What is Manuka Honey? Why is it so pricey, and which MGO rating is good for you?
I have to admit, I used to be one of those people who would pass by a range of jars of Manuka honey and think they only differ by brand and price. Recently I was gifted with a 250g jar of Manuka Honey with an MGO rating of 250. Not really sure what that meant, I did quite a bit of research and got to learn that there is a difference in these little jars of honeys and they are definitely not as simplistic as I had thought.
The promise is that this type of honey can do wonders in protecting us against Winter sicknesses. Given that I do get sick quite often during the winter months, a jar of honey promising to strengthen my immune system, definitely piqued my interest. I wanted to make sure that I was using the right kind!
My jar of Manuka honey falls under the Manuka Health brand which promises to be leaders in the science. Their Manuka products are produced and manufactured in New Zealand. Browsing their website and looking to see how is Manuka honey made, I was quick to learn that there is a whole range one can purchase and use. They offer lozenges, honey, lip balms, personal care, skin care and toothpaste products.
My main question was how to choose Manuka honey and why I’d bother with choosing the ‘right’ MGO rating. So first, what is an MGO? Basically MGO stands for Methylglyoxal which is a compound which can be naturally found in honey. This MGO is what gives the honey that special level of antibacterial properties.
You may be wondering why these jars is often quite pricey. You are usually paying for high quality stuff with high levels of MGO values. Obviously, before purchasing honey, it is best to understand your goals and research the reputation of the company. Manuka honey is delicious but also is great for helping the immune system and lessening skin flare-ups.
Manuka Health are proud to have partnered with Professor Thomas Henle from the University of Dresden. Professor Thomas Henle leads a team of experts in the field and together they have discovered MGO. MGO gives a more accurate method of calculating the antibacterial properties in Manuka honey.
Manuka Health ensures that every single jar produced by their company is tested and certified.
Each jar of Manuka Health MGO Manuka honey is marked with the correct number of MGO ratings. A higher level of MGO means a higher value of antibacterial properties. Manuka Health sells jars ranging from MGO values of 100+ to 950+ (limited edition).
Each Manuka Health Manuka Honey jar comes with an official guarantee that it can be traced back to the specific beekeeper responsible for its production.
The properties promise good health protection, Manuka honey for sore throat is suggested, and as are the Manuka honey benefits for skin blemishes.
Manuka MGO 100+
A 250g jar of 100+ MGO Manuka Honey will cost you €25. You can also buy a 50g jar or a 12 x 5g jar pack for when you are on the go (in fact it is named on-the-go). This is the lowest range and is generally recommended for consumption for general health.
Manuka MGO 250+
A 250g jar of 250+ MGO Manuka Honey will cost you around €36. You can also buy the jar in a 500g size. This is the jar we were gifted with and is generally recommended for prevention of sickness and ill-health.
Manuka MGO 400+
A 250g jar of 400+ MGO Manuka Honey will cost you around €44. You can also buy this in a 500g jar. This MGO rating is generally recommended for taking when feeling under the weather.
Manuka MGO 550+
A 250g of 550+ MGO Manuka honey costs €60 and is the highest range you can buy on the MGO Manuka Health website. You can also buy a 500g jar of MGO 550+ Manuka honey. This type offers maximum protection.
When buying a jar of Manuka honey, make sure you don’t just pick up any jar available to you, as I used to do. Make sure you check the MGO rating and ensure that it is tested and certified by a reputable source. I think this would be ideal for personal use, get well soon packages for loved ones and even for gift hampers.
If you’re looking for great ways to enjoy Manuka honey, we love ours in a glass of tea (add to the honey after the tea has rested for 5 minutes for maximum effort), in acai bowls, on desserts or even on your breakfast cereal.