Mānuka honey

Mānuka is a honey variety that is popular in Australia and New Zealand, characterized by its high viscosity and a dark cream or dark brown color. It is produced by European honey bees who forage on the mānuka tree. The honey has a strong, florid, complex, rich, and slightly bitter flavor.

Although many people say that this honey has unique medicinal properties, there is still no conclusive evidence for those claims. It contains methylglyoxal, which is under research for its potential for boosting the immune system, helping skin wounds to heal, and fighting against bacteria.

Sadly, as the prices grew higher because of its supposed health benefits, so too have counterfeits. Due to the fact that not all Mānuka honey is the same and some have varying levels of methylglyoxal, New Zealand founded an advocacy group and a rating system called UMF (Unique Mānuka Factor Honey Association), which rates the strength of different Mānuka batches so that the customers wouldn't be duped into buying an inferior product.

Mānuka honey is often used as a sweetener for tea, milk, and smoothies, but it's best to eat it raw off a spoon, because just like most honey types, the more you heat it, the more potential there is for reducing its nutritional value.