Mānuka honey

February 10, 2021 3:06 PM

I like honey. I'd like to try Mānuka honey, but honey of many varieties is often counterfeit, online sellers are unscrupulous, and this is expensive enough that I'd like to have a reasonable chance at tasting the real thing. Short of visiting New Zealand, which is not a realistic option at this time, are there legitimate sellers of this item?

Many certifications appear to be issued by sellers. Are there certifications that are issued by independent or government bodies, that are known to be reliable?

posted by They sucked his brains out! to Food & Drink (4 answers total)

Best answer: You need to look for Manuka honey that has a UMF rating which means it’s been lab tested for genuine Manuka honey markers.
posted by Jubey at 3:26 PM on February 10, 2021

Best answer: I’ve bought UMF rated Manuka honey from Trader Joe’s.
posted by music for skeletons at 4:22 PM on February 10, 2021 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I've seen it at CostCo before in person; they sell it online here apparently. The online version is much more expensive, but apparently that's because it's a higher grade, according to the reviews?
posted by foxfirefey at 4:45 PM on February 10, 2021

Best answer: You could try ordering direct from the suppliers. I'm not sure how the prices would work out for you, but these are some big, long-established companies in NZ: Comvita (NZ company, this is their US site) or Manuka Health (NZ site, ships to US), Arataki Honey (NZ site, ships to US). Other members of the UMF Honey Association might be worth a look too.
posted by Pink Frost at 5:26 PM on February 10, 2021 [1 favorite]