Some gifts get unwrapped, admired and quietly re-gifted. Honey gets opened, enjoyed and finished. If you’re looking for a present that’s practical, a little bit special and not another scented candle, a Manuka honey gift pack is hard to beat.

Here’s why Manuka makes such a good gift, what the MGO number on the jar means, and which of our five gift boxed packs suits which recipient.

Quick Answer:

A Manuka honey gift pack is a gift boxed set of Manuka honeys, usually in two different MGO strengths and often with an extra such as bee pollen. For a small thank-you, choose a pack built around mild MGO 30+ or MGO 100+ Manuka. For someone serious about their wellness routine, choose a pack with MGO 500+ or MGO 900+.

Why Manuka honey makes a great gift

Food is one of Australia’s favourite things to give. When Roy Morgan and the Australian Retailers Association asked Australians what they planned to buy for Christmas, food and alcohol topped the list. It makes sense. A gift you can eat is practical, it gets used every day, and nobody has to find shelf space for it.

Manuka honey takes that everyday idea and makes it special:

• It’s useful from day one. On toast, in tea, over yoghurt or straight off the spoon.

• It keeps. Australian researchers found the activity of Australian Manuka honey will keep it’s MGO level if stored in the fridge for seven years, so there’s no rush to use it.

• It feels like a treat. Manuka is the honey people love but don’t always buy for themselves, and ours is 100% Australian and raw.

What the MGO number on Manuka honey means

MGO stands for methylglyoxal, the naturally occurring compound behind Manuka honey’s distinctive activity. It forms as the honey matures, from a compound in the nectar of Leptospermum plants, and Australia is home to more than 80 native species.

The higher the number on the jar, the stronger the honey. Here’s how we think about our four strengths:

• MGO 30+: a mild table honey the whole family will enjoy

• MGO 100+: the everyday pantry essential

• MGO 500+: your daily defence

• MGO 900+: our immunity boost, and the jar people reach for when they’re feeling symptom coming on.

Laboratory studies have found that Manuka honey can stimulate immune cells, which helps explain the loyal following of the higher strengths. For more, see our guide to choosing the right MGO strength.

Our Manuka honey gift packs at a glance

All five packs come gift boxed and ready to give.

Which Manuka honey gift pack suits who?

Robust Flavours Pack: for the foodie or first-time taster

Our taster pack: three jars with real character. Tea Tree has a caramel aroma and a smoothness to match. Leatherwood, from a tree native to Tasmania’s cool temperate rainforests, has a caramelised citrus taste and a lingering spicy finish. Manuka MGO 30+ is a gentle introduction to Manuka. At $25.50 the Robust Flavours Pack is an easy yes.

Intro to Well-being Pack: for someone just starting out

Manuka MGO 30+ for the whole family, MGO 100+ for the pantry, and a jar of 100% Australian bee pollen. The Intro to Well-being Pack suits a neighbour, a colleague or anyone curious about Manuka.

Surge Ahead Pack: for the friend who already loves Manuka

A step up in strength. The Surge Ahead Pack pairs everyday MGO 100+ with MGO 500+, our daily defence, plus bee pollen.

In Case of Emergency Pack: for the wellness devotee

One jar of MGO 900+ and two jars of bee pollen. The In Case of Emergency Pack is for the person who likes to have the strong one on hand.

Supercharge Pack: for the big thank-you

Our two highest strengths together: MGO 500+ for daily defence and MGO 900+ for an immunity boost, with bee pollen alongside. The Supercharge Pack is the one for when you really want to spoil someone, and at $110 it ships free.

A quick word on the bee pollen

Four of our packs include 100% Australian bee pollen. Ours is pure and has not been irradiated like imported pollen. Research reviews put bee pollen at around 22.7% protein on average, with essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Sprinkle it over yoghurt or granola, and read more in our post on the benefits of bee pollen.

Manuka honey gift packs for teachers

By December, most teachers have a cupboard full of scented candles and more chocolate than one person should face alone. A Manuka honey gift pack is a more unique way to say thanks, and it’s something they’ll actually use.

Robust Flavours ($25.50) and Intro to Well-being ($35) are our go-to teacher gifts: gift boxed, generous and easy on the budget. For a class gift, Surge Ahead is a lovely step up.

Manuka honey gift packs for Christmas

Honey suits almost everyone on the list, and it looks the part under the tree in its gift box. A few ideas:

• Kris Kringle or a host gift: Robust Flavours

• Parents and in-laws: Surge Ahead

• The friend who loves their wellness routine: In Case of Emergency

• The person who has everything: Supercharge

Delivery can slow down in the weeks before Christmas, so it pays to order early.

Gift boxing and delivery

• Gift boxed: every pack arrives in a gift box. Packs travel with the handles flat to protect them, so pop the handle up before you give it.

• Dispatch: orders placed before 12pm Queensland time on a business day are sent the same day. Standard shipping is free on orders over $90.

• Where we can’t deliver: quarantine laws mean we can’t send honey to Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Norfolk Island or Kangaroo Island.

Frequently asked questions

Is Manuka honey a good gift?

Yes. Manuka honey is practical, keeps well and feels more special than everyday honey, so it’s a gift people use and enjoy.

Which Manuka honey gift pack is best for a teacher?

We suggest the Robust Flavours Pack ($25.50) or the Intro to Well-being Pack ($35). Both are gift boxed and make a more unique thank-you than coffee cups, candles or chocolates.

What does MGO mean on Manuka honey?

MGO stands for methylglyoxal, the naturally occurring compound behind Manuka honey’s distinctive activity. The higher the number, the stronger the honey.

How long does Manuka honey last?

A long time. Sealed honey can stay stable for decades. Keep it in the pantry, away from heat. If it crystallises, which is natural, sit the jar in warm water.

Do Simply Honey gift packs come gift boxed?

Yes, all five Manuka honey gift packs come gift boxed.

Give a gift from nature

A Manuka honey gift pack is the kind of present that gets used down to the last spoonful, whether it’s a small thank-you for a teacher or a generous Christmas gift.

Start with the Robust Flavours Pack or Intro to Well-being Pack for a thoughtful thank-you, step up to Surge Ahead, or go all out with In Case of Emergency or Supercharge. You can also browse all our Manuka gift packs.

After something without Manuka? Take a look at our gourmet honey gift ideas.

Simply pure. Simply delicious.