MGO vs UMF: How To Choose Real Mānuka Honey

The supermarket jar and the £1,500 jar can't both be right. Here's what MGO and UMF ratings actually mean, and how to choose genuine Mānuka honey.

Mānuka honey has become one of the most talked-about natural products in the world. It's also one of the most misunderstood. Walk into any supermarket and you'll find jars labelled "Mānuka" sitting alongside regular honey, priced just a few pounds more. Search online and you'll find jars selling for hundreds, and in some cases over a thousand pounds.

The price difference isn't random, and it isn't just branding. It reflects a genuine, measurable difference in quality, rarity and MGO content. But unless you understand the grading system, it's almost impossible to tell what you're actually buying.

So let's clear it up.

What Makes Mānuka Different?

Mānuka honey is made by bees that feed on the nectar of the Mānuka bush (Leptospermum scoparium), which grows in New Zealand. What sets it apart from other honey is a naturally occurring compound called methylglyoxal, or MGO, found at unusually high levels in genuine Mānuka.

MGO is the reason Mānuka is graded the way it is. The more MGO a honey contains, the higher its grade, the rarer it is, and the more it tends to cost. It also changes the flavour: higher grades are richer, darker and more intensely earthy.

MGO vs UMF: What's The Difference?

You'll see two main grading systems on Mānuka honey labels: MGO and UMF.

MGO is straightforward. It measures the amount of methylglyoxal in milligrams per kilogram. A jar labelled MGO 300+ contains at least 300mg/kg of methylglyoxal. The higher the number, the higher the grade.

UMF (Unique Mānuka Factor) is a broader quality mark run by the UMF Honey Association in New Zealand. It tests for several markers, including MGO, leptosperin (which confirms the honey genuinely comes from Mānuka nectar) and HMF (which indicates freshness). So UMF tells you more, because it verifies authenticity and freshness as well as MGO level.

The two scales line up like this:

UMF rating	Approximate MGO	Grade
UMF 5+	MGO 83+	Entry level
UMF 10+	MGO 263+	Everyday
UMF 15+	MGO 514+	Premium
UMF 20+	MGO 829+	High grade
UMF 25+	MGO 1200+	Ultra premium, very rare

So if you've seen "850 MGO" Mānuka honey, that's roughly equivalent to UMF 20+, firmly in the high-grade bracket.

Why Most Supermarket Mānuka Isn't Worth The Premium

Here's the uncomfortable truth: much of the Mānuka honey on sale in the UK is either blended, low grade, or doesn't contain meaningful levels of MGO.

Genuine high-grade Mānuka is rare. The Mānuka bush only flowers for a few weeks each year, and the conditions needed for high-MGO honey (remote, unspoilt areas with dense Mānuka growth) are hard to find. Reports have suggested that more "Mānuka honey" is sold around the world each year than New Zealand actually produces. That gap is filled by blends, low-grade honey sold under the Mānuka name, and labels that imply more than the contents deliver.

A jar labelled "Mānuka Honey" with no MGO or UMF rating, or a very low rating like MGO 30 or MGO 50, is unlikely to be meaningfully different from regular honey. You're paying a premium for the name, not the grade.

Which Strength Should You Choose?

MGO 300+ (around UMF 10+) is the natural starting point. It's genuine, certified Mānuka with a lovely rich flavour, and it's the grade most people choose for everyday use: stirred into tea, drizzled on porridge or toast, or eaten straight from the spoon. Our 300+ MGO Mānuka Honey is a great place to start, and the 400+ MGO Squeezy Mānuka Honey is handy for busy mornings.

MGO 500+ (around UMF 15+) is a step up in rarity and intensity. Many people who use Mānuka every day as part of their routine move to this level once they've got to know the taste.

MGO 800+ and above (UMF 20+) is where Mānuka becomes genuinely rare. The flavour is deep and complex, and these grades are usually enjoyed in small amounts, by the spoonful, rather than used in cooking.

The ultra-premium grades above MGO 1200+ are some of the rarest honey in the world, produced in tiny quantities from the most remote hive locations, and prized by collectors.

Why We Chose The True Honey Co.

When we set out to find a Mānuka honey brand for Nalu, we had clear criteria. We wanted full traceability, so you know where the honey actually comes from, not just that it's "from New Zealand." We wanted independently tested grading. We wanted a brand that took sustainability and ethical beekeeping seriously. And we wanted a range broad enough for both everyday honey lovers and those looking for the rarest grades.

The True Honey Co. met every one. The brand says its honey is traceable to hive locations across New Zealand's remote landscapes, and its MGO and UMF ratings are independently tested and certified. Their range runs from everyday honeys right up to rare, ultra-high-grade harvests.

They also think carefully about how people actually enjoy honey. Their Mānuka Honey Lozenges and Bluenesse and Lemon Lozenges are a simple, portable way to enjoy Mānuka on the go.

How To Buy Smarter

If you take one thing from this post, let it be this: always check the MGO or UMF rating. If a jar doesn't display one, or the rating is below MGO 100, you're not getting the high MGO levels that make Mānuka genuinely special. You're better off buying good local honey at a fraction of the price.

Look for a clear MGO or UMF number, a brand that tells you where its honey comes from, and independent testing. For everyday use, MGO 300+ is the sweet spot. Above that, you're paying for rarity and intensity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does MGO mean on Mānuka honey?

MGO stands for methylglyoxal, a naturally occurring compound found at high levels in genuine Mānuka honey. The number shows how many milligrams of MGO there are per kilogram of honey, so MGO 300+ means at least 300mg/kg.

Is MGO or UMF better?

Both are useful. MGO measures one compound. UMF is a broader quality mark that also checks the honey is genuine Mānuka and fresh, so it gives a more complete picture.

What MGO is best for everyday use?

MGO 300+ (around UMF 10+) is the most popular grade for everyday use in tea, on toast or straight from the spoon. Higher grades are rarer and more intense, and usually enjoyed in smaller amounts.

Why is Mānuka honey so expensive?

Genuine Mānuka comes from a single plant that flowers for only a few weeks a year in remote parts of New Zealand. The higher the MGO grade, the rarer the honey, and the higher the price.

Mānuka honey is one of nature's most remarkable products. But only when it's real and properly graded. The rest is just expensive honey.

Explore our Mānuka honey in the Thrive collection, or ask our team for help choosing the right grade.