Blog / Honey

Introducing our new Manuka Honey labels! Featuring a clear MGO number on the front and a QR code on the lid, linking to the test results for that specific jar of Manuka Honey! Read on for how to read your test results so you know you’re getting genuine Manuka:

The independent labs that we work with are based all over New Zealand and Australia and the different labs send confirmations in a variety of layouts, which you may notice when purchasing different PRI Manuka honeys! 

However there are key points that you can look for when reading your batch certificate.  

• Sample ID OR lab reference  - Your honey's batch number - This shows the report is for and the batch that your honey came from.

• Manuka honey test results always show 4 key markers, but the two you really need to pay attention to are:

• Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) - It gives Manuka Honey its antibacterial properties, the higher the concentration, the stronger the antibiotic effect. MG is derived from the compound DHA.
• Methylglyoxal (MGO) - This compound is found in high concentration in the nectar of the Manuka Flower.

• Your test result for PRI Manuka Honey will alway show these 2 markers, which confirm what you have purchased is active Manuka Honey. 

• The activity marker that is used to determine the different strengths is the Methylglyoxal or MGO level. This is what can be seen on the front of our new labels or in our older labels it is stated on the left hand panel of the jar.

• Your report will show a number in the line or column under or beside the MGO heading. For example if you have purchased our PRI Manuka 10+ or MGO 100+  you may see the following:
• This batch tested at an MGO level of 149. 
• Every batch varies and is rarely exactly MGO 100 and is why we always put the "+" .
• In this example the honey in your jar will be at a minimum a MGO level of 100 but has actually tested higher. 

Bees. Superheroes to every human - and really to every animal -  around the world. Essential to our survival, bees along with many other important pollinators, are responsible for at least a third of the crops we use every day. In New Zealand specifically, they team up with the mighty manuka shrub to create the most magical, medicinal honey in the world - manuka honey!

While native Maori peoples had been using all parts of the manuka shrub both medicinally and to create their homes and tools, there were no bees in NZ to make honey until 1839. This was the year Mary Bumby, sister of a Methodist missionary, brought two hives ashore and introduced European Honeybees to New Zealand. 

Brought over specifically to make honey, these bees also quickly became vital to crop pollination across the country, especially since most NZ crops are non-native. Used to pollinate everything from apples to the clover in dairy fields. Over 100,000 honeybee hives are used each year in New Zealand just to pollinate kiwifruit vines alone.

Over the years, the popularity of our favorite bee product - manuka honey - has seen a major increase. The number of hives has grown from around 300,000 to over 700,000 just between the years 2000 and 2019 more than doubled the value of pollination services in New Zealand. 

While PRI has always focused on sustainable beekeeping practices, this increase has made it more important than ever to ensure that we value and protect our honeybees to ensure not only their health but the health of our world and future generations. 

These practices are an important qualifier for PRI’s beekeeping partners. By restoring healthier bee populations and using managed care for bees, in a manner that respects their natural processes, we can help improve ecological agriculture and pollination. PRI supports research and preservation efforts to provide “best practices” education for beekeepers and farmers. Our beekeepers’ goal is first and foremost to meet our needs in a way that will also improve life for future generations. 

As part of the SAVE the BEE initiative,  a sustainable-beekeeper-only partnership committed to protecting honey bees by increasing public awareness of the role honeybees play in a healthy food supply, a portion of every purchase of our jarred honey is donated to help the bees. 

Want to know how you can help your local pollinators? Start by planting a bee garden and going chemical-free in your yard. Use this free resource to find plants native to your area, along with how many different types of pollinators will enjoy them!

Are you wondering what is so special about Manuka Honey? It’s been used for centuries for its medicinal effects such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral properties and shows to be effective in treating other conditions both internal and external. It should be an essential in your kitchen and your natural remedy cabinet! Choosing the right Manuka Honey depends on your plans on how to use it. Here are several ways on how to make use of  Manuka honey and experience its health benefits.

• Wounds - Historically, honey has been recognised around the world for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that can help promote healing, tissue regeneration and reduce pain. You can apply a thin layer of Manuka Honey  on a bandage before putting it on the affected area.

• Acne - Traditional medicine in numerous countries has described honey as efficacious in the treatment of a range of skin disorders. You can add Manuka Honey in your daily skin care routine and improve your skin’s appearance. Its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects can help treat acne, keep your skin moisturized and nourished.  

• Oral Health - Manuka Honey will help reduce plaque and bacteria formation preventing tooth cavities and other gum problems including gingivitis, bleeding and receding gums. 

• Sore Throat - Manuka Honey contains antioxidants, antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that have been shown to help support the immune system, which helps you to recover faster and reduce inflammation when you have a sore throat. Just add 1-2 teaspoons of Manuka honey into warm water mixed with a squeeze of half a lemon.  You can also try other Manuka honey products like the Propolis and Manuka Honey Cough Elixir and Manuka Honey & Propolis Lozenges.

• Digestion - Experts say that taking Manuka Honey is a popular home remedy to relieve digestive issues, the anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties can help heal and soothe digestion.Manuka Honey acts as a natural prebiotic, taking a tablespoon or two is beneficial. A healthy gut can strengthen the immune system and improve digestion. Prebiotic are essential and can help maintain the good bacteria in the gut. A study was conducted to investigate the composition and function of the gut microbiome in loperamide-induced constipation model mice treated with honey.  Constipation can induce the overgrowth of many harmful bacteria, the results showed that loperamide-induced chronic transit constipation treated with honey can improve the fecal water content and intestinal transit rate, but not recover the body weight in a very short time. Honey can improve the symptoms of constipation, it can manipulate intestinal dysbiosis by suppressing harmful bacteria in the intestines.

What is a good strength for Manuka Honey?  See the uses and Manuka Honey ratings table below.

Our Manuka has a variety of health benefits that the ordinary doesn't provide. When you buy Manuka, look for MGO it stands for Methylglyoxal, it is the compound that makes Manuka Honey unique. Pacific Resources International farms the highest quality Manuka in New Zealand. All of our Manuka is genuine and is independently tested for potency and purity. We are leading the charge in the Manuka industry in the Save The Bees campaign and only source our honey from sustainable beekeepers and donate a portion of every purchase to bee-sustainability. There are so many different uses for Manuka Honey that can help improve your health and wellbeing. I hope this blog gave you an idea to incorporate Manuka Honey into your daily regimen. Enjoy!

Resources:

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/manuka-honey-uses-benefits#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5424551/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3941901/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5661189/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3220139/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5406168/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7455974/

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/manuka-honey-guide-health-benefits-umf

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6613335/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24305429/