Mānuka's Superpowers

Is Manuka Honey Good for a Sore Throat?

Michael Bell

Published at: January 22, 2023
Updated at: December 4, 2024

8 minutes

Manuka honey, a monofloral honey from New Zealand, is rich in beneficial compounds that can support your wellness, including providing soothing relief for a sore throat.

Manuka honey contains antibacterial compounds like MGO and antioxidants like Leptosperin that can support wellness
Eating Manuka honey by the spoonful, mixing it into warm tea or lemon water, or making honey lozenges can help soothe a sore throat
Other natural remedies for a sore throat include gargling salt water, drinking bone broth or herbal teas, and increasing humidity
Manuka honey offers a unique, indulgent sensory experience in addition to its potential wellness benefits

Ways to Use Manuka Honey for a Sore Throat

Method	Benefits
Straight from the spoon	Coats the throat, provides soothing relief
In a cup of tea	Keeps throat tissues moist, provides comfort
Warm lemon water	Soothes throat, boosts vitamin C intake
Honey lozenges	Convenient on-the-go relief (but heating may reduce beneficial compounds)

Is Manuka honey good for a sore throat?

Yes, Manuka honey can be an effective natural remedy for soothing a sore throat.

This monofloral honey from New Zealand is rich in beneficial compounds like MGO, which has antibacterial properties, and Leptosperin, which contributes to its antioxidant effects.

Manuka honey can be eaten straight from the spoon, mixed into warm tea or lemon water, or made into lozenges to help coat and soothe the throat. Its unique texture and flavor also provide an indulgent sensory experience while supporting your wellness.

Is Manuka Honey Good for a Sore Throat?

Executive Summary:

Manuka honey is a monofloral honey from New Zealand that’s rich in beneficial compounds that can support your wellness.

Manuka honey can be eaten by the spoonful, mixed in with warm tea or lemon water, or made into lozenges to help soothe your throat.

Other ways to soothe your throat include gargling salt water, eating bone broth, drinking herbal teas that coat the throat, and upping the humidity level around you.

One of the most commonly used home remedies for a scratchy throat is a spoonful of raw honey.

Authentic, raw Manuka honey in particular is a powerful health food with natural cleansing properties that can support your wellness in more ways than one, including providing some soothing relief when your throat needs a little support.

With the cooler months upon us, let’s talk about how you can incorporate Manuka honey into your routine for daily wellness support (and an extra opportunity for some culinary indulgence).

If you’re wondering how to use this sweet, velvety nectar for a little relief, keep reading.

What Is Manuka Honey?

Manuka honey is unlike any other type of honey. Manukora’s Manuka honey is authentic, raw, monofloral honey derived from the New Zealand native tea tree, Leptospermum scoparium.

On top of offering an indulgent sensory experience like no other, this superfood is rich in antioxidants, prebiotics, and other beneficial organic compounds.

One of our favorites of these compounds is Methylglyoxal (MGO), which possesses antibacterial properties and plays a crucial role in Manuka's wellness benefits.

You’ll also find Leptosperin and prebiotics in authentic Manuka, which contribute to its antioxidant and gut support properties, respectively.

Because we value the concentration of these beneficial wellness compounds in our honey, we independently test each batch to ensure each of our Manuka products can be independently certified as:

MGO-Rated
Glyphosate Free
Non-GMO
Monofloral

We ensure every one of our batches is verified for the above so we know our honey meets the highest standards, and with that, can also offer the best benefits.

Don’t just take our word for it; scan the QR code on your Manuka honey product from Manukora and trace your product's entire journey thus far.

Whether you’re interested in the exact harvest location or want to meet the beekeeper responsible for your delicious indulgences, it’s all there awaiting your exploration.

How To Use Manuka Honey for Soothing a Sore Throat

You know just how beneficial Manuka honey can be, but now it’s time to learn how to utilize this powerful super honey to soothe your throat during the colder months.

Straight-Up on a Spoon

Eating Manuka honey straight from the spoon is one of the best ways to get soothing relief.

The thick, creamy honey will help to coat your throat and provide feelings of soothing relief on its way down. The best part of eating Manuka by the heaping spoonful?

Manuka honey has a taste and texture like no other, which makes for a sensory experience like no other, too. Start your day the right way with this creamy, sweet nectar.

In a Cup of Tea

At any sign of not feeling quite their best, many people put on the kettle to make a hot, soothing drink.

Warm liquids are thought to help soothe a sore throat by helping to keep the throat tissues moist and move along mucus and other secretions, as well as overall provide a source of hydration and a sense of comfort.

Like honey, the tea plant Camellia sinensis contains natural antioxidants and other compounds that can put some pep in your step if you’re not feeling too well.

Opt for a tablespoon or two of Manuka honey in a hot cup of black or green tea with ginger for the best effects.

You can Check out our favorite honey tea recipes here to make your favorite brew for yourself!

Warm Lemon Water

Another common drink people may use for relief is warm lemon water — you can even think of this as honey lemon tea but without any of the actual tea leaves we talked about above.

Combine hot water, fresh lemon slices, and a tablespoon or two of Manuka honey to make your honey lemon tea.

Similar to the tea above but without caffeine, this beverage can help soothe the throat tissues and keep them moist.

Not to mention the boost of vitamin C from the lemon, which can help support your immune system.

Honey Lozenges

While store-bought cough drops can be helpful in a pinch, they’re often full of additives like cane sugar, synthetic coloring, and other ingredients that most of us would prefer to do without.

If you do want to produce lozenges without the added ingredients, you should have everything you need to make your own (delicious) honey lozenges at home.

Keep in mind that heating Manuka honey to high temperatures will diminish certain beneficial compounds, so we always recommend keeping it raw (which makes lozenges nearly impossible).

These honey lozenges can soothe your scratchy throat, but won’t offer all of the benefits you would expect from raw Manuka honey.

Here’s how to make these tasty (and valuable) drops simply and easily with your favorite honey.

Bring water, honey, and lemon to a boil. Use one to two cups of water, two to three tablespoons of honey, and a few tablespoons of lemon juice.

Be careful not to add too much water, as this will affect the candies' ability to harden correctly.

Cook until the temperature reaches 300 degrees — this typically takes around 20 to 30 minutes from the time you combine everything in the saucepan and set the stove to medium-high.
Watch for your syrupy concoction to become a light amber color. Pour into silicone molds and let cool and harden.
After an hour or two, you should have on-the-go honey lozenges to help soothe your sore throat.

What Else Can I Do For My Sore Throat?

Having a sore throat isn’t just uncomfortable; it can also affect what foods you can eat and even your ability to speak.

Because of this, it’s understandable that anyone with a sore throat would look for quick and easy relief.

While our delicious Manuka honey can be used in a variety of different ways to bring quick and sweet relief, there are plenty of natural remedies you can use in addition to honey.

In fact, using multiple remedies may help give you a better chance at targeting the underlying culprit of your sore throat.

For instance, many people gargle with salt water to help loosen up the mucus that’s sitting in their throat. Others may drink bone broth or herbal tea.

Specifically, teas like marshmallow root, chamomile, and slippery elm can leave behind a slippery film that can help protect your sensitive throat (and are all teas you can add Manuka to!).

Another time-tested natural remedy is humidity. Whether you turn on your humidifier or hop in a steamy shower, breathing in some extra humidity can help open up your sinuses and let your mucus drain out.

For extra relief, try some aromatherapy with peppermint essential oil. Peppermint oil can help cool the throat and further open up your sinuses.

The Bottom Line

Manuka honey has many natural cleansing and soothing properties that can calm and soothe your throat.

With a unique flavor and texture, this ultra-versatile honey is great both as a healthy indulgence all on its own, or to serve as a superpowered version of honey for your tea.

Manuka honey, like the MGO 850, is not only known for its cleansing and soothing properties but also for its exceptional flavor and texture, making it a perfect healthy treat or a powerful addition to your tea.

Beyond just indulging in you can enhance your knowledge which will help you enjoy your Manuka honey to the fullest.

Don't miss out on our special Discounts, and delve deeper into the origins of this extraordinary honey with our guides..

Looking to learn more about all that Manuka can offer? Explore Manukora’s blog here.

FAQs

Is Manuka honey good for a sore throat?

Yes, Manuka honey is known for its soothing properties and can help in alleviating a sore throat. Its rich texture coats the throat and provides a feeling of soothing relief on its way down.

How does Manuka honey help with strep throat?

Manuka honey contains Methylglyoxal (MGO), which is known for its antibacterial properties that may assist in dealing with bacteria that cause conditions like strep throat.

Can Manuka honey be used in tea to soothe a sore throat?

Yes, adding Manuka honey to a hot cup of tea not only enhances the flavor but also helps to soothe your throat. The warm tea with honey keeps the throat tissues moist and provides comfort.

What is the best way to use honey for a sore throat?

Honey can be consumed directly, added to a cup of tea, or mixed with warm lemon water. You can also make honey lozenges at home. Each of these methods can provide relief from a sore throat.