It comes from New Zealand and is known for its remarkable properties: Manuka honey. This rare honey is being used more and more, including in the Netherlands. What is it that makes this honey so special?

Manuka honey is rare

Manuka honey comes from New Zealand and is made by bees that feed on nectar from the flowers of the Manuka shrub of the same name. The Māori used the shrub itself; today it is used to produce, among other things, Manuka honey and tea tree products. The honey is produced for only a few weeks each year, which is why it is a rare product.

How Manuka honey works

Manuka honey is characterised by its naturally occurring, highly bioactive ingredients. For example, it is very rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals. Back in 1982, Peter Molan of the University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand, discovered the special properties of Manuka honey. In 2008, Thomas Henle of the Technical University of Dresden identified MGO (methylglyoxal) as the primary active component in Manuka honey.

Beautiful skin

You can also apply the honey to your skin. For instance, you can use Manuka as a face mask: it nourishes, soothes and supports the skin’s natural repair process, particularly for sensitive skin.

Which Manuka honey should you choose?

As described earlier, Thomas Henle identified MGO as the main component of Manuka honey. Want to know whether you’ve got good quality? Then check the MGO value. The higher it is, the more of the beneficial compounds it contains. It is also important that the honey has been produced in a respectful way. For example, some brands are committed to sustainability in beekeeping, harvesting and processing. These producers often avoid using chemical substances during processing, resulting in the purest honey.

Cold-extracted Manuka honey?

Sometimes you’ll read on the label of a jar of honey that it is raw or cold-extracted. This means the honey has not been heated during processing. If this honey is heated above 40°C, enzymes are lost, meaning you miss out on some of its potency. This also applies when using honey in, for example, baking or stirring it into tea. If you want to benefit from its powerful properties, use it without heating.

Author: Nicole Langedijk