Honey will naturally crystallise, depending on the temperature it is stored in. It may turn grainy or change in texture, but it is still good to eat. Manuka honey can be softened again by gently warming the jar, but any direct heat, microwaving or warming over 60 degrees Celsius (140F) will damage the unique properties in the honey.

Our honey is not certified as organic, but is harvested from spray-free, non-GMO Manuka plantations. Our hives are never treated with antibiotics, and our honey has no additives or preservatives.

The MGO rating of Manuka honey is the measure of the active compound methylglyoxal per kilogram. It is important to check whether the number on the jar is an MGO or UMF rating, as low MGO ratings can easily be mistaken for high UMF. The minimum MGO rating to qualify for a UMF rating is 83mg/kg. All of our M&H Manuka honey will display both an MGO content and a UMF rating.

Our honey is harvested from large stations in the Wairarapa, Taranaki, Hawkes’ Bay and Whanganui. All our honey is brought back to our base in Ashurst for extraction.

Raw honey should not be consumed by children under 12 months as recommended by the New Zealand Ministry of Health.

Because the bio-active compounds in Manuka degrade over time, we need to include a best before date to ensure the label remains accurate for the life of the product.