believe that it is so good for you.”
- Yvonne S., verified buyer.
“I enjoy the rich creamy flavor and with a spoonful a day, I seem to avoid colds even if minor signs that I might have scratchy throat. It’s gone the next day.”
- Jeffrey M., verified buyer.
“This has a different taste than the honey from the store. It isn't quite as sweet but has a richer flavor it is so smooth it just slides down your throat. Love it!”
- Anonymous., verified buyer.
You can find more reviews specific to this honey at the bottom of this page.
Getting fuller and richer in flavour, The Optimiser is a favourite for individuals looking for a powerful, natural immunity boost.
Ideal for people with a bit of a sweet tooth, but wanting a more robust body to their honey.
Here’s how our customers describe the taste of UMF™24+:
“The flavor is subtlety sweet; not sugary. The texture is smooth; not gritty. It coats your throat when eaten, and doesn't make a lump in your stomach. It is the only honey I have regularly eaten straight out of the container. I am addicted.”
- Jeffrey H., verified buyer.
“This honey is so creamy and delicious on bagels, in coffee or tea!!! I use it every morning. I am feeling so much better after using this honey for one month.”
- Wanda C., verified buyer.
“I've tried a few of the different UMF/MGO rated raw Manuka honeys from New Zealand Honey Co and have enjoyed each one. My favorite is the 24+UMF™/1122+MGO Manuka honey. It has a rich caramel flavor and texture.”
- Thomas P., verified buyer.
You can find more reviews specific to this honey at the bottom of this page.
One of the highest grades available, UMF™26+ Manuka honey contains a whopping 1282 mg per kilogram of methylglyoxal (MGO), the compound most associated with its antibacterial activity.
This Force of Nature honey is so rare and scarce in quantity that only a small proportion of Manuka honey reaches this grade.
It is ideal for specialised medical purposes such as treating infected wounds, easing viral and fungal infections, and as an antibiotic without the risk of bacterial resistance.
Its flavour is bolder, earthier, and slightly more bitter than the lower grades. It may also feel thicker in texture.
Here’s how our customers describe the taste of UMF™26+:
“The Manuka 26 was delicious, I never had anything like this. It tastes like caramel.”
- Anonymous, verified buyer.
“I love the taste of this honey - it’s a deeper sensation than any other honey that I’ve tasted.”
- Carol C., verified buyer.
“It has sweet with very mild bitterness taste.”
- Anonymous, verified buyer.
You can find more reviews specific to this honey at the bottom of this page.
Unrivalled in purity and potency, The Ultra Manuka honey is bold and intense in both flavour and health benefits.
Only the tiniest fraction of Manuka honey ever makes it to this elusive grade, which boasts rich, earthy flavours with a hint of caramel and slightly bitter finish.
You’ll notice a distinctive sweetness with medicinal undertones, reflecting the potency of its beneficial bioactive compounds. The flavour profile can vary between batches, mirroring the wild landscapes of its New Zealand home.
Here’s how our customers describe the unique flavour of UMF™28+:
“Smooth texture. High quality with the perfect blend of sweetness.”
- Anonymous, verified buyer.
“I'd like to call it "liquid gold", but it's definitely not liquid. I swear I can taste antibiotic flavour in it.”
- Aspasia P., verified buyer.
“It tastes sweet with a tinge of bitter. Well formed and delicious.”
- Anonymous, verified buyer.
You can find more reviews specific to this honey at the bottom of this page.
How does the taste of Manuka honey compare to other honeys?
Whilst the lower grades are quite sweet, Manuka honey is generally considered an earthier, thicker, slightly more bitter honey than other types.
But this varies substantially, both due to the huge number of different honey types and the natural variation within the Manuka honey family, too.
Is Manuka honey too sweet?
Taste is subjective and what might be considered “too sweet” to one person could barely hit the spot for another. But Manuka honey is generally considered less sweet than other honey types.
Unfortunately, many honeys are heavily processed and diluted with additional sugars, making them much sweeter than they would be naturally.
UMF™ certified Manuka honey like ours is handled more carefully to retain its natural composition and flavour, so it’s often described as earthier and more bitter.
Can you eat Manuka honey straight?
Yes, it’s a great idea to eat Manuka honey straight from the spoon! This is the best way to get all its health benefits just as nature intended.
You can also use Manuka honey for medicinal purposes, in food and drink, skincare, haircare, and so much more. In fact, we’ve listed over 175 ways to use it right here.
How Does Bad Honey Look and Taste?
Two things can happen to honey that might make you think it’s “gone bad”.
The first is crystallisation. Your honey will form solid crystals where the sugar has begun to separate from the water content.
It’s easy to spot either by looking at your honey or by tasting it and feeling the slightly gritty texture on your tongue.
The flavour isn’t bad but you’ll just taste crunchy, sugary crystals rather than smooth, velvety honey. Crystallised honey isn’t dangerous or bad for you - in fact, some people prefer to eat their honey this way.
The good news is that crystallised honey is the sign of a pure, raw product. Honey that has been diluted or contaminated won’t crystallise.
And you can fix it. Just make sure that you do it carefully. We have a dedicated step-by-step guide to help you do this.
(If you buy UMF™ Manuka honey then your jar will have been tested for freshness. You can avoid crystallisation by storing your honey correctly and using it up!)
The second thing that can cause honey to “go bad” is fermentation and this isn’t reversible.
When honey ferments, its carbohydrates turn into carbon dioxide and ethanol, giving it a sharp, acidic flavour. You might notice some bubbles or froth on the surface of the honey.
It’s not considered dangerous to consume, but it’s probably not pleasant either.
Indulge in Nature with New Zealand Honey Co. Manuka Honey
The best way to find out what manuka honey tastes like is to try it for yourself!
Our UMF™ certified Manuka honeys are as natural as the incredible landscapes they come from. Every batch is fully traceable, so you can discover which specific area of New Zealand contributed to the flavour of your Manuka honey. All you need to do is scan the QR code on the back of your jar.
Tested for authenticity, potency, and freshness, you can be confident that what’s in your jar is purely delicious.
Our Manuka honeys are also non-GMO, glyphosate free, Halal, Kosher, and packaged in recyclable materials.
Experience the real deal yourself.
1 ingredient, 2000 natural compounds.
Still unsure which grade is right for you?
Sources:
¹ A taste of honey and the words to describe it, Seattle Times.
² Honey: chemical composition, stability and authenticity, Science Direct.
³ The superfood Manuka honey, National Library of Medicine.