Why Is Mānuka Honey So Expensive?

What you’re paying for when you buy authentic Mānuka Honey

Genuine Mānuka Honey is truly special, but have you ever wondered why it’s so expensive, particularly compared to other honey varieties? You’re not alone! 

At Comvita, we’ve been sourcing high-quality honey derived from remote New Zealand locations for decades, so we understand exactly what it takes to deliver genuine Mānuka Honey, and what constitutes the high price point.

Let’s cover the factors that make Mānuka Honey different (and costlier) than the rest, and answer the million-dollar question: Is Mānuka Honey worth the price?

Mānuka Honey’s natural compounds are unlike regular honey

While there’s no doubt that Mānuka Honey’s price point stands out compared to your standard honey, it’s important to understand that real Mānuka Honey is distinct from your typical cupboard spread.

Compared to the local wildflower and conventional clover honeys you find in most kitchens, Mānuka Honey contains 20 times more distinct natural compounds, totalling over 2,000, setting it apart from table honey.

In combination with methylglyoxal (MGO), a notable compound used to help measure its unique characteristics, Mānuka Honey contains antioxidant compounds, phenolic acids, and flavonoids that contribute to its reputation as a sought-after supplement.

The honey bees are in charge

Did you know that 100% genuine Mānuka Honey production depends solely on bees pollinating the native New Zealand Mānuka plant?

If the Mānuka flower (Leptospermum scoparium) is pollinated alongside other blooms, the honey produced is a blend. It is deemed Multi-floral Mānuka, which has a much lower concentration of naturally occurring compounds. Alternatively, Monofloral Mānuka Honey is created when bees choose to pollinate this unique bloom above all others, offering higher potency.

At Comvita, we plant native Mānuka trees in remote locations across New Zealand, ensuring our hardworking bee colonies can focus on the Mānuka flower. 

This relates to price because Mānuka Honey from a mix of plants is less pure and therefore cheaper, while the best-quality products command a higher price because of their careful, labour-intensive production.

The Mānuka Flower’s short blooming window makes its honey a rare commodity

On top of the dependence on Leptospermum scoparium being pollinated, it’s also an incredibly time-sensitive process. This special plant has a very short flowering window, blooming for only 2-6 weeks each year.

Bees also have as little as 12 days to collect the nectar and create the entire year’s Mānuka Honey supply. It takes bees an unfathomable 22,700 trips to the Mānuka flower just to gather enough nectar for a single jar of Mānuka Honey! 

When you consider the narrow flowering season, the effort required of the bees, and the challenges beekeepers face in such remote and even harsh environments, the cost of the hard-won Mānuka Honey starts to make a lot of sense. 

New Zealand is the native home to the Mānuka flower

Little New Zealand is proud to be home to the native Mānuka plant, which thrives in isolated microclimates on remote hillsides and bushes. 

The wild plant is susceptible to changes in climate and weather, pollution, and other human interference, and remote locations help preserve the natural growing conditions of the Mānuka plant. This makes harvesting genuine Mānuka Honey both complex and resource-intensive, another key reason it is so rare and highly valued.

Comvita only harvests Mānuka Honey from remote, difficult-to-access locations, leaving the plants and bees alone to produce their best honey in sustainably managed, regenerative ecosystems. When you choose Comvita Mānuka Honey, you know you’re getting the very best of nature and science combined.

Not all Mānuka flowers bloom equally

In addition to the Mānuka flower’s rarity, the reality is that not all blooms are equal. Sometimes, the nectar doesn’t yield a meaningful enough concentration of Mānuka’s four key chemical markers: Leptosperin, Methylglyoxal, DHA, and HMF. 

The combination of this natural unpredictability with the already narrow flowering season makes high-grade, genuine Mānuka Honey exceptionally scarce, and its covetability drives its value and higher cost.  

Testing, grading, rating…

To verify the quality of your Mānuka Honey, look for the grading system on your jar. Comvita uses UMF™ certification (Unique Mānuka Factor), a leading independent quality certification system that measures all four of Mānuka’s unique chemical markers and verifies potency, authenticity, freshness, and purity. Remember that only genuine Mānuka honey sourced and packaged in New Zealand is eligible for the UMF™ rating.

Plus, each batch of Comvita honey undergoes over 34 quality tests. This rigorous testing process contributes to Mānuka Honey’s value.

High UMF™ Mānuka Honey is of the utmost value… and scarce!

You might assume that a UMF™ 20+ has just 33% higher levels than a UMF™ 15+, or that two UMF™ 5+ jars equal the power of a UMF™ 10+, but that’s not how it works. The rating numbers are not flatly proportional to the concentration of key quality markers. 

Consider UMF™ 20+ Mānuka Honey, which contains over 10 times the levels of methylglyoxal (MGO) compared to UMF™ 5+. Because only a tiny fraction of honey produced each fleeting season ever reaches these exceptional concentrations, higher UMF™ grades are incredibly scarce, driving their premium price.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Mānuka Honey cost?

Prices vary depending on UMF™ rating and size. Ultimately, the higher the UMF™ rating, the higher the cost, reflecting the potency of Mānuka Honey’s MGO content. At Comvita, our smallest size of authentic UMF™ 5+ Monofloral Mānuka Honey starts at $34.40, while highly concentrated batches of prized UMF™ 25+ can reach up to $690. 

If you’re new to Mānuka Honey, we recommend starting with our UMF™ 10+, which sits at around $54.40. It’s the perfect introduction to authentic UMF™ Mānuka Honey.

What is the most expensive honey?

Comvita’s most expensive honey is our precious UMF™ 25+ batch. It’s exceptionally potent and rare, designed for those seeking premium Mānuka Honey. 

Is Mānuka Honey worth the price?

We certainly think it’s a worthwhile investment! Produced under uniquely challenging conditions and tested to the highest standards, Mānuka Honey is beloved worldwide for its rarity and purity. Given the unique process of producing and harvesting it, the price isn’t surprising. 

But it’s important to make sure you’re getting the genuine stuff before making a purchase. Genuine Mānuka Honey, like ours at Comvita, offers full transparency through the UMF™ label, which confirms that the specific batch has undergone comprehensive, independent testing. 

How is Mānuka Honey different from regular honey?

Mānuka Honey has a robust, earthier, and more complex taste than regular sweet honey. Beyond its distinctly delicious flavour profile, it also contains higher levels of naturally occurring compounds compared to other types of honey. 

All honeys provide energy and nutrients, but Mānuka’s composition makes it a premium choice for those looking to support their overall well-being as part of a healthy, balanced lifestyle.

How can I tell if Mānuka honey is real?

Ensuring you’re getting authentic Mānuka Honey is a must. Look for the UMF™ label, which confirms that the specific batch has undergone a comprehensive testing process that assesses MGO levels, Leptosperin, DHA, and HMF, and is ultimately deemed the real deal.

Genuine Mānuka Honey is priceless

From the precise pollination process to stringent authenticity testing, every jar of Mānuka Honey is the product of spectacular nature and enormous effort, which explains why it’s so sought after, rare, and valuable.

At Comvita, we’re proud to offer authentic Mānuka Honey globally recognised for its quality. Every jar carries the independent UMF™ certification, giving you confidence that it’s genuine, pure, and high-quality. Shop Mānuka Honey online and experience the gold standard in Mānuka Honey.