Manuka honey has been dubbed ‘liquid gold’ by nutritionists, foodies, and beauty influencers over the years.
Honey has been proven to have many benefits for people, from helping their immune systems to treating a number of illnesses and sore throats. A few spoons of honey have always been a long-term remedy, one that has continued to be popular even in the day of modern medicine. But not all honey is made equal.
One particular type of honey has even been called ‘liquid gold’ by various people over the years is Manuka honey. It is extracted from the nectar of the Manuka bush and grows exclusively in New Zealand. It contains a high proportion of methylglyoxal (MGO), which can have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects – however it is hard to source an authentic type of it.
The Manuka Doctor has a number of authentic options on their website, including a 100MGO dual pack for £8.50, down from £54 (an 84% discount) and a three pack for £12.50, down from £81.
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TV GP Dr Hilary has shared his views on the honey, saying: “Manuka honey contains special ingredients including methylglyoxal, or MGO for short. This value indicates the strength of Manuka honey’s health benefits. The higher the MGO content, the more valuable it is for us and the higher the price.”
The Manuka Doctor is the largest independent Manuka company from New Zealand which is backed by several doctors and nutritionists such as ITV’s Dr Hilary Jones. The honey itself is harvested and packed in New Zealand and is independently lab tested – shoppers can feel reassured that it is the real deal.
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Manuka Doctor has a variety of options, including 84% off their two and three packs of honey.
It also meets the NZ Government’s strict export laws and shoppers can actually trace their batch of honey right back to the beehives where it was created. Depending on what shoppers buy from the brand, they can get jars of Manuka Honey that range from 30 MGO the whole way up to a limited edition 1300 MGO.
The benefits of taking a spoonful of the honey include helping with colds and coughs, supporting digestion and giving a bit of a natural energy boost.
“Consuming at least ten grams of honey daily is extremely beneficial from a nutritional and medical perspective and is therefore recommended. Twenty grams daily can also be helpful for boosting the immune system. Long-term daily consumption of high-quality Manuka honey is essential,” Dr Hilary Jones added.
It has become evident over the years that honey – particularly Manuka honey – is one of the most commonly counterfeited foods in the world. Instead of bee gold, it is reported that people are being sold fake honey with an EU inspection report in 2023 (titled From The Hives) revealing that almost half of the honey tested was heavily diluted with cheap sugar syrup.
The report found that of the 320 samples tested, 46 percent were not pure honey. Furthermore, the result of a DNA analysis commissioned by the Beekeepers’ Association at the end of 2024 showed that 24 out of 25 jars of honey from big UK retailers were suspicious, so not quite the bees knees.
However, there are still brands that do sell authentic Manuka, and if shoppers don’t want to try this brand, there are others they can try. Lookfantastic has Manuka Health MGO 400+ Pure Monofloral Manuka Honey for £63.99 for example which is described as a rich and full-bodied Manuka Honey blend with a minimum of 400mg/kg methylglyoxal, also derived from New Zealand. Another option is Rowse Manuka Honey 100+ MGO 225g from Nisbets, priced at £11.99 and is said to have a distinctively sweet, rich and herbal flavour.
However, shoppers have shared their great experiences with Doctor Manuka as one customer, Bruce, who previously fell for fake products said: “The honeys are certified, so you can be sure they’re genuine. The difference compared to the other products was very significant: After just a few days, I felt much more energetic, focused, and positive.”
Another person shared their views on the 70 MGO Manuka Honey from Manuka Doctor, writing: “I am a New Zealander who grew up with Manuka honey before it was marketed for its well being qualities. As such I am very taste sensitive when it comes to honey. . . and this is a good one! I was shopping around to see if I could find a cheaper and equally good alternative to my normal brand and happily came across Manuka Doctor. I am super impressed by the quality, taste and sale prices which have made this honey really great value. Tried the 40 55 and 70 – all really great value.”
Not everyone shared the same sentiment however as one shopper said: “It was too strong for me.”
Someone else said: “Lovely honey, very soothing on the stomach. Bought in sale so the price was a bargain. More balanced than sugar, very nice added to hot water and fresh lemon juice. Help with recovery of my sore throat.”
Shoppers can get the Manuka Doctor honey from their website.