HoneyHQ

Is manuka honey worth the money?

Buying honeyReviewed 2026-08-02

Short answerIt dependsEmerging research

As a food, no — it is a distinctive earthy honey and far more expensive than honeys most people prefer the taste of. As a health purchase, the evidence does not support it: manuka's methylglyoxal has real antibacterial activity in laboratory tests, but nothing establishes a benefit from eating it. If you want it for the flavour or the novelty, that is a fair reason. If you want it to do something, the case is not there.

Where the belief comes from

A genuine and interesting piece of chemistry. Manuka's antibacterial activity survives the removal of hydrogen peroxide, which most honeys' does not, and the compound responsible was identified as methylglyoxal in 2008. That real finding has been carried a very long way past what it supports.

What is genuinely true

Leptospermum scoparium nectar contains dihydroxyacetone, which converts to methylglyoxal as the honey matures. Methylglyoxal inhibits bacterial growth in vitro, and this non-peroxide activity distinguishes manuka from honeys whose antibacterial effect disappears in the presence of catalase. Sterilised, medical-grade Leptospermum honey is licensed as a medical device in several countries and used on certain wounds under supervision.

What that does not support

For a cough or sore throat specifically, manuka has no demonstrated advantage over ordinary honey. If the mechanism is demulcent — coating and soothing — then any thick sweet liquid does the same job for a fraction of the price.

If you are buying it anyway

  • MGO states a methylglyoxal concentration in mg/kg. UMF is a graded system that also tests markers of authenticity and freshness. They are not interchangeable.
  • The bare word 'manuka' with no number states nothing. For years, far more honey was sold worldwide as manuka than New Zealand produced in total, which is why the regulatory definition exists.
  • Expect an earthy, mineral, faintly medicinal honey. It is distinctive rather than delicious, and heather honey is a closer relative in character at a fraction of the price.
  • Do not cook with it. Heat degrades the compound you paid for.

Sources

  • Identification of methylglyoxal as the dominant antibacterial constituent of manuka honey — Molecular Nutrition and Food Research / Carbohydrate Research (2008) · Peer-reviewed article
  • UMF grading and the New Zealand manuka honey definition — UMF Honey Association / New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries · Industry body

How sources are selected and weighted is set out in the sources and evidence policy.

Work it out for yourself

HoneyHQ saves your cookie choice on this device. Optional analytics run only if you accept — set a preference now, or change it later on the cookies page.