Discover Mānuka Honey

Bees have been making their honey for 10–20 million years, lending it an ancient pedigree for healing and renewing the skin.

The ancient Egyptians used honey to embalm their dead, the Greek physician, Hippocrates, cured skin disorders with honey, while the ancient Romans used honey as a gift to the gods.

However, Mānuka honey is a complex honey that goes far beyond a simple table honey. It has been the focus of extensive scientific research, evidencing remarkable natural properties that set it apart from other honeys and make it so highly prized throughout the world.

This unique healer has extraordinary benefits when used in our natural skincare.

We harness Mānuka honey in our anti-aging natural skincare because Mānuka honey has three important actions:

Cleanse

For a wound to heal quickly, it needs to remain clean and free from any dead or damaged tissue.

Clinical studies have shown that Mānuka honey promotes a very important action called autolytic debridement where it works in harmony with your body to help keep the wound clean naturally, flushing out bacteria, debris and dead tissue, while protecting the new healthy tissue.

Protect

With a rich, thick, and sticky texture, Mānuka honey works to form a physical barrier between the wound and the environment, protecting against bacteria and reducing the risk of infection.

It also contains powerful antibacterial and antimicrobial qualities.

Mānuka honey is an ultra-saturated medley of about 80% sugar; thanks to this sugary composition and the lack of water, the honey creates a hostile environment for bacteria and other microbes ensuring they are unable to grow or thrive.

Hydrogen peroxide gives most honey its antibiotic quality. But the major antibacterial component in Mānuka honey is a bioactive compound called methylglyoxal or MGO.

In Mānuka honey, it has been found to have levels of MGO up to 100x higher than ordinary honey such as Clover.

Although several studies have been undertaken to understand why MGO is responsible for the antibacterial activity of Manuka honey, the chemistry behind this phenomenon remains unclear.

Heal

Honey supports fast and healthy wound healing by creating a moist, low pH environment. 

This low pH works to provide oxygen to regenerating tissue which in turn promotes new tissue formation.
Mānuka honey also has a very high level of phenolics which act as antioxidants.

These are super important in wound care because they decrease inflammation, while working to soothe the damaged area and minimise scarring.

Finally, honey is what they call a “humectant”, which means it works to draw vital moisture into the skin while helping fortify skin’s barrier which increases skin’s ability to recover and bounce back from damage.

Why It’s So Good

New Zealand Māori have treasured the therapeutic and medicinal value of all things pertaining to the Manuka plant for centuries; but Mānuka honey is nature’s liquid gold.

This raw bounty comes from the nectar of the Mānuka flower (Leptospermum Scoparium) which grows wild and freely deep within the untouched wilderness of New Zealand’s hillsides and coastlines.

Manuka honey is chemically more complex than most other honeys, which is why it's so amazing for your skin.

A precious elixir of proteins, fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes, Mānuka honey also contains naturally occurring antibacterial, antiseptic and antimicrobial qualities found nowhere else- a highly beneficial trilogy of hydrogen peroxide, methylglyoxal (MGO) and dihydroxyacetone (DHA).

In fact, New Zealand Mānuka honey contains over 2,000 individual compounds which is more than 20-fold higher than pasture honey such as clover.

In addition to the unique qualities it contains, Mānuka honey takes immense skill, planning and resources to harvest.

Blocks of Mānuka bush all bloom at differing times, so the beekeepers need to figure out the best time to harvest, to make sure that only the purest Mānuka honey is collected.

Not only is collecting the honey challenging, but there is also a narrow window when the Manuka flowers are in bloom, only between 2 - 8 weeks per year, depending upon the season.

As the Mānuka tree can be temperamental, weather conditions can greatly impact and limit the time that the Manuka flower is in bloom, making the season and total harvest very limited in years of poor weather. This even further reduces production harvest; hence it is a very rare commodity, adding to its reputation of liquid gold.

Not all honeys are created equal

Every batch of our Mānuka honey comes with its own Unique Mānuka Factor (UMF™) rating.

After being recommended by Dr Peter Molan, lead researcher into the properties of Mānuka honey, the UMF™ rating was developed by the UMF™ Honey Association and only given to those who meet the strictest of New Zealand standards.

This was because it was found that not all Mānuka honey expressed the same efficacy when it came to fighting harmful bacteria, or healing wounds.

The UMF™ grading system uses the most comprehensive and transparent test currently available for Mānuka honey, and appraises natural, signature markers such as pollen count, Leptosperin, DHA and Methylglyoxal (or MGO).

The Honey Collection’s UMF™ strength ranges from 12+ to 15+. The higher the number, the higher the concentration of these compounds, the more targeted the usage for common wellness remedies.

We are proudly licensed members of the UMF™ Honey Association. This mark is our way of assuring the quality, purity and authenticity of every batch. Not all honey is equal, which is why you should always look for a UMF™ rating.