Consumer columnist and West Hartford resident Harlan Levy has more than 20 years of experience writing stories about everyday experiences that anyone could encounter.

Harlan Levy. Courtesy photo

By Harlan Levy

Before I get to my main topic – Manuka honey – here’s an event to note:

Infoshred will shred your confidential papers for free on Saturday, May 16, from 9 a.m. to noon or until the truck is full. The event will be at the side entrance of the West Hartford Public Works facility at 17 Brixton Street. The DPW side entrance is just past Brixton Street on Oakwood Avenue. Bring your ID. Limit is two copy paper boxes or equivalent, around 9” x 11” x 18″. No plastic bags.No junk mail or envelopes. When the truck is full, the event will end.

Manuka honey

I never heard of Manuka honey until my wife mentioned it and ordered some. It’s a unique honey with special health benefits compared to ordinary honey, she said. Ever since I’ve had a big spoonful every day.

What is it? From Wikipedia and seller websites Manukora.com and beesandtrees.com:

It’s not your typical honey. It’s richer, darker, creamier, and loaded with three times more antioxidants than conventional honey. Manuka honey can only be produced in New Zealand and Australia from the nectar of the Manuka tea tree flower. It blossoms for two to six weeks during the summer, and bees collect the nectar and pollen.

Courtesy of Harlan Levy

Most significantly, Manuka honey contains a unique compound called methylglyoxal (MGO), known for its beneficial antibacterial properties. MGO is used to measure the strength of Manuka honey – the higher the MGO, the higher the concentration of other beneficial bioactives.

It’s the most expensive honey in the world, based on its MGO level, and is valued for its wellness, healing, wound care, and nourishing skincare benefits.

The honey has a potent and broad spectrum of antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiparasitic properties. These properties combined can support stronger immunities, help fight cold/flu/virus infections, support better digestive health, and other health benefits.

• Comparison to regular honey: Regular honey is often processed and pasteurized with high heat, destroying many of the naturally occurring and beneficial nutrients. Even if you purchase raw honey, you still won’t find ingredients like MGO.
• Tests: Manuka honey for export from New Zealand must be independently tested to verify that it is derived from the tree. The Ministry for Primary Industries has developed a government standard called the Manuka Honey Science Definition test to ensure that all Manuka honey is pure when it leaves the country. The test has five attributes, four of which are chemical, and the honey must pass all five tests to be labeled as pure New Zealand Manuka honey. Independent quality and rating organisation, the UMF Honey Association then certifies four quality factors for honey harvested, packed, and sealed in New Zealand.
• Prices: Manuka honey typically comes in 8.8oz, 13.4oz, and 1.1lb jars. Shopping around Amazon I found a variety of prices for 8.8oz jars for example: $34 at 425 MGO, $80 at 850 MGO, and $$110 at 1025 MGO. Compare prices on Manukora and beesandtrees.
• Where to find it: You can find it at Trader Joe’s at Corbin’s Corner. Media Manager Nikia Roadie told me it’s been carried there since 2018, but she wouldn’t reveal how much is sold.
• Warning: Avoid any brand that has words like “activity,” “bio-activity,” or “factor” followed by a number. These brands are employing deceptive marketing practices to mislead the consumer into thinking the honey has the same level of MGO as MGO honey of the same rating. Steer clear of all others.

Now you know.

rader Joe’s has been selling Manuka honey (here at the Corbin’s Corner store) since 2018. Photo credit: Harlan Levy

NOTE: If you have a consumer problem, contact me at [email protected] (“Consumer” in subject line), and, with the power of the press, maybe I can help.

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