Finding Better Food Suppliers

Posted on: 11 March 2022

Manuka honey is a special kind of honey that is only made in Australia and New Zealand. Bees create it from the nectar of the tea tree, which is native to these regions. Not only can you eat manuka honey, but using it topically on wounds and burns is said to help heal them. This is due to the antibacterial properties of honey, along with its high levels of antioxidants. But what do you need to know as you shop for manuka honey? Here are some tips that will help ensure you come home with the right honey.

Check where it is sourced.

Manuka honey can be a little pricey. As such, there may be some less-than-honest folks out there trying to pass off "counterfeit" manuka honey as the real thing. A good way to know the difference is to check where the honey was produced. If it comes from New Zealand or Australia, then it is most likely the real thing. If it comes from anywhere else, then it is not real manuka honey. The tea trees the bees use to make the manuka honey don't grow anywhere other than Australia and New Zealand, so nobody can make manuka honey anywhere else.

Start with a small jar.

The first time you buy manuka honey, just start with a small jar. This way, you can experiment with it and see how you like to use it best without committing to a big, expensive jar. While manuka honey won't spoil because honey itself does not spoil, its levels of beneficial compounds may diminish over time. So, buying a smaller jar helps ensure you use the honey up while it is at its best.

Check whether you're buying medical or food-grade honey.

Since manuka honey is often used as a topical treatment, you'll see some containers of it specifically labeled and marketed for medical use. You'll see other jars labeled "food grade." Pay attention to this because it does make a difference. Honey sold for medicinal use is put in sterilized containers and meets certain regulatory standards for safety that food-grade honey may not need to meet. Choose your honey based on the way you intend to use it. In a pinch, you could eat medicinal honey or put food-grade honey on a wound — but you might as well start with the most ideal product.

Shopping for manuka honey can be a lot of fun. And if you follow the tips above, you'll come home with the best product for you.

To learn more, contact a company like Hokitika Honey & Herb Co.