MANUKA HONEY MGO 100+ Direct from Australian Beekeepers

No. This is one of the biggest misconceptions about Manuka honey. The Manuka plant (Leptospermum species) is native to Australia, and Australia is home to 84 out of the 87 known Leptospermum species worldwide. New Zealand’s Manuka plant is believed to have originated from Australian seeds that crossed the Tasman Sea millions of years ago. Bees were also introduced to Australia nearly two decades before New Zealand, meaning Australia was producing Manuka honey first.

Manuka honey comes from the nectar of specific species within the Leptospermum genus, commonly called Manuka. These are hardy shrubs with white or pink flowers that have evolved in Australia over around 23 million years. In Australia, there are about 80 different Leptospermum species; in New Zealand, the only species is Leptospermum scoparium.

Manuka honey contains naturally occurring compounds in much higher concentrations than regular honey, including:

Methylglyoxal (MGO) – contributes to its antibacterial properties.

Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) – present in the flower nectar and converts to MGO over time.

Leptosperin – a marker used to confirm authenticity and linked to potential health benefits.

Both Australian and New Zealand Manuka honeys come from Leptospermum plants and can have strong bioactive properties. However:

Australia has far greater Manuka plant diversity (about 80 species versus New Zealand’s primary single species).

Recent university research (e.g., from the University of the Sunshine Coast) has shown that leptosperin levels in Australian Manuka honey can be up to nearly three times higher than those found in New Zealand Manuka honey.

This suggests very strong authenticity markers and potential health-related activity in Australian Manuka honey.

The MGO number indicates how much methylglyoxal is present in the honey, measured in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg).

For example:

MGO 30+ – at least 30 mg of MGO per kg of honey.

MGO 100+ – at least 100 mg/kg

MGO 500+ – at least 500 mg/kg

MGO 900+ – at least 900 mg/kg (very high strength)

Higher MGO means stronger antibacterial activity and usually a higher price. Each batch of our Manuka honey is independently laboratory tested so that the MGO rating on the label matches what’s actually in the jar.

Look for the following:

Transparent labelling –Look for clear “100% Australian Manuka Honey” labelling, verified MGO ratings, and independent test information when choosing your Manuka.

If a product claims to be Manuka honey but doesn’t provide MGO testing or credible certification, it’s wise to be cautious.

This is a great question. Manuka is a common name for plants of the Leptospermum genus. As happens with many names, they can be adopted across many languages.

This is exactly what has happened with Manuka. It’s origins are clearly Māori. It was adopted as a common name for Leptospermum Scoparium. L. Scoparium is native to Australia and New Zealand. Europeans from both countries started using the same common name for the plant.

Honey varieties generally take their name from the common name of the plant. Yellow Box, Ironbark and Leatherwood honey are a few common examples. This is also exactly what has happened with Manuka Honey.

These days when people think of Manuka honey they are generally referring to honey from plants of the Leptospermum genus which possess MGO (methylglyoxal) levels in excess of 82.

It is this elevated level of MGO which gives Manuka honey its unique healing properties.

Interestingly, the first recorded evidence of the name Manuka being used to describe leptospermum plants appears in a Tasmanian Government House of Assembly report in 1882. This is in Tasmania, Australia, not New Zealand. Shortly after, 1884 Tasmanian maps refer to areas of “low Manuka and Tea Tree scrub”, and the Launceston Examiner newspaper in 1884–1885 also describes Tasmanian landscapes of “manuka” plants.