Executive Summary:
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Manuka honey costs more than other honeys primarily due to its unique origins.
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For many individuals, the price of Manuka honey is considered worth it for the high concentration of its many beneficial nutrients, giving way to various health benefits.
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At Manukora, we're confident in the value our Manuka honey brings, despite the higher cost when compared to other types of honey.
Manuka Honey: Understanding Price & Value
If you've ever shopped for Manuka honey, you might have noticed its price tag is significantly higher than regular honey. This often raises a common question—why does Manuka honey cost so much, and is it worth the price?
Manuka honey is often described as a “super honey” because of its unique bioactive compounds that offer multiple health benefits. Unlike standard honey, which is widely available and mass-produced, Manuka honey is rare, meticulously harvested, and undergoes strict quality control.
But does this justify its cost? To make an informed decision, it's important to understand what makes Manuka honey special, how its price is determined, and whether the value it offers aligns with your needs.
Why Does Manuka Honey Cost More than Other Honeys?
Manuka honey’s high price is primarily due to its limited availability, intensive production process, and unique bioactive compounds.
One of the biggest reasons for its rarity is its source—the Manuka tea tree (Leptospermum scoparium), native to New Zealand. This tree flowers for only 2-6 weeks per year, meaning the harvest window is extremely short. Unlike other types of honey that can be produced year-round, Manuka honey depends on a short, unpredictable season.
Additionally, pure Manuka honey must be monofloral, meaning the nectar comes almost exclusively from the Manuka flower. This requires careful hive placement in remote New Zealand forests where cross-pollination with other plants is minimized.
The production process is also more complex. Every batch of genuine Manuka honey is lab-tested for its MGO (methylglyoxal) content and other key bioactive compounds. Higher MGO levels mean stronger antibacterial properties, which increase the honey’s strength—and price.
Unlike commercial honey, which can be heavily processed, Manuka honey is minimally processed and raw, preserving its natural nutrients. Ethical beekeeping practices, sustainable harvesting, and full traceability measures add to the cost but ensure premium quality.
"Manuka honey’s rarity is due to the Leptospermum scoparium tree’s short flowering season—just 2-6 weeks per year."
Another reason for the price difference is its superior nutrient profile, which leads us to the next point.
The Bioactive Compounds That Make Manuka Honey Unique
The primary reason Manuka honey stands apart from regular honey is its bioactive composition. While all honey contains beneficial nutrients, Manuka honey has some that are unique to it.
Methylglyoxal (MGO) is the primary bioactive compound that gives Manuka honey its powerful antibacterial properties. The higher the MGO level, the more concentrated the bioactives in the honey. Regular honey does not have significant amounts of MGO, making Manuka honey a special category on its own.
Antioxidants in Manuka honey are also superior. Most of its antioxidant content comes from Leptosperin, a rare antioxidant found only in Manuka nectar. This contributes to immune support and overall wellness.
Prebiotics in Manuka honey help nourish beneficial gut bacteria, supporting digestive health. It contains a unique oligosaccharide called ‘panose’, which is not found in regular honey.
"Higher MGO levels indicate greater antibacterial properties and increased value."
These compounds explain why Manuka honey has gained global recognition for its wellness benefits.
Is the Price of Manuka Honey Worth It?
The answer depends on what you’re looking for in honey. While regular honey is great for general sweetness and occasional use, Manuka honey offers added benefits that can make it a worthwhile investment.
First, it supports immune function thanks to its natural antibacterial properties. MGO helps the body’s defense mechanisms work efficiently, making it a great addition to a wellness routine.
Second, it promotes gut health and digestion. The prebiotics in Manuka honey help nourish good bacteria in the gut, which can aid digestion and support a balanced microbiome.
Manuka honey is also an excellent source of natural energy. With a lower glycemic index than sugar, it provides a sustained energy release without the crashes associated with refined sugar.
If you're looking for a honey that does more than just sweeten your tea, the higher price of Manuka honey is justified by its unique health benefits and purity.
"Authentic Manuka honey is tested for purity, potency, and origin—ensuring consumers get what they pay for."
Manukora’s “Honey With Superpowers™”: Price vs. Value
You can’t look at a price without considering the context, and when you understand the careful detail that goes into producing Manuka honey, you see why it costs more than regular honey.
At Manukora, our super honey goes above and beyond, as we use ethical production practices to ensure you receive not just the highest quality product but a healthy treat you’ll love.
High MGO content
The MGO level of a honey is an indicator of its concentration—the higher the MGO, the greater the potential health benefits. Higher MGO honey is also produced less frequently due to specific conditions being required, making it very rare. Therefore, when comparing the cost of different Manuka honey types, it’s essential to consider the MGO rating. Because of the vast benefits of MGO, higher potency Manuka honey will cost more.
At Manukora, we offer honey with MGO ratings ranging from MGO 600+ to MGO 1000+ and above. If you are looking for more comprehensive health support, starting with a higher MGO rating is suggested.
At the same time, you can also consider your preferred taste. Higher MGO ratings will generally have a darker, bolder taste, while lower ratings will have a sweeter, floral taste.
To learn more about what MGO rating would work best for you and your lifestyle, you can take our MGO quiz here.
Traditional Beekeeping Practices
At Manukora, we have pioneered The Art of Ethical Beekeeping. This practice means that we take important steps to support honey bees and their environment through the production of our honey, and the best part about this is that we are rewarded with the highest quality Manuka as a result.
Our practices include:
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Providing bee colonies with access to a variety of flowering species outside of the Manuka flowering season
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Ensuring minimal hive disturbance and movement
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Leaving bees with plenty of food during the winter
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Carefully placing our hives in the most remote Manuka forests across New Zealand to avoid environmental toxins that affect honey quality and bee health
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Delicately harvesting and extracting our Manuka honey 100% raw so it retains all of the beneficial, naturally occurring compounds
Creamy Texture
Out of the many benefits of Manuka honey, one of the most exciting is its unique, creamy texture that melts in your mouth. At Manukora, our honey has an indulgent, caramel-like flavor that makes it as much of a treat as it is a healthy addition to your daily routine. You can enjoy Manukora honey on toast, with yogurt, in smoothies, in teas and more.
FAQs About Manuka Honey
Why is Manuka honey so expensive compared to regular honey?
Manuka honey is rare, harvested for only a few weeks per year, and undergoes strict testing to verify its purity and strength. It also contains unique bioactive compounds like MGO and Leptosperin, which are not found in regular honey.
Is Manuka honey worth the price?
Yes, if you value natural immunity support, digestive health, and clean energy. Unlike regular honey, Manuka honey provides scientifically backed bioactive benefits, making it more than just a sweetener.
What MGO level should I choose for daily use?
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MGO 600+: For general wellness, immune, and digestive support.
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MGO 850+: For stronger health benefits and enhanced support.
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MGO 1000+: For maximum strength and targeted wellness support.
How do I know if my Manuka honey is real?
Genuine Manuka honey comes with lab-tested MGO certification and traceability features. Trusted brands like Manukora provide QR codes on every jar so you can verify its origin.
Make the Right Choice for Your Manuka Honey
When considering whether Manuka honey is worth the price, it’s essential to look beyond cost and understand the value it provides. Its unique bioactive compounds, rare sourcing, and extensive quality control make it one of the most premium honeys available.
For those who want the highest quality Manuka honey, Manukora is a brand that prioritizes purity, ethical beekeeping, and full transparency. Every jar is lab-tested and traceable, ensuring you get authentic Manuka honey with its full benefits.
Explore our complete collection of Manuka honey and experience the value of this Honey with Superpowers™ for yourself!
Sources:
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Identification and quantification of methylglyoxal as the dominant antibacterial constituent of Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) honeys from New Zealand. PMC. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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Antioxidant properties and antimicrobial activity of Manuka honey versus Polish honeys. PMC. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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Oligosaccharides Might Contribute to the Antidiabetic Effect of Honey: A Review of the Literature. PMC. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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The glycaemic index of Manuka honey. ScienceDirect. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com
- Antibacterial activity of Manuka honey and its components: An overview. PMC. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
