Executive Summary:

• Manuka honey is made from the nectar of Manuka tree flowers. It contains powerful, naturally occurring compounds, including MGO, prebiotics, and antioxidants.
• Manuka honey can be used to support immune and digestive health, as well as overall well-being.
• Most of our customers consume one heaping teaspoon of Manuka honey daily, whether straight from the spoon or drizzled onto their favorite food or beverage.

 

How Much Manuka Honey Should You Eat Daily?

Maybe you just got your first jar of delicious Manuka honey, or maybe you’re in the market to buy some, and you’re not sure where to start. Do you just go ahead and eat it like you would any other honey? Is there a “right” amount of Manuka honey to eat?

Here’s everything you need to know about how much Manuka honey you should have each day.

 

What Is Manuka Honey?

Manuka honey is a special honey made in New Zealand by Western honeybees pollinating the Manuka tree. Because of the unique properties of Manuka trees and their flowers, Manuka honey has rare nutrients that give it beneficial wellness properties, including digestive and immune support. We like to call it Honey With Superpowers™.

Manuka really is a healthy, delicious indulgence that offers a one-of-a-kind sensory experience while also offering one-of-a-kind wellness benefits. 

 

What Are the Unique Health Benefits of Manuka Honey? 

Manuka honey has unique properties that make it unlike any other honey. 

Most importantly, Methylglyoxal (MGO) naturally occurs in Manuka honey as a powerful nutrient with antibacterial properties. 

It’s the main active compound in Manuka honey, and plays a big role in why Manuka has so much to offer. The higher the MGO of the honey, the more potent its wellness benefits.   

Manuka honey also contains oligosaccharides, a special type of prebiotic that can help promote healthy digestion. 

Plus, this honey has hundreds of bioactive compounds like antioxidants and enzymes that can support health and well-being. 

 

What Are the Uses of Manuka Honey?

1. Supports Gut and Digestive Health

The naturally-occurring oligosaccharides found in Manuka honey can support your gut’s microbiome. Plus, the activity of MGO is known to help balance the microbiome, supporting healthy digestion. 

To use Manuka honey for digestive system health, we recommend a daily spoonful of at least MGO 850+.  

2. Empowers the Immune System

If you want to empower your natural immune response, Manuka honey is packed with bioactive compounds and nutrients that can help do just that. You can eat a little honey daily, or use it with warm water when you’re not quite feeling your best.

We recommend at least MGO 600+ for daily immune support. 

3. Promotes Feelings of Energy and Supports Overall Health 

Manuka honey has antioxidants and other beneficial nutrients that support overall health and well-being. Plus, as a lower glycemic index sweetener, Manuka honey can support healthy energy levels that can kick start your day, naturally.

We recommend our MGO 200+ Manuka for this foundational-level support. 

4. A Healthy Indulgence 

Finally, you can simply enjoy Manuka honey as a healthy indulgence. It’s not like the regular honey you’ll find at the supermarket. 

Raw manuka honey is darker, creamier, and far more decadent. With hints of caramel and toffee, this honey is a rare delicacy packed with various beneficial nutrients. 

 

What’s a Daily Serving of Manuka Honey?

A typical daily serving of Manuka honey can be anywhere from one to three heaping teaspoons per day. 

(We consider our teaspoon-sized beech wood dose spoon the perfect way to measure!)

Each tablespoon of Manuka honey on average has:

• 60 calories
• 17 g total carbohydrates
• 17 g total sugars

For one teaspoon of Manuka honey, you’d be looking at closer to 20 calories and 5.6 grams of both carbs and sugar. 

Remember to factor in all the other sugar you eat throughout the day when deciding how much honey to consume.

 

How Does MGO Affect Your Daily Serving?

The higher the MGO, the more potent Manuka’s beneficial properties. But does that mean you need less honey if you have a higher level of MGO? You can have smaller servings of the more potent Manuka but we still recommend sticking with a heaping teaspoon daily regardless of the MGO level.

If you are unsure of which Manuka MGO level you need, try 200+ for daily wellness and vitality, 600+ for daily immune support, 850+ for daily digestive support, and 1,000+ for advanced support. You can find our variations of Manuka here.

 

Can You Have Too Much Manuka Honey?

There’s not necessarily a limit to how much Manuka honey you can consume, but consuming too much sugar is generally not a good idea. Therefore, Manuka honey is best used in moderation. A heaping teaspoon each day can easily fit into a healthy, balanced lifestyle.  

When needed, you may consider using a higher “dose” of Manuka honey, but it’s best to consult your doctor before doing so.  

 

What Are the Best Ways To Enjoy Manuka Honey?

There are many amazing ways to enjoy your daily serving of Manuka honey. 

You can drizzle some on your yogurt, pancakes, oatmeal, or peanut butter toast. You can use it to sweeten your favorite tea or coffee. You can mix it with chili oil and drizzle it on pizza. 

You can also simply eat it by the spoonful. Some even like to mix it into their morning glass of water for an energizing start to the day.  

 

Where Can You Find Real Manuka Honey?

Because authentic Manuka honey is unique to New Zealand, and from flowers that only bloom a few weeks per year, Manuka honey is quite rare. So how do you find the good stuff and avoid the imitators? (Hint: You don’t need to go very far.)

All authentic Manuka honey should be properly graded for its MGO level and tested to meet the authenticity standards of New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). 

Some honey companies use the MGO grading system, representing the concentration of MGO in the honey. 

Others use the Unique Manuka Factor™, another way to test and measure a honey’s MGO level, scaling from UMF 5+ to UMF 20+. 

At Manukora, we independently test all of our Manuka honey using 15 different tests. This ensures each of our Manuka honey products is independently certified for:

• MPI markers for authenticity 
• MGO grade
• Non-GMO 
• Herbicide-free
• Monofloral (made only with Manuka flowers)  

 

Is Manuka Honey Safe for Anyone To Use?

Manuka honey should be safe for most to use, with the exception of babies under one year of age and pregnant women, who generally shouldn’t consume any type of honey. Others who may have issues with raw honey by the spoonful include those with honey allergies and blood sugar issues. 

 

Summary

Manuka honey is a special type of honey that contains MGO, a powerful organic compound with potent wellness properties. A daily “dose” of Manuka honey is typically one to three teaspoons, and most people can get away with just one to enjoy the wonders Manuka has to offer. This rare delicacy can be enjoyed with your favorite foods or beverages, or even just by the spoonful as a healthy indulgence. 

Ideal for daily consumption, it's suggested to enjoy a dose of Manuka honey in amounts ranging from one to three teaspoons. This rare treasure is not just a delight to the palate; it's a testament to the extraordinary gifts of nature.

Incorporating Manuka Honey MGO 200 or Manuka Honey MGO 600 UMF 16 into your diet can elevate the experience of your favorite dishes or drinks. For those curious about handling bees responsibly, our guide on how to get rid of bees without killing them provides valuable insights.

To further deepen your understanding of this exquisite honey, explore our resources on how to choose Manuka honey and uncover spooky wellness secrets for Halloween. Finally, ensure the authenticity of your Manuka honey with our comprehensive Manuka Honey Authenticity Guide.

However you decide to indulge, we recommend savoring this truly unique sensory experience. Explore our authentic, ethically-produced New Zealand Manuka honey here. 

 

FAQs

How much honey a day is optimal?

A typical daily serving of Manuka honey can be anywhere from one to three heaping teaspoons per day.

How much Manuka honey per day is recommended?

We recommend sticking with a heaping teaspoon daily regardless of MGO level for optimum health benefits.

How much honey is too much?

While there isn't a specific limit, consuming too much sugar is generally not a good idea. Therefore, a balanced diet with a heaping teaspoon of Manuka honey each day is suggested.

Can you eat Manuka honey directly?

Absolutely! Manuka honey can be enjoyed by the spoonful or mixed into your favorite dishes and drinks.

 

Sources:

Testing mānuka honey is authentic | NZ Government

Unique Mānuka Factor (UMF) Grading System Explained

Antibacterial activity of Manuka honey and its components: An overview - PMC