Buying Manuka honey can get confusing fast.
One jar says MGO 350+. Another says UMF 15+. Some brands talk about raw honey, others focus on where their bees forage, and nearly every label claims to be premium.
So, which Manuka honey brand is actually worth buying?
We compared 10 well-known Manuka honey brands based on where their honey comes from, how it is graded, whether it is independently tested, how easy it is to trace, and how clearly each company explains what is inside the jar.
Our top overall pick is Bees & Trees, a small New Zealand producer that stands out for its hive-to-jar approach, independent batch testing, published laboratory results, and Manuka honey produced from its own hives in Taranaki.
Best Manuka Honey Brands at a Glance
| Rank | Brand | Best For | Origin | What Stands Out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bees & Trees | Hive-to-jar New Zealand Manuka | Taranaki, New Zealand | Independent batch testing and published lab reports |
| 2 | Tahi | Sustainability | New Zealand | UMF certification and conservation work |
| 3 | WildCape | Regional sourcing | East Cape, New Zealand | UMF-certified East Cape Manuka |
| 4 | The True Honey Co. | High-MGO Manuka | New Zealand | Premium, high-strength Manuka |
| 5 | Steens | Raw Manuka honey | New Zealand | Raw processing and UMF certification |
| 6 | Manukora | Easy traceability | New Zealand | Batch-level digital traceability |
| 7 | New Zealand Honey Co. | Wide UMF selection | New Zealand | Broad range of certified strengths |
| 8 | Comvita | Established brand | New Zealand | Long history and wide availability |
| 9 | Manuka Bloom | Australian Manuka | Australia | Broad MGO range and batch testing |
| 10 | Berringa | Australian Manuka | Australia | Independently tested MGO-rated honey |
How We Chose the Best Manuka Honey Brands
There is no single jar that will be the right choice for everyone.
Someone looking for an everyday honey may care more about price and taste. Another buyer may want a high MGO level, while someone else may care most about where the honey came from and whether the batch can be verified.
For this list, we looked at six things:
Origin. Is it clear where the honey comes from?
MGO or UMF grading. Does the brand give shoppers a measurable strength instead of relying on terms such as “premium” or “active”?
Independent testing. Is the honey tested by an outside laboratory or covered by an independent certification system?
Traceability. Can the jar or batch be connected to a region, production site, test result, or batch number?
Processing. Does the company explain how its honey is extracted and handled?
Transparency. Can shoppers easily find information supporting the claims being made?
These factors tell you much more about a jar of Manuka honey than attractive packaging does.
1. Best Overall: Bees & Trees Manuka Honey
Best for: Buyers who want clear origin, independent testing, and minimally processed New Zealand Mānuka honey
Origin: Taranaki, New Zealand
Among the brands we reviewed, Bees & Trees ranks first overall for its combination of high MGO levels, independent batch testing, and traceable sourcing from the Taranaki region of New Zealand.
Bees & Trees places its hives in areas with high concentrations of wild Mānuka trees in some of New Zealand’s most pristine wilderness. The bees forage among these native trees to produce Mānuka honey that is harvested and extracted in small batches.
The honey is raw, natural, and minimally processed, which Bees & Trees describes as its “hive-to-jar” approach. Each batch is linked to a specific cropping area, and selected batches are packed in glass jars under the Bees & Trees label.
The brand offers three main Mānuka honey strengths: MGO 350+, MGO 550+, and Founder’s Reserve MGO 830+.
MGO stands for methylglyoxal, a naturally occurring compound in Mānuka honey that is closely associated with its antibacterial activity. In general, higher MGO levels indicate greater antibacterial activity, making the clearly labeled strengths easier for buyers to compare.
Authenticity and transparency are also important strengths. After extraction, each batch is tested by an independent laboratory for the four chemical markers and one DNA marker used to confirm that it meets New Zealand government standards for monofloral Mānuka honey. The honey is also tested for its MGO level, and laboratory results are available for customers to review.
Bees & Trees says the unique microclimate of Taranaki contributes to the taste of its honey. Its remote cropping sites, small-batch production, minimal processing, and clear testing information give buyers a strong connection to both the origin and quality of the honey.
Why Bees & Trees Is Our #1 Pick
- Produced from Bees & Trees’ own hives
- Sourced from Taranaki, New Zealand
- Small, family-owned producer
- Hive-to-jar traceability
- Raw and minimally processed
- Harvested and extracted in small batches
- Independently batch tested
- Laboratory reports available to customers
- Clearly stated MGO strengths
- Available in MGO 350+, 550+, and 830+
- Packed in glass jars
- Available to U.S. customers
For buyers looking for authentic New Zealand Manuka honey with particularly clear sourcing, independent testing, and high-MGO options, Bees & Trees is our top overall choice.
2. Tahi: Best for Sustainability
Origin: New Zealand
Tahi is worth looking at if environmental impact matters almost as much to you as the honey itself.
The New Zealand producer has made habitat restoration and biodiversity a major part of its work. Its approach goes well beyond simply putting sustainability claims on the label.
Tahi also offers a range of UMF-certified Manuka honey strengths, so buyers can choose between lower and higher-rated products without leaving the brand.
It is a particularly good fit for shoppers who want independently certified New Zealand Manuka from a producer with a strong conservation focus.
3. WildCape: Best for East Cape Manuka Honey
Origin: East Cape, New Zealand
WildCape’s biggest strength is its connection to one of New Zealand’s best-known Manuka-producing regions.
Its honey comes from the remote East Cape, and the brand puts that regional origin at the center of its story.
WildCape offers UMF-certified Manuka honey at several strengths and provides batch and certification information that helps shoppers understand what they are buying.
If knowing exactly which part of New Zealand your honey comes from matters to you, WildCape is one of the more interesting options on this list.
4. The True Honey Co.: Best for High-MGO Manuka
Origin: New Zealand
The True Honey Co. sits at the premium end of the market.
Rather than focusing heavily on entry-level Manuka, the company is known for high-strength honey sourced from remote areas of New Zealand.
That also means the price can rise quickly.
The True Honey Co. makes the most sense for buyers who already know they want a high-MGO or high-UMF Manuka and are comfortable paying more for it.
For someone trying Manuka honey for the first time, one of the lower or mid-strength options elsewhere on this list may be a more practical starting point.
5. Steens: Best for Raw Manuka Honey
Origin: New Zealand
Steens has built much of its reputation around raw honey.
The New Zealand company focuses on keeping processing to a minimum and offers Manuka honey across several MGO and UMF strengths.
Its products are also traceable, and the company gives buyers useful information about how its honey is handled from the hive through processing.
Steens is a strong choice if keeping the honey as close as possible to its original state is one of your main priorities.
6. Manukora: Best for Easy Digital Traceability
Origin: New Zealand
Manukora makes it unusually easy for shoppers to learn more about the honey inside their jar.
The company combines New Zealand sourcing with batch-level traceability and a polished digital experience designed to show where the honey came from and provide supporting product information.
That can be useful for shoppers who find MGO numbers, regions, test results, and other Manuka terminology difficult to navigate.
Manukora also focuses heavily on higher-strength Manuka, making it a good option for buyers who want both stronger MGO levels and straightforward traceability.
7. New Zealand Honey Co.: Best for a Wide UMF Range
Origin: New Zealand
New Zealand Honey Co. is a good place to look if you want plenty of strength options from one producer.
The brand sells Manuka honey across a broad range of UMF levels, which makes it easier to start with a lower grade or move into higher-strength products without changing brands.
It also places a strong emphasis on certification and traceability.
That broad selection makes New Zealand Honey Co. particularly useful for shoppers who already understand UMF ratings and want to choose a jar around a specific grade.
8. Comvita: Best Established Manuka Honey Brand
Origin: New Zealand
Comvita is one of the most recognizable names in the Manuka honey market.
The New Zealand company has been around for decades and sells its products in numerous countries. Its range covers several UMF and MGO levels, from more accessible everyday options to much higher strengths.
Comvita may not offer the same small-producer feel as Bees & Trees or WildCape, but its size has advantages.
Its products are easy to find, its grading is clear, and the company has a long history in the New Zealand honey industry.
For shoppers who prefer buying from a large, established brand, Comvita remains a dependable option.
9. Manuka Bloom: Best Australian Manuka for Variety
Origin: Australia
Manuka honey is not produced only in New Zealand.
Australia is home to several native Leptospermum species that can also produce honey with measurable MGO levels.
Manuka Bloom is an Australian producer offering a broad selection of MGO strengths and batch testing information.
It’s worth considering if you specifically want Australian Manuka rather than New Zealand Manuka.
Just remember that Australian and New Zealand Manuka operate under different definitions, testing requirements, and certification systems, so check the origin rather than treating them as interchangeable products.
10. Berringa: Best Established Australian Manuka Brand
Origin: Australia
Berringa is another established Australian name in the category.
Its honey is sold using MGO ratings and the company emphasizes independent laboratory testing, giving shoppers a measurable way to compare different strengths.
Berringa is a practical choice for buyers specifically looking for Australian Manuka from an established producer with clearly stated MGO levels.
How Can You Tell if Manuka Honey Is Real?
Start with the country of origin.
New Zealand has a legal scientific definition for Manuka honey intended for export. Honey sold as New Zealand Manuka must meet government requirements based on a combination of chemical and DNA markers.
After that, check the jar and the brand’s website for:
- A clearly stated country of origin
- A specific MGO or UMF rating
- A batch or lot number
- Independent testing or certification
- Information about the producer
- Details about where the honey was harvested
- An explanation of whether it is monofloral or multifloral
- A lab report or another way to verify the batch, where available
Be cautious when a jar depends heavily on words such as “premium,” “active,” or “bio-active” without explaining what those terms actually mean.
A high price does not prove that Manuka honey is authentic. A clear paper trail is far more useful.
MGO vs. UMF: What’s the Difference?
MGO and UMF are two of the most common terms you’ll come across when comparing Manuka honey brands.
They are related, but they do not mean exactly the same thing.
What Is MGO?
MGO stands for methylglyoxal, one of the compounds closely associated with Manuka honey’s characteristic non-peroxide antibacterial activity.
The number tells you the minimum concentration of methylglyoxal in the honey, measured in milligrams per kilogram.
For example:
- MGO 100+ means at least 100 mg/kg
- MGO 350+ means at least 350 mg/kg
- MGO 550+ means at least 550 mg/kg
- MGO 830+ means at least 830 mg/kg
A larger MGO number means a higher measured concentration of methylglyoxal.
It does not automatically mean that the highest number is the best jar for every person.
What Is UMF?
UMF stands for Unique Manuka Factor.
Unlike MGO, which refers to the concentration of one compound, UMF is a New Zealand certification and grading system.
It includes MGO alongside additional markers used to assess the honey’s authenticity and quality.
Put simply:
MGO tells you how much methylglyoxal was measured in the honey.
UMF is a broader certification system that includes MGO and other quality markers.
Both can be useful when the rating is backed by legitimate testing.
Does Manuka Honey Have to Be UMF Certified?
No.
UMF is a private certification system. A producer does not have to be a UMF member to have its honey independently tested for MGO or to meet New Zealand’s requirements for Manuka honey.
Some producers choose UMF certification.
Others use independent laboratories and state the measured MGO concentration directly.
Bees & Trees is a good example of the second approach. The company independently tests each batch, states the MGO level on the jar, and makes its laboratory results available to customers.
When comparing brands, ask a few basic questions:
Who tested the honey?
What did they test?
Can the result be connected to a specific batch?
Can I see the supporting information?
Those answers tell you much more than a logo by itself.
Which MGO Strength Should You Buy?
You do not automatically need the highest MGO number you can find.
Higher-MGO Manuka tends to be harder to produce and more expensive, so the right choice depends on why you’re buying it and how often you plan to use it.
Before choosing, think about:
- How often you will use the honey
- Whether you want an everyday or higher-strength product
- Your budget
- The size of the jar
- Whether the stated MGO level has been independently verified
For many buyers, choosing authentic, well-tested Manuka from a transparent producer is more important than simply buying the jar with the largest number.
Which Brand of Manuka Honey Is Best?
There isn’t one brand that wins in every category.
For clear New Zealand origin, hive-to-jar traceability, independent batch testing, and published laboratory results, our overall pick is Bees & Trees.
Other brands may make more sense depending on what you care about:
- Tahi if sustainability is your priority
- WildCape if you want East Cape New Zealand Manuka
- The True Honey Co. for very high-strength Manuka
- Steens for raw Manuka honey
- Manukora for easy digital traceability
- New Zealand Honey Co. for a wide UMF range
- Comvita for a large, established global brand
- Manuka Bloom or Berringa for Australian Manuka
The best Manuka honey brand for you is the one that matches your priorities and gives you enough information to verify what you are buying.
What Is the Best Manuka Honey Brand in the USA?
For U.S. shoppers who specifically want New Zealand Manuka honey, Bees & Trees is our top overall pick.
The honey is produced from the company’s own hives in Taranaki, New Zealand, comes in clearly stated MGO strengths, and is independently batch tested.
Bees & Trees also publishes laboratory reports, giving U.S. customers an easy way to check the testing behind the jar they are buying.
In other words, the brand answers three important questions clearly:
Where does it come from?
Taranaki, New Zealand.
How strong is it?
The MGO concentration is stated on the jar.
Has that strength been independently tested?
Yes. Bees & Trees independently tests its batches and makes testing information available.
That combination is why Bees & Trees takes the #1 position in our ranking.
Final Verdict
The best Manuka honey isn’t necessarily the jar with the highest MGO number, the biggest brand name, or the highest price.
Look at what you can verify.
A good Manuka honey brand should make it reasonably easy to understand where the honey came from, how its strength was measured, how it was tested, and who produced it.
For shoppers who value New Zealand origin, hive-to-jar traceability, minimal processing, independent batch testing, and published laboratory results, Bees & Trees is our top Manuka honey brand.
Whatever brand you choose, buy based on the information behind the label, not just the claims on the front.
