Mānuka's Superpowers

What Do Different MGO Grades Mean?

Michael Bell

Published at: April 10, 2023
Updated at: April 16, 2025

9 minutes

MGO Grade	MGO Content (mg/kg)	UMF Equivalent	Usage
Entry	50+	None	Entry-level culinary for multi-functional uses
Everyday	200+	8+	Supports everyday wellness and energy
Good	600+	15+	Supports immune system health
Better	850+	20+	Aids in digestive health, support immune health
Best	1000+	22+	Advanced support, inflammation balance

This table summarizes the key MGO grades and their common uses based on antibacterial strength.

The higher the MGO value, the greater the wellness support.

Executive Summary:

The higher the Methylglyoxal (MGO) grade, the higher the strength of the Manuka honey.
More MGO also means more of the other key bioactive properties such as Leptosperin.
MGO is a unique, naturally occurring compound found in the nectar of the Manuka flower.
Many factors can affect the MGO levels in Manuka honey, including geographical location, soil, weather, and quality of beekeeping.

What Are Manuka Honey Grades?

Like fingerprints, no two jars of Manuka honey are identical. The final product is influenced by weather, soil conditions, the location and maturity of a hive, and more. Thus, it’s important to grade Manuka honey to ensure that customers are completely aware of the properties and value of each jar they’re buying.

Manuka honey is harvested in the lush Manuka Tea Tree forests of New Zealand. The unique chemistry of the Manuka Tea Tree flowers’ nectar gives way to the Methylglyoxal (MGO) and other powerful compounds—like Leptosperin—found in authentic Manuka honey.

How is Manuka Honey Graded?

Every batch of Manukora Manuka honey is extensively tested at third-party laboratories to meet the strict requirements we have developed for authenticity, potency, and safety.

One of the most important tests we undertake is the Methylglyoxal test (MGO for short). We test for the concentration of MGO in the Manuka honey (mg/kg) to determine its strength or potency.

Once we have the MGO testing completed, and provided the Manuka honey meets all other testing requirements, we package and label it into the closest MGO grade.

Manukora MGO grading starts at MGO 600+ and goes all the way up to MGO 1000+ and above for very special harvests. Our labels clearly state the minimum level of MGO that you can expect in your Manuka honey, but it often exceeds this amount!

The higher the MGO grade, the higher the potency. Here's a quick breakdown of the MGO grades offered by Manukora:

What Is So Special About MGO?

MGO is a naturally occurring compound that originates from the nectar of the Manuka tea tree flower. This special nectar contains an unusual type of natural sugar called DHA (dihydroxyacetone). The bees transform some of the DHA into MGO, and some DHA remains in the honey where it slowly releases more of this beneficial constituent.

Classifying Manuka honey according to its MGO content makes it easy to choose the product that suits your wellness goals. It further provides transparency regarding the potency and quality of the honey in each jar. After all, you can’t have authentic Manuka honey without the presence of MGO.

MGO is also a great marker for potency as the higher the MGO, the higher the concentration of other key bioactives such as Leptosperin (an antioxidant only found in Manuka honey). Thus, a steady supply of MGO helps to explain the unique properties of raw Mānuka honey!

MGO’s antibacterial properties have been extensively studied; these studies have shown MGO to inhibit harmful bacteria such as E Coli and MRSA.

Why Are the MGO Levels Different?

Every time we harvest a new batch of Manuka honey, the concentration of MGO (and other key bioactives) is different. This is due to a few factors:

Geographical Location

New Zealand has a truly diverse geographic range, from subtropical rainforests to cool, snow-capped mountains. As the location changes, so can the MGO levels. This is due to different strains of Manuka tea tree and varying soil types.

Weather

In addition to the geographical location of the beehive, weather plays a critical role in the concentration of MGO. Every year, the Manuka tea tree flowers for only two to six weeks over the summer and requires hot, sunny weather for a good nectar flow. The weather in New Zealand is extremely variable, so every year we have different results from the same locations.

Beekeeping

Our master beekeepers have access to the most remote Manuka forests in New Zealand and focus on high-quality beekeeping to ensure the bees are naturally healthy all year round. This means the bees are ready to produce potent Manuka honey during the short nectar flow each year.

Common Grading Systems Explained

Manuka honey can be graded according to its potency, quality, and authenticity. The most common grading systems include MGO, UMF, and K Factor grading, which we explore in more detail below.

MGO Grading

The MGO grading indicates the potency of the Manuka honey.

This grading method measures the honey’s levels of methylglyoxal (MGO)—the compound that gives Manuka honey its unique properties. Interestingly, the greater this value, the greater the presence of other beneficial compounds like Leptosperin.

UMF Grading

The UMF grading indicates the quality of the Manuka honey.

The Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) grading system is unique to New Zealand’s Manuka honey but is recognized internationally. It uses four measurements to determine an overall value and guarantees not only the value of the honey but its freshness as well:

Strength: MGO content
Authenticity: Leptosperin content (unique to Manuka honey)
Shelf Life: DHA (dihydroxyacetone) content indicates how long the honey will hold its MGO content
Freshness: HMF (hydroxymethylfurfural) content indicates how long the honey has been stored or if it’s been processed

The UMF factor can range from 5+ to 20+. The higher the value, the higher the level of bioactive compounds and fresher the honey.

K Factor Grading

If you've been researching Manuka honey, you've likely come across K Factor grading. While this grading system indicates the authenticity of Manuka honey, it's worth noting that it's actually an unofficial grading system created by Wedderspoon (a producer of Manuka honey products) for marketing purposes. In other words, it's not a government-run or approved grading system.

While Manukora's Manuka honey doesn't use this system, here's a brief overview: K Factor grading focuses on the pollen count of the Manuka honey. The presence of Manuka pollen authenticates the honey as being genuine monofloral Manuka honey from New Zealand rather than a blend of other plant nectar (like common multi-floral honey).

Which Manuka Honey MGO Grade Should You Choose?

With a wide variety of Manuka products on the market, it can sometimes be difficult to choose the right one for you. Here’s how to select the right Manuka product for your wellness goals according to the MGO grading:

Choosing the right Manuka honey is much easier when you understand the numbers and values on the jar. For the greatest wellness support, choose the highest MGO value that you can afford. Remember, the greater the MGO content, the more potent the Manuka honey.

Not all Manuka products are equal. Select a brand that is transparent, traceable, and proven time and again. Why not explore the wide range of Manukora Manuka honey products? After all, your wellness routine deserves the best, and it doesn’t get any better than raw, authentic Manuka honey.

What About the UMF Rating System?

UMF is a mark of authenticity, ensuring that the honey has been tested and verified for its unique Manuka qualities.

The Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) grading system was developed by the UMF Association as a way of identifying genuine Manuka honey. The association has many members, including Manukora.

The UMF grading system tests for MGO, DHA (the precursor to MGO explained above), HMF, and Leptosperin. It directly correlates with MGO levels, for example:

UMF 5+ = MGO 83+
UMF 10+ = MGO 263+
UMF 15+ = MGO 514+
UMF 20+ = MGO 829+

Manukora’s extensive testing program covers all of the UMF tests and additional safety tests (e.g., glyphosate residue) that are not covered by UMF. We make all of these tests available for our customers through our easy-to-use QR trace system.

To keep things clear and simple, we use only the MGO system for grading on our labels.

The Role of Manukora in Promoting Quality

At Manukora, we are passionate about producing Manuka honey that reflects the goodness and purity of the Manuka forests where it’s created. This is seen through our commitment to The Art of Ethical Beekeeping™. As such, we interfere with the beehives as little as possible, avoid processing or heat-treating the honey, and take care of the lush Manuka forests that sustain our carefully positioned colonies.

Each batch of our UMF-certified honey is traceable, authenticated, and tested in a third-party lab. While our labels only display the MGO content to avoid confusion, the other values are made available through the QR codes found on each jar.

Summary

The concentrations of key bioactives in Manuka honey are extremely important but can change due to various natural and environmental factors. The grading of Manuka honey can also be very confusing.

This means that products like our Manuka Honey MGO 850+ and Manuka Honey MGO 600+ represent different levels of these valuable bioactives.

To further understand the significance of these gradings and the colors associated with different honey types, our Honey Gluten-Free Guide, Manuka Honey Color Guide, and information on How to Choose Manuka Honey can be immensely helpful.

Additionally, for those interested in the digestive health benefits of Manuka honey, our guide on Manuka Honey for Digestive Health offers valuable insights.

This is why we grade all of our Manuka honey using the MGO system, which ensures high levels of all key bioactive compounds. The higher the MGO number, the higher the concentration of this special compound, and the higher the other key bioactives such as Leptosperin.

If you would like to dig deeper, be sure to scan your unique QR code on the lid or box of your jar to see the third-party test results for MGO, DHA, HMF, Leptosperin, and Glyphosate.

When buying Manukora Manuka honey, no matter the grade, you can be sure that your honey will be rich, smooth, and creamy caramel from the rare and beautiful Manuka tea tree, harvested by our amazing honey bees in the wild New Zealand forests.

FAQs

What is the relationship between MGO grade and the strength of Manuka honey?

MGO (Methylglyoxal) grade directly correlates with the strength of Manuka honey; the higher the MGO grade, the more potent the honey. High MGO levels also indicate a higher concentration of other key bioactive properties like Leptosperin.

How does the geographical location affect the MGO levels in Manuka honey?

The MGO levels in Manuka honey can vary depending on the geographical location, as different areas have distinct strains of the Manuka tea tree and soil types, which can influence the MGO concentration.

What does the MGO testing process involve for Manuka honey?

MGO testing measures the concentration of Methylglyoxal in Manuka honey to determine its strength. This process involves extensive testing at third-party laboratories to ensure the honey meets strict requirements for authenticity and potency.

What is the significance of the UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) grading system?

The UMF grading system identifies genuine Manuka honey by testing for MGO, DHA, HMF, and Leptosperin. It directly correlates with MGO levels, providing a standardized measure of the honey's quality and potency.

Why are there different MGO levels in Manuka honey batches?

Variations in MGO levels are due to natural and environmental factors like the beehive's geographical location, weather conditions affecting the nectar flow of the Manuka tea tree, and the quality of beekeeping practices.