Manuka Honey UMF 5+

What Does UMF 5+ Mean?

UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) is a New Zealand grading system. It tests a honey’s natural markers, including methylglyoxal (MGO), leptosperin and DHA, to confirm it’s genuine manuka and show how strong it is. A UMF 5+ rating means the honey contains at least 83mg/kg of MGO, the compound that gives manuka its distinctive character. That’s why UMF 5+ and MGO 83+ sit in the same collection: they’re two ways of labelling the same strength.

UMF 5+ or MGO 83+: Which Should You Choose?

The difference is in how the honey is graded, not how strong it is.

• Rare New Zealand UMF 5+ is certified under the UMF system, which checks authenticity markers alongside MGO. Choose it if you want that extra layer of verification.
• Bee Power MGO 83+ is labelled by MGO content. It’s the easy pick if you already shop by MGO numbers.

If you're comparing across brands? Here’s a quick guide:

• UMF 5+ is roughly MGO 83+
• UMF 10+ is roughly MGO 263+
• UMF 15+ is roughly MGO 514+
• UMF 20+ is roughly MGO 829+

An Everyday Manuka Honey

Lower grades of Manuka honey are generally milder. You get the honey’s rich, slightly earthy flavour without the stronger, sharper notes of high-MGO jars. That makes UMF 5+ the grade most people keep in the pantry for daily use:

• Stirred into warm tea or lemon water
• Drizzled over yoghurt, porridge or toast
• In dressings, marinades and baking, where a high-grade jar would be wasted

If manuka is a daily staple in your house, the 1kg Rare New Zealand jar is the way to stock up.