Blog / manuka honey

Words from our Director and Founder David Noll….. Clean is the seen in pristine New Zealand. As consumer demand continues to increase for high quality healthy gourmet products, New Zealand continues to answer the call with products found nowhere else in the world. Pacific Resources International after 30 years of importing exclusive New Zealand products… More PRI in 2015

Have you ever stopped to think about the difference between Raw and non-raw honey? We at Pacific Resources believe that this difference is monumental! Processing honey not only affects the basic taste and look of honey but also takes away the nutrition value that you get from eating raw honey.  Raw natural honey is best… More Raw Honey VS Processed Honey

For centuries, Manuka Honey has been popular for its antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It is generally used for treating wounds, burns, and other many other conditions both internal and external. Using Honey can accelerate healing, pain relief and decreased inflammatory response. You can apply a thin layer of Manuka Honey on a bandage before putting it on the affected area. 

Manuka Honey is produced by the bees from the nectar of the Manuka Tree that originated from New Zealand and Australia. MGO stands for Methylglyoxal, it is the compound that makes Manuka Honey unique. Manuka is the only honey that exhibits non-peroxide activity due to the MG component that is present. Manuka honey comes in a range of MGO ratings. The higher the number on the label, the higher the concentration of MGO. For external uses, especially for burn treatment, we recommend an MGO rating of at least 200+. 

Burn is a damaged tissue, after contact with heat and this can happen in many circumstances. Burn treatment depends on the type of burn. There are four types for burns below. 

• First-Degree Burns or Superficial Burns are mild. These cause pain and reddening of the outer layer of skin or epidermis.
• Second-Degree Burns or Partial Thickness Burns affect the outer layer of the skin or epidermis and lower layer of the skin or dermis. These cause pain, redness, swelling, and blistering.
• Third-Degree Burns or Full Thickness Burns go through the lower layer of the skin or dermis and affect deeper tissues.
• Fourth-degree burns go even deeper than third-degree burns and can affect your muscles and bones. Nerve endings are also damaged or destroyed, so there’s no feeling in the burned area.

It appears that using Honey can heal Superficial or Partial Thickness Burns and when applied to the skin it helps to regenerate burn surface or tissue forming in wounds, reducing infection, providing relief and speeds up the healing process. 

If you feel your burn is severe, or just aren’t sure, please seek medical attention.

 

References:

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

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK78502/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25742878/

https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/pain-caused-by-burns

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6023338/

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!

Is your manuka honey real? 

Why manuka bottled “at the source” can help ensure purity & potency.

Trying to find the right brand & strength of manuka honey for your needs can be really, really confusing. There is so much conflicting and, frankly, outright incorrect information out there it’s easy to become discouraged! 

Over the years, we’ve provided various guides as to what the numbers on the bottles mean, MGO vs UMF, and more but there is one key topic we’ve discovered that just isn’t talked about much - where your manuka honey is actually bottled!

The short(ish) answer is that New Zealand has strict regulations for manuka honey and acknowledges that it has unique, testable compounds (read: MGO) which give it medicinal benefits. The FDA, on the other hand, states that no honey (or food in general) can have health benefits and doesn’t recognize MGO as a medicinal compound.  This is despite the fact that there are hundreds of studies that have been done showcasing the amazing benefits of manuka honey and it’s even medically approved for use for burn and wound treatment & more.

It’s quite frustrating both for your clarity as a customer and for us, as a small family business trying to spread the word about the magic of manuka honey!

How does this impact the importance of where the manuka honey is bottled? New Zealand MPI, the agency responsible for food safety, quality &  import/export regulations, requires each batch of honey to be independently tested and checks those results against the label showing the honey’s strength and if it is multi-floral aka a blend. These regulations apply to honey leaving NZ both in individual jars and in bulk. However, once the bulk honey leaves NZ it is no longer under the MPI’s purview, meaning it can be mixed with other kinds of honey, sweeteners, etc., and labeled as any strength or type.

Even before manuka honey became well-known as a powerful superfood & topical agent NZ has had strict rules for food export. Once manuka honey became well-known and given its higher price point and scarcity, these regulations became even more specific as fake manuka honey began to flood the market. While there are some downsides to bottling in NZ such as higher packaging prices and lack of many packaging options, we feel that it is an important way for you as a customer, and for our own peace of mind, to ensure that our honey is of the highest quality and is exactly what it says it is.

To further ensure as few middlemen are in the process as possible PRI works with family-owned beekeepers who have their own on-site extraction, creaming & bottling equipment. As the original importer of manuka to the U.S. market over 30 years ago, we’ve even worked with more than one generation of beekeepers because they are simply the best!

You may ask how this applies to our line of Australian Manuka Honey. Currently, Australia does not have any regulations on manuka however, we apply the same testing and labeling methods as on our NZ manuka. Due to the lack of regulations & the size of the country (re: more production), Australian manuka does come in at a lower price point but, as with any manuka, you as a buyer should be diligent about ensuring the manuka honey you are purchasing is authentic.  

 

At PRI, we are proud to offer test results for ALL of our manuka honey upon request. Simply send your batch number to orders@pri-nz.com

 

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.

MGO Strength			Suggested Use
PRI Manuka Honey Blend 50+			Everyday Sweetener! If you use honey a lot but want it to have some extra benefits, this is a great low-budget option.
PRI 50+ Manuka Honey			Everyday Sweetener. Another great lower budget option for honey enthusiasts.
PRI Manuka Honey 100+			Everyday Immune Support
PRI Manuka Honey 200+			General and Digestive Health Maintenance, Skin Health
Manuka Honey 500+			Best for helping to soothe specific skin conditions such as Rosacea, Eczema and Psoriasis

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/