Manuka Honey Experts

Mānuka Honey is world-renowned for its unique properties. It has a characteristically rich flavour, golden amber colour and thick jelly-like texture, making it distinct from any other honey found in the world. As a staple of New Zealand culture, Mānuka honey is protected by the New Zealand government and must pass stringent regulations to be classified as pure Mānuka honey.

Our Expertise

In this ever-growing Mānuka honey market, we are proud to have several highly-knowledgeable Mānuka honey artisans on our team. This honey is extremely rare as it’s sourced from flowers which only bloom two to six weeks a year.

We can offer your customers an extensive range of honey that spans the spectrum of potency. We can provide honey that has monofloral strengths UMF™ 5+ - 31+. We can also create different flavours and formulations to blend with the honey and diversify the product alongside our diverse range of consumption options, including straight from the jar to powder, crystals, lozenges, gummies and snap packs.

Manuka Science Definition

All of our honey abides by the Ministry of Primary Industry’s (MPI) Mānuka honey science definition. We produce, test and set standards that exceed the minimum requirements for Mānuka honey recognised by the New Zealand Government.

To meet the requirements as set forth by MPI, we must demonstrate the following:

• Four chemical markers need to be met at specific concentrations
• One DNA marker from the Mānuka pollen must be present at a particular concentration

UMF Certification

Your customers deserve the very best, which is why our Mānuka honey can come UMF™ verified. Use this protected mark to reassure your customers that they are buying real Mānuka honey, independently analysed and accredited.

The UMF™ insignia on Mānuka honey products represents the presence and level of the unique signature compounds within. Presented by the Unique Mānuka Factor Honey Association (UMFHA), UMF™ Mānuka honey must contain a specific concentration of the following bioactive chemicals to be considered monofloral Mānuka honey.

• Leptosperin- Compound found within Mānuka nectar
• Mānuka DNA - A DNA marker to signify the honey is derived from the native Mānuka
• Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) - The precursor to methylglyoxal to indicate natural Mānuka nectar
• Methylglyoxal (MGO) - This compound is responsible for Mānuka’s antibacterial activity
• Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) - An indicator of heat treatment and ageing.

The verification, as given by UMFHA, is seen as the most strict Mānuka honey criteria. Any company that produces and sells UMF™ certified Mānuka honey must provide their license number. 

Other grading systems include:

• MGS (Molan Gold Standard) - Measure MGO and DHA between 5+ and 30+
• K-Factor - Uses five pillars that are unrelated to the unique levels of activity within Mānuka honey.
• Bio Active - Measures peroxide & non-peroxide activity along with MGO.
• Mānuka Pollen - Measure the concentration of the Mānuka pollen for authenticity.

Unlike the above grading systems, UMF™ is the only criteria requiring all four significant chemical markers to have a certain concentration level for each certification. Many Mānuka honey producers will display the MGO levels only, but it’s vital to be aware that maximising unique benefits requires all the above four chemicals to be present.

Click here for more information on why UMF™ certification is essential for your business.

Check out the UMF™ Honey Association grading system here.

Sustainable Manuka Production

Since 2015, Midlands has been engaged in a Mānuka planting and breeding program. Focused on a research and selection program utilising modern genetic profiling techniques across the South Island of New Zealand, the aim of the program is to address the potential shortfall of Mānuka honey utilising a plantation approach.

As a native New Zealand plant, Leptospermum scoparium, otherwise known as Mānuka, provides valuable carbon credits as part of New Zealand’s Emission Trading Scheme. Not only does our planting help rejuvenate New Zealand’s natural flora, but also helps with the reduction of greenhouse gases, providing circular benefits to the environment and sustainability.

Internal & External Quality Assurance

Our in-house lab tests every batch of Mānuka, which is then independently verified by internationally accredited labs, ensuring our Mānuka honey’s authenticity and quality.  We have a robust system that carries out extensive quality assurance from both internal and external entities.

Although our laboratory conducts several essential tests to ensure safe, pure and genuine Mānuka honey - we also have the capacity for further testing if required. As part of our rigorous testing protocol, we also have samples of our honey routinely sent to IANZ-certified laboratories, which independently verify all of our honey.

At the forefront of our operation is always compliance. We ensure that all of our honey meets a standard not just worthy of New Zealand but for the world. Midlands operates via systems and procedures that are second to none. Midlands' wide range of experience with quality control, traceability systems, and export requirements guarantees you that we operate at the highest possible standards.