Is <200 MGO Manuka Honey a Good Choice?

MGO is the measure of how how much Methylglyoxal is in the honey. This is considered the most 'active' ingredient in Manuka honey and dictates how antibacterial and antimicrobial the overall honey will be. If you're interested in learning more about MGO - read our article MGO Explained. So, now that's covered, what is the point of low MGO honey?

The main benefit of a low MGO honey is price. Higher MGO Manukas tend to sell for a premium as they are a harder to produce. Monofloral honey is made with nectar that has come from the flowers of a single specific plant (usually in the Leptospermum genus). Manuka being the most famous and prized since MGO naturally occurs in its nectar.

Our recommendation therefore is quite simple, look for a Monofloral Manuka honey with MGO concentrations of at least 250+. If possible, a UMF certification of 10+ is an added benefit, as that is factoring in other compounds too, not just MGO.

A honey that satisfies the above criteria should be reasonably priced enough for regular consumption. Our favourite honey in this range is Steens, MGO 263+. We find it the perfect balance between cost, quality, and medicinal potency. So to put it simply, sometimes a lower MGO honey is worth it, especially if the choice is between that and no honey at all.