What makes the Best Manuka Honey?

The best Manuka Honey is independently UMF™ certified, traceable to its New Zealand source, genuinely monofloral, and matched to how you'll use it — from everyday wellness through to high-strength use. Grade matters more than brand name: look for a verified UMF™ number and the matching MGO level on the jar, not marketing claims. On those measures, New Zealand Honey Co. was named a Top Pick in ConsumerLab.com's May 2025 review of eight Manuka Honeys sold in the USA, with our UMF™ 15+ taking the Top Pick and UMF™ 20+ also recognised.

How to Judge any Manuka Honey

Whatever brand you're comparing, five things separate genuine, high-quality Manuka Honey from the rest:

• UMF™ certification — the independent standard verifying authenticity, purity and potency.
• MGO level — methylglyoxal is the compound behind Manuka's distinctive properties. The jar should state it, and it should match the UMF™ grade.
• Traceability — the best brands let you trace honey back to its source. New Zealand Honey Co. jars carry a QR code linking to the batch's exact origin and independent test results.
• Monofloral & New Zealand origin — true Manuka Honey is made from the nectar of New Zealand's Manuka tree.
• Fit for purpose — choose a grade based on how you'll use it (see below).

Manuka Honey Grades Compared

Not sure which is right for you? Take our 2-minute quiz.

Life's Good at the Top

In the competitive wellness market, consumers trust what’s verified, not just claimed.

That’s why recognition from ConsumerLab.com, an independent authority in health product testing, matters. In their May 2025 review of Manuka honey, our UMF™ 15+ MGO 514+ was named Top Pick, with our UMF™ 20+ MGO 829+ also recognised. Out of eight authentic Manuka Honeys tested, we’re proud our quality, taste, and value stood out.

This recognition is more than a milestone. It's a reflection of the care and commitment that goes into every jar.

We couldn’t be more thrilled to have our UMF™ 15+ and UMF™ 20+ Manuka Honey grades recognised in the ConsumerLab review. Not just because of the care and effort our team puts into every single jar, but because we know how deeply our honey can support and transform people’s health and wellbeing. These awards are more than just a win for us; they are proof that we’re delivering something powerful, something that’s truly making a difference. What makes this even more meaningful is that ConsumerLab is based in the United States, one of the most competitive wellness markets in the world. For us to be named Top Pick in America, for not one, but two of our products, confirms that our commitment to authenticity, purity, and potency resonates with customers globally. It’s recognition that our honey is not only meeting the highest international standards but also earning the trust of discerning consumers who expect the very best.

— Marc Eurell, Co-owner, New Zealand Honey Co.

Why Certification and Testing Matters

With widespread product variation and confusion around Manuka Honey, UMF™ certification sets a high bar, independently verifying both origin and MGO content. Pairing this with ConsumerLab’s award means customers get double validation: from both certification and independent recognition.

ConsumerLab’s process is known for being thorough, transparent, and free from brand influence. They purchase products directly from US store shelves and send them to certified labs for in-depth testing across four key areas:

• Purity: Confirming the honey is free from adulteration.
• Strength: Verifying MGO content meets or exceeds label claims.
• Authenticity: Ensuring it’s genuine, monofloral New Zealand Manuka through DNA and chemical markers.
• Taste & value: Considering real-world experience, not just lab results.

In their words:

Based on laboratory and taste tests, two products were selected as Top Picks for Manuka Honey, which provide exceptional quality, freshness, taste and value.

— ConsumerLab.com

MGO levels in the ConsumerLab review ranged from 96 mg/kg to 1,113 mg/kg. The New Zealand Honey Co UMF™ 15+ | MGO 514+ and UMF™ 20+ | MGO 829+ ranked at the very top, confirming the strength and consistency our customers rely on.

Twice The Hype

Claiming Top Pick wasn’t luck, it's the result of years of dedication to doing things right. Our UMF™ 15+ and UMF™ 20+ Manuka honeys are the grades our customers come back for, time and time again. They love them for their purity, potency, and flavour, and so do we. These two jars capture everything we stand for; rigorous independent testing, authenticity you can trace, and the natural magic of New Zealand’s most remote landscapes.

Manuka Honey UMF™ 15+ | MGO 514+

You’re living an active lifestyle and you care about what goes in (and on) your body. This UMF™ 15+ Manuka Honey will help you get the most out of your day.

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Manuka Honey UMF™ 20+ | MGO 829+

Your health is important. After all, you only get one body. This UMF™ 20+ high-grade Manuka Honey is packed with nutrients and vitality to help you live your best life.

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The Science Behind the Awards

The quality of Manuka Honey hinges on two key measures:

• UMF™ (Unique Manuka Factor) verifies signature compounds like MGO, DHA, and leptosperin.
• MGO measures the level of methylglyoxal, key to its unique properties.

Each batch is rigorously tested in MPI-recognised labs in New Zealand. We then make the test results publicly accessible via the jar’s QR code, for complete transparency and our customer’s trust.

ConsumerLab’s testing also examines freshness through HMF levels and screens for heavy metals, standards our honey consistently passes.

Wondering Which Manuka Honey is Right For You

Choosing the right Manuka honey for your needs should feel effortless.

• If you prefer a smoother, more rounded flavour, the UMF™ 15+ is your perfect daily companion, potent enough to support your wellbeing every day.
• If you’re drawn to a richer, more intense taste and want a higher concentration of MGO for targeted support, the UMF™ 20+ delivers in depth and potency you can feel.

Either way, you’re getting Maunka Honey that’s traceable to its source, rigorously tested for purity, and recognised among the best Manuka Honeys in the world.

How to Use Our Manuka Honey

Manuka Honey is as versatile as it is potent, making it a daily wellness essential.

Start your morning with a teaspoon straight from the jar to support balanced energy, immunity, and digestion. In colder months, it’s your comforting ally. Stir into warm lemon water or herbal tea to soothe the throat and ease seasonal symptoms. Manuka honey is also a gentle yet powerful skin soother. Use as a hydrating mask, a calming acne treatment, or to help protect dry patches. Thanks to its antibacterial properties, it can also support the healing of minor wounds and blemishes.

From fighting winter bugs to elevating your skincare, Manuka honey is more than a superfood. It’s your multi-tasking wellness companion.

Simply Unmatched

Winning ConsumerLab’s Top Pick confirms what our customers already know. Our independently tested, UMF™ certified Manuka Honey delivers unmatched authenticity, quality, and taste. Whether you enjoy the balance of UMF™ 15+ or the intensity of UMF™ 20+, you’re choosing proven excellence.

Explore our Manuka Honey:

• UMF™ 15+ | MGO 514+ — Recognised as a ConsumerLab Top Pick for quality, freshness, taste, and value.
• UMF™ 20+ | MGO 829+ — Recognised by ConsumerLab for exceptional quality, freshness, taste, and value.