The Century Old Natural Remedy You Should Swear By
Produced mostly in New Zealand and some parts of Australia, Manuka Honey is thought to have been in use since the fourteenth century, though not for sweetening your tea. Indigenous tribes in New Zealand and Australia have been using the leaves of the Manuka tree and its honey for thousands of years, and modern society is just now waking up to its benefits.
But hold on - Manuka honey is not your average grocery store honey. In its purest form, 100g of this honey can cost up to $99 (more than 100x the price of regular honey!) The honey is derived from the flowering Manuka plant called Leptospermum scoparium, only native to New Zealand. The flowering season of the Manuka plant is super short (only six to twelve weeks), and the harvesting period is only two to six weeks, making it super rare. It also differentiates itself through its three natural chemicals: Methylglyoxal (MGO), Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) and Leptosperin.
It’s these three properties, especially the MGO, that give this honey way more unique antibacterial properties than regular honey. The Australian Manuka Honey Association (AMHA) has a strict process for making sure the Manuka honey is authentic, and does so by testing and approving the minimum standards of these natural chemicals. Passing these tests wins the AMHA’s Mark of Authenticity - Yes, this honey has to have an actual seal of approval! What else makes this honey so special, you may ask? Manuka honey only makes up about one percent of the world’s honey, and bees even fly up to four miles just to collect THIS. HONEY.
According to Healthline, Manuka honey “may help treat numerous ailments, including irritable bowel syndrome, gastric ulcers, periodontal disease and upper respiratory infections.”
The honey itself can be pricey, but with all its proven health benefits, it’s sure to be worth the price! Trust us, we’ve tried it. ;)