Manuka for Cold and Flu Symptoms
For the days you feel run down.
One spoonful of genuine UMF™ Manuka honey — thick enough to coat and soothe the throat, and a simple daily ritual to support immunity through the season.*
- Coats and soothes the throat
- Supports immunity through the winter season*
- No capsules, no powders — just honey
35,000+ verified global reviews
Trusted worldwide, straight from New Zealand
Why Manuka
Not all honey works this hard.
Manuka honey is different from table honey — and the difference is measurable. Here's what makes it the jar to reach for when the season turns.
MGO — the measurable difference
Methylglyoxal (MGO) is Manuka's signature compound, identified by researchers as the source of its unique natural activity.1 Every jar states its exact MGO level.
Thick enough to coat
Manuka is dense and slow-pouring. Taken straight from the spoon it lingers, coating and soothing the throat rather than washing straight through.
Studied against airway bacteria
"Mānuka honey exhibits UMF-dependent antimicrobial activity against respiratory pathogens"5 — tested in the lab across five UMF™ grades.
“I take it everyday as a preventative for any kind of sickness. At the first sign of a cold, I take a good teaspoon of Manuka honey and it works. LOVE this honey.”
The daily ritual
One spoonful. Morning and night.
When the season turns, the jar earns its place on the counter. Here's how our customers use theirs.
Start your ritual →Straight from the spoon
One heaped teaspoon, eaten slowly so it coats and soothes the throat on the way down.
Or warm water and lemon
Stir into warm — never boiling — water. High heat degrades the MGO you're paying for.
One jar, whole household
Keep the 500g on the kitchen counter for the family and a smaller jar in your bag. Suitable from one year of age.
Real results, every strength
Whichever jar you pick, you're in good company.
“When I started taking the Manuka honey, it was a game changer and a missing piece of the health puzzle for me. It drastically reduced the frequency & severity of cold viruses & symptoms. It's been 6 months since I last had full blown cold symptoms.”
“This product has help me astronomically with cold and viruses. I notice I haven't gotten any viral sickness after using this product which is extremely important. This stuff works and I recommend it to anyone.”
Nothing but honey
pure, raw New Zealand Manuka honey. Nothing added, nothing removed.
Choose your strength
Four ways to get Manuka through cold and flu season.
UMF™ 20+ and 24+ jars for the daily spoonful at home — higher UMF™ means more MGO in every serve. Soothing Drops and Throat Spray for a scratchy throat when you're out.
The Enhancer
Our sweet spot for the season — high natural activity in every daily spoonful.
15% cheaper per ounce
Deliver every
The Optimiser
Our best seller — and the jar customers keep on the counter all winter.
15% cheaper per ounce
Deliver every
Manuka Honey Soothing Drops with Lemon
Individually wrapped drops for a scratchy throat — pocket-sized for work, travel and the school run.
One pouch
Deliver every
Manuka Throat Spray
Alcohol-free peppermint spray that coats and soothes the throat on contact — compact and travel-ready.
60 servings
Deliver every
New to UMF™ and MGO ratings? Read the full strength guide →
Bundle & save
The Cold & Flu Kit
The jar, the drops and the spray together — the daily spoonful at home, and something to reach for the moment a throat starts to scratch. Bundles save up to 20%.
Held to a higher standard
Our library holds 1,100+ peer-reviewed papers on manuka honey science.
We let the research do the talking.
The science, briefly
Backed by research, not buzzwords.
Researchers identified methylglyoxal (MGO) as the dominant compound behind Manuka honey's activity — the compound later lab work graded honeys by when testing them against influenza virus and airway bacteria.1
It's also what the UMF™ number on every jar measures.
“Researchers have found that honey is effective against a wide range of pathogens.”4
A separate human trial found UMF 20+ safe for healthy individuals to consume.2
DOI: 10.3934/microbiol.2018.4.655A laboratory study of honeys against influenza virus reported the most potent activity from Manuka honey.3
Tested in cell culture against influenza virus, with Manuka the standout among the honeys compared.
PMID: 24880005“The antibacterial potency of Manuka honey was found to be related to the Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) rating, which is correlated with the methylglyoxal and total phenols content.”4
The evidence behind reaching for a higher UMF™ grade in winter rather than an ungraded jar.
DOI: 10.3934/microbiol.2018.4.655“These findings demonstrate that Mānuka honey exhibits UMF-dependent antimicrobial activity against respiratory pathogens…”5
Five UMF™ grades (5+ to 20+) tested against respiratory pathogens including MSSA, MRSA, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Honey outperformed both sugar-matched and MGO-matched controls.
DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001746“Due to their polyphenolic profile, monofloral honeys have significant antioxidant activity…”6
Manuka is among the honeys profiled. Polyphenols sit alongside MGO in the honey matrix — the same combination the respiratory-pathogen study found could not be explained by MGO alone.
DOI: 10.3390/antiox10071023“Manuka honey plays a significant role in modern medical applications as an antibacterial, antiviral, and antibiotic agent.”7
The same survey found wide variation in Leptospermum scoparium pollen across honeys sold as manuka — which is why independent UMF™ certification and batch traceability matter.
DOI: 10.3390/foods12152930"Manuka honey showed… bactericidal potency against" the two bacteria behind inflamed sinuses.7
Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus — the same species the UMF-graded respiratory study tested.
DOI: 10.3390/foods121529301. Mavric E, et al. Identification and quantification of methylglyoxal as the dominant antibacterial constituent of Manuka honey. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2008. 2. Wallace A, et al. Demonstrating the safety of manuka honey UMF 20+ in a human clinical trial with healthy individuals. Br J Nutr. 2010;103(7):1023–1028. DOI: 10.1017/S0007114509992777. 3. Watanabe K, et al. Anti-influenza viral effects of honey in vitro: potent high activity of manuka honey. Arch Med Res. 2014. PMID: 24880005. 4. Johnston M, McBride M, Dahiya D, Owusu-Apenten R, Singh Nigam P. Antibacterial activity of Manuka honey and its components: an overview. AIMS Microbiol. 2018;4(4):655–664. DOI: 10.3934/microbiol.2018.4.655. 5. Unique Mānuka Factor (UMF)-dependent antimicrobial activity of Mānuka honey against respiratory pathogens cannot be explained by sugar and methylglyoxal alone. Microbiology (Reading). 2026;172(8):001746. DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001746. PMID: 42578632. 6. Mărgăoan R, Topal E, Balkanska R, Yücel B, Oravecz T, Cornea-Cipcigan M, Vodnar DC. Monofloral honeys as a potential source of natural antioxidants, minerals and medicine. Antioxidants. 2021;10(7):1023. DOI: 10.3390/antiox10071023. 7. Sęk A, Porębska A, Szczęsna T. Quality of commercially available Manuka honey expressed by pollen composition, diastase activity, and hydroxymethylfurfural content. Foods. 2023;12(15):2930. DOI: 10.3390/foods12152930. 8. As ref. 7.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Individual results vary. Manuka honey is a food, not a dietary supplement or medicine.
Independently certified
Accreditations you can trust.
UMF™
The UMF Grading system appraises natural markers found in manuka honey and assures purity and quality.
Non-GMO
Our honey is certified and in compliance with the Non-GMO Project Standard.
Glyphosate free
Every batch of our honey is tested in independent laboratories to ensure it is glyphosate free.
Halal
Certified by FIANZ, The Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (Inc).
Fernmark
We are Fernmark accredited and approved by the NZ Government as a trusted exporter.
MGO
Our independent certification shows you the exact MGO levels in our manuka honey.
Over
1.4 million
jars of Manuka Honey sold and counting!
Trusted by honey lovers across the world.
Customer story
“This product has help me astronomically with cold and viruses.”
“This product has help me astronomically with cold and viruses. I notice I haven’t gotten any viral sickness after using this product which is extremely important. When I have a viral sickness it keeps me out of work for 1-2 weeks. This stuff works and I recommend it to anyone.”
Subscribe & save
Never be caught without a jar. Save 20% on every one.
A fresh jar on your doorstep before the last one runs out. Pause, swap strengths or cancel anytime.
“I love it and buy it regularly. Lately I’ve been supplying my family with it also. They all love it too. It’s good for your immune system. No colds or flu here!”
Good questions
Before you decide
How much should I take, and how often?
One heaped teaspoon (about 5–10g) once or twice a day is the classic ritual. Consistency matters more than quantity — daily beats occasional big spoonfuls.
Should I stir it into hot tea?
Let the water cool below boiling first. High heat degrades MGO, the compound you're paying for. Warm water, warm tea or straight from the spoon all work.
What's the difference between UMF™ and MGO?
MGO is the amount of methylglyoxal per kilogram — the raw number. UMF™ is an independent grading system that verifies MGO plus authenticity markers. Every one of our jars carries both.
Can the whole family take it?
Manuka is a whole food and suits most households from one year of age — honey of any kind isn't suitable for infants under 12 months. If you manage a medical condition, are pregnant, or monitor blood sugar, check with your doctor first.
Why is it so expensive?
Because it's genuinely rare and rigorously verified. The Manuka tree flowers for just 2–8 weeks a year in remote New Zealand terrain, so supply is limited by nature. Manuka's active compound, MGO, is stable and measurable — unlike regular honey's — and every batch is independently laboratory-tested to the UMF™ standard and traceable to source via QR code. The price is a paper trail, not a mark-up. Read the full breakdown →
How do I know it's genuine Manuka?
Every jar is UMF™ certified, independently tested to UMFHA standards, and batch-traceable — scan the QR code on the label to trace it back to the hive.
From 35,000+ verified reviews
Don't take our word for it. Take theirs.
Unedited, from Verified Buyers on our US store.
“This product has help me astronomically with cold and viruses. I notice I haven't gotten any viral sickness after using this product which is extremely important. When I have a viral sickness it keeps me out of work for 1-2 weeks. This stuff works and I recommend it to anyone.”
“I love New Zealand manuka honey. I've purchased several different strengths over the last few years & never disappointed. I go up to the 26+ or 28+ when start feeling a cold or something coming on. The 28+ I used last year when got an upper respiratory infection along with medication & I feel it helped me get better real fast. The customer service is awesome too. Received a damaged bottle before & they replaced it right away. Keep up the great work.”
“Love my Manuka. I was out and needed to order more because I felt a cold coming on with a sore throat. Got it and I love it and as always, it helped my sore throat.”
“I have several jars as it is used year round but mainly in the winter when those pesky cold and flu bugs are so prevalent.”
“Although in my eighties I have far less colds and flu symptoms than the younger members of our family and friends. I believe it's due to the use of Manuka Honey.”
“I save this honey for colds and flu relief and gifts. Its quality is unparalleled. Golden creamy color, mild smooth flavor. Love It”
“I love this honey, I take it at the fist sign of a cold it really works”
“I take a tsp of honey every morning and have not had a cold since, going on 4 years or longer. The taste is wonderful.”
“My honey order arrived very quickly and I am enjoying a spoonful a day to aid recovery from a nasty cold. So far so good.”
“I have been eating Manuka 24+ UMF 1122+MGO for about a year now. Every time I feel like I'm gonna get a cold I take a couple of tablespoons of it a day and I either get just a slight cold or no cold at all. I absolutely love this stuff and I highly recommend it.”
“The Manuka Soothing Honey Drops are just so tasty and are so nice to relieve your cold symptoms and as in general for a Vit Boost over winter time. Would reccommend - great product”
Ready when you are
A jar for home, drops and spray for on the go.
The Enhancer
Our sweet spot for the season — high natural activity in every daily spoonful.
15% cheaper per ounce
Deliver every
The Optimiser
Our best seller — and the jar customers keep on the counter all winter.
15% cheaper per ounce
Deliver every
Manuka Soothing Drops with Lemon
Individually wrapped lozenges for when a spoon isn't practical — at your desk, on the road, mid-meeting.
One pouch
Deliver every
Manuka Throat Spray with Propolis
Alcohol-free peppermint spray that coats and soothes the throat on contact — 60 servings in a bottle small enough for a bag or desk drawer.
60 servings
Deliver every
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*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Customer reviews reflect individual experiences and results vary.
