How do you know you are buying Authentic Manuka Honey?

With all the hype and confusion on the internet, and even in health-food stores, how do you really know for sure, as a consumer, that you are really buying authentic Manuka Honey?
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Four times last year, BBC local radio called us and asked us to speak live to their audiences about genuine Manuka Honey. Always, the question is the same: “What’s all this about fake manuka honey? How can we tell?”

The problem comes from the word Manuka: it’s the name of the bush growing in profusion in New Zealand and from which the bees get their nectar. But, manuka honey need only be honey which has the manuka flavour and it’s only too easy to be fooled into buying honey with a manuka flavour but which may have been extensively mixed with a lot of cheap flavourless honey.

So how can you be sure you’re not being taken for a ride?

Fortunately, the answer is simple: Always look on the jar label. Does it have the words “Unique Manuka Factor ®” or “UMF ®” followed a by a number? If so, then you’re over the first step. It’s genuine!

Only fully licensed members of the New Zealand Unique Manuka Factor Honey Association (UMFHA) are permitted to use those words or letters – they are world-wide registered trademarks and the members of the association are closely regulated and monitored to ensure that all their jars of manuka honey bearing those marks is truly genuine and authentic.

No producer having gained approval and membership of that association is likely to prejudice their livelihood and right to use those coveted trade marks by adding them to jars of fake manuka honey!

UMF ® Manuka Honey can only be produced and exported from New Zealand and in sealed containers, and the container’s label must show the producers UMFHA License Number and the honey’s ‘batch’ number or lot number which provides full traceability.
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