Frequently Asked Questions

Manuka is the name commonly given in New Zealand to the leptospermum plant species, from which the famous medicinal honey is harvested.

There is significant global demand for medicinal honey and the proven anti-bacterial properties of New Zealand's premium Manuka honeys have secured high prices for New Zealand producers.

Manuka honey's medicinal qualities are known to:

• Stimulate healing, reduce inflammation, minimise scarring
• Assist in fighting bacteria related to sore throats and stomach ulcers
• Augment the impact of antibiotics and may reduce or mitigate human resistance to antibiotics
• Improve immunity and boost energy levels

New scientific research by the Oz Honey Project has proven that the anti-bacterial activity level (measured as NPA and MGO) in Australian Manuka honey is at least as high as in the better known New Zealand Manuka honey and shares the same health and well-being qualities as the New Zealand varieties.

A rating system developed by New Zealand's UMF Honey Association is commonly used by New Zealand producers to grade the activity levels of Manuka Honey. The New Zealand industry trademarked the UMF® rating to indicate the non-peroxide or antimicrobial activity level in New Zealand Honey. Australian producers use an equivalent rating, known as NPA (Non-Peroxide Activity).

The organic compound methylglyoxal (MGO) is responsible for much of the unique activity in Manuka honey. The measure of the amount of methylglyoxal is expressed on labels in mg/kg of MGO. There is a relationship between MGO concentration and the Non-Peroxide Activity level of a honey but the numbers are derived from different types of tests.

The UMF Honey Association suggests this guide to the relationship between NPA and MGO levels:

NPA/UMF® 5+ = MGO 83

NPA/UMF® 10+ = MGO 263

NPA/UMF® 15+ = MGO 514

NPA/UMF® 20+ = MGO 829

The NPA levels of the Manuka/Jelly Bush honey, typically ranging from 5+ to 25+, generally dictate what it will be used for. For instance, the lower strengths of 5+ to 9+ are used to support good general health, strengths of 10+ to 15+ are considered medically useful. The stronger Manuka Honey strengths of 16+ and above are classed as medical grade honey and can be used to treat wounds.

Gustare's Australian Manuka Jelly Bush honey has been tested by Dr Peter Brooks, Senior Lecturer in Chemistry at the University of the Sunshine Coast, QLD, Australia and also a member of the Oz Honey Project’s research team. The tests proved that this particular variety has a NPA rating of 5.1 and MGO rating of 86.

Gustare is offering our first Manuka honey at a low-price entry point to encourage consumers to try the product and will be introducing higher grade active honey in the future.

Actually, No. New Zealand Manuka honey derives from the leptospermum plant, which is native to both New Zealand and Australia. There is one species of the leptospermum genus – the scoparium – in New Zealand. Australia is home to over 80 species of leptospermum, the largest diversity of the genus in the world. The leptospermum scoparium species itself is native to the Australian states of Tasmania, Victoria and in southern parts of New South Wales. Gustare’s Manuka Jelly Bush Honey is harvested from the Leptospermum polygalifolium species, native to the Australian states of New South Wales and Queensland.

Manuka honey is in demand globally not because it is from New Zealand but because of its activity levels which give it medicinal qualities. New Zealand producers are unable to meet the increasing demand for medicinal honey, which has resulted in suppliers blending or diluting Manuka honey or selling fake products. Successive poor harvests in New Zealand are likely to make meeting international demand even more difficult.

The New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries has recently introduced a new scientific test for Manuka honey. This test and the regulations which will be introduced to govern the industry in New Zealand are designed to ensure that New Zealand beekeepers and suppliers are only selling genuine, undiluted Manuka honey to both the domestic and international market. This will be important in protecting the integrity of New Zealand products but will not affect the development of Australian active and medicinal honey.

The Australian active honey industry is still in the early stages of development but has huge potential. Gustare Honey and other Australian producers stand behind the provenance and integrity of their active honey, which is submitted for independent scientific tests before being marketed as Manuka or Jelly Bush Honey, and look forward to meeting the international demand for medicinal honey.

We call our active honey Manuka Jelly Bush honey in recognition of the popular names of the leptospermum species in Australia and New Zealand. We are following Australian industry practice in in labelling honey harvested from leptospermum plants as Manuka honey and seeking to grow international awareness of the popular Australian name (Jelly Bush) for leptospermum.

Ultimately our Manuka Jelly Bush honey should be judged on the scientifically-proven activity levels in the honey. As recent investigations in the UK have shown, the names "Manuka" or "New Zealand" on jar labels are not proof of the health and well-being properties of the honey.

Harvested from the Eucalyptus Melliodora tree in Western Victoria, New South Wales to south-central Queensland. Smooth and delicate to taste, light in colour, with a generous aroma and widely regarded as one of Australia’s premier honeys.

Harvested from the Eucalyptus Paniculata tree found mostly in eastern New South Wales. This Grey Iron Bark Honey is light in colour and has a mild, warm and subtle flavour with a slight nutty and toffee aftertaste.

Harvested from the Eucalyptus Bridgesiana tree found mostly on the Western Slopes in the eastern areas of the New England Tablelands of New South Wales. A strong flavoured, dark coloured honey with a silky texture and toffee apple undertones.

Harvested from the Eucalyptus Caliginosa tree in the Northern Tablelands and North Western slopes of eastern New South Wales. A darker coloured honey boasting an intense and rich aromatic flavour, with hints of smoky coffee.