What is UMF™ in Manuka Honey?

So you’ve probably heard some of the buzz around manuka honey.

But you may be wondering what all those letters and numbers on the jars mean?

Being the rare type of honey that it is, manuka honey has a few different quality marks to help consumers differentiate between brands and their products. The price tags differ too.  

You might have seen UMF™ and MGO before, but what do they mean, exactly?

What is UMF™ in manuka honey?

We’ll decode it all, right here.

In this guide to decoding UMF™ manuka honey:

• What UMF™ is and why it’s important

• The difference between UMF™ and MGO and what the numbers mean

• How to use the UMF™ grading system to choose your manuka honey

• FAQs about manuka honey and UMF™

Let’s get started.

UMF™ in Manuka Honey 

So what’s this all about?

UMF™ stands for Unique Manuka Factor. It’s a manuka honey grading system that certifies its authenticity.

The UMF™ quality mark certifies that a jar of manuka honey:

1. Contains manuka plant compounds.

2. Its manuka plant compounds are from New Zealand manuka plants.

3. The honey is fresh so the compounds should still be live and intact.

As you can see, the UMF™ is trademarked, and is tested and awarded only by the Unique Manuka Factor Honey Association (UMFHA).

Read more: UMF™ Honey and the UMFHA

Each UMF™ label will also show a manuka honey grading (number), and this, amongst other things, dictates the typically higher price tag:

Why Is UMF™ in Manuka Honey Important?

Manuka honey has been studied for years for its potentially unique, beneficial properties.

On our blog, we explore its uses in skincare, wound care, for acne, help with scars, and even hair, all backed by scientific research.

Having featured in some of the world’s oldest medical journals, scientists believe that what sets manuka honey apart is its higher levels of antibacterial properties.

This is thought to be the key differentiator that makes manuka honey special and explains the need for an official manuka honey grading system to ensure purity and transparency in the production process.

Because unfortunately, there are plenty of fakes on the market. 

This manuka honey grading system helps to protect the integrity of genuine manuka honey as well as the consumers that want to buy it.

The Factors That Make Up UMF™ Manuka Honey Grades

To be considered genuine manuka honey, there are a few key components that must all be present:

• Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) - a DNA marker from the manuka flower nectar.

• Methylglyoxal (MGO) - a powerful protein-glycating agent*, produced when DHA interacts with enzymes provided by the honeybee, and linked to anti-bacterial properties.

• Leptosperin - a compound in manuka flowers and nectar, linked to anti-inflammatory properties.

• Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) - an organic compound when honey sugars are reduced by the Maillard reaction.

• Manuka DNA - a DNA marker from the manuka pollen.

How do these UMF™ factors come to exist in manuka honey?

If you’re interested in understanding the science behind these a little more, check this out.

The manuka flower and nectar contain a compound called Leptosperin. Manuka nectar also contains the DNA marker DHA.

Honeybees visit the manuka flowers and collect the nectar.

Enzymes in the honeybee’s crop (a separate stomach), react with the DHA to produce MGO.

Looking for these components in the final manuka honey product helps to prove that it’s genuine.

They can also reveal whether the honey is monofloral or multifloral.

Monofloral: has been made predominantly with the nectar of the manuka plant.

Multifloral: has a higher component of other floral varieties and less manuka.

Needless to say, the former is the purer, rarer, and more expensive of the two types.

All New Zealand Honey Co. manuka honey (UMF™ 10+ and above) is monofloral.

What’s the Difference Between UMF™ Manuka Honey Grades and MGO?

The MGO or methylglyoxal level in manuka honey indicates its antibacterial properties, so the higher the MGO, the more potent these properties are. Which is good.

The MGO level is not certified in the same way as UMF™ is, so without UMF™ on the label, you may not have 100% manuka honey from New Zealand.

“UMF™ is a complete and advanced grading system. It includes the measurement of MG (MGO) (methylglyoxal) levels, but also includes additional testing of authenticity markers of the manuka honey.”

• Source.

MGO can also be faked.

Synthetic MGO has been added to honeys to increase their value, so measuring the MGO level alone isn’t a guarantee of quality or purity.

What Do The Numbers on Manuka Honey Mean? UMF™ and MGO

On our products, you’ll find a number for both the UMF™ manuka honey grading and the manuka honey MGO level (measured in mg/kg).

Generally, the higher the MGO number, the stronger the manuka honey levels of the good compounds.

It is purer and more potent, with higher levels of the potential health benefits that made manuka honey famous.

These are the concentrations that must be in place for the different gradings to be assigned:

You should always be able to verify that your UMF™ honey has the certification to back it up. Find out how to check it here.

Choosing manuka honey gradings for a specific purpose

You can use the grading system to find the most appropriate honey for your particular use, whether that be by itself, with food, or otherwise.

Typically, we recommend the following:

You can also take our fun and handy quiz to find the perfect manuka honey grade for you.

Take the quiz.

UMF™ FAQs

Is UMF™ the same as MGO?

No. Methylglyoxal (MGO) is the compound in manuka honey associated with antibacterial properties. UMF™ is an internationally-recognised manuka honey grading system that certifies the authenticity of manuka honey by testing for multiple compounds, including but not limited to MGO.

Who decides on the UMF™ of a jar of manuka honey?

The UMFHA is the official body that certifies batches of honey to award them a UMF™ grading.

Why is manuka honey so expensive?

Manuka honey is scarce due to the short bloom of the manuka flower (2 - 8 weeks) and its difficulty to harvest from remote areas. It has many perceived health benefits, making it a desirable but rare product and therefore, more expensive than other honeys. Read more about this here.

What’s the difference between UMF™ 10+ and UMF™ 26+?

UMF™ 10+ contains less concentrated beneficial compounds compared to UMF™ 26+.

What is Manuka Honey UMF™ 10+ manuka honey good for?

Any grading above UMF™ 10+ contains concentrated levels of beneficial MGO. UMF™ 10+ manuka honey is good for general health and boosting energy. It can also be applied to skin to help calm inflammation and lock in moisture.

How do I know that my honey is authentic, raw, and unpasteurised manuka honey?

As a minimum, it must have the UMF™ label, with a number and appropriate labelling, and it must originate from New Zealand.

Where can I buy manuka honey UMF™ 20+ and above?

You can buy all your certified, raw, GMO-free genuine manuka honey products right here.