Best Manuka Honey UK | Which Grade Is Right for You?

There is no single "best" Mānuka Honey. The best one is the strength that suits how you will use it. A mild MGO 70+ is perfect in a flapjack; whereas an MGO 1200+ belongs on a spoon, savoured slowly and intentionally.

Every jar of Egmont Mānuka Honey comes from our own hives in Taranaki, New Zealand, is raw and unpasteurised, and is independently lab-tested for MGO. This guide explains the grades, from orange label everyday MGO 40+ to our rarest black label ultra MGO 1200+, so you can find the honey that works for your lifestyle and needs.

MGO, UMF™ and our strength scale, explained

The number on every Egmont jar is its MGO rating: the minimum amount of methylglyoxal in mg per kg of honey. MGO is the natural compound that makes manuka different from other honeys. In 2008, food chemists at TU Dresden identified it as the dominant antibacterial constituent of manuka honey, with mānuka holding up to 100 times more than conventional honeys.

So what is UMF™? UMF stands for Unique Manuka Factor. The UMF Honey Association grades honey on four markers: MGO, its precursor DHA, leptosperin (a compound found only in manuka) and HMF (a freshness check).

A UMF™ rating confirms both strength and that the honey is genuine monofloral manuka. Our license number is #1888 

The higher the MGO, the stronger and rarer the honey, and the richer and more intense its flavour.

Egmont grade	Range	Type	Approx. UMF™ equivalent	Flavour
MGO 40+	Everyday	Multifloral	-	Light, floral, mild
MGO 70+	Everyday	Multifloral	-	Mild, with wildflower notes
MGO 100+	Everyday	Multifloral	UMF™ 5+	Gentle, smooth
MGO 200+	Elevate	Manuka	UMF™ 10+	Smooth, caramel
MGO 250+	Elevate	Manuka	UMF™ 10+	Rich, caramel
MGO 265+ sachets	Elevate	Manuka	UMF™ 10+	Rich, caramel
MGO 400+	Elevate	Manuka	UMF™ 13+	Thick, deep caramel
MGO 550+	High strength	Manuka	UMF™ 15+	Dark, treacly
MGO 700+	Intense	Manuka	UMF™ 18+	Rich, intense
MGO 830+	Intense	Manuka	UMF™ 20+	Full-bodied, intense
MGO 1046+	Ultra	Monofloral	UMF™ 23+	Deep, bold
MGO 1200+	Ultra	Monofloral	UMF™ 25+	Dark, bittersweet

UMF™/MGO equivalents are from the UMF Honey Association's grading table.

Best manuka honey for baking and cooking: MGO 40+ to 100+

Our pick: Multifloral Manuka Honey MGO 70+

For baking, dressings and marinades, choose one of our mild multifloral grades. They blend manuka with native New Zealand wildflower nectar, so the flavour is light and floral rather than strong, and it won't overpower a bake.

There's no need to cook with a high-MGO honey. Oven heat changes honey's delicate flavour, so save the rare grades for the spoon and let MGO 40+ to 100+ do the hard work in the kitchen.

• MGO 40+: our mildest. Swap it for sugar in flapjacks, granola and banana bread.
• MGO 70+: a touch more character. Lovely in salad dressings, glazes and porridge.
• MGO 100+: our gentle everyday all-rounder, also in a handy squeeze bottle.
• Creamed Honey & Raspberry or Passionfruit: whipped with freeze-dried fruit. Use instead of jam, swirl through yoghurt or spread between sponge layers.

Shop the Cooking & Baking collection.

Best manuka honey for energy and on the go: MGO 200+ to 265+

Our pick: On-the-Go UMF™ 10+ Mānuka Honey Sachets

Honey is made of natural sugars, mainly glucose and fructose, so a spoonful is a popular pick-me-up before a run, a gym session or a long afternoon. For a daily spoonful, our Elevate grades hit the sweet spot: rich and smooth, with real manuka character, at a price that works every day.

• UMF™ 10+ sachets (MGO 265+): 24 sealed 10g sachets to keep in a gym bag, desk drawer or coat pocket. No spoon, no sticky jar.
• MGO 250+ jar: for your morning spoonful, stirred into warm water and lemon, or drizzled on granola.
• MGO 200+ squeeze: the same smooth caramel taste in a 350g squeeze bottle.

Want both? The Everyday Energy Bundle pairs 24 sachets for on the go with a 500g jar for home.

Best manuka honey for winter: MGO 400+ to 550+

Our pick: Manuka Honey MGO 550+

A warm honey and lemon is a British winter ritual, and there's evidence behind it. NICE, which writes guidance for the NHS, lists honey as a self-care option for acute coughs in adults and children over one. It notes that evidence suggests honey has some benefit in relieving cough symptoms. 

When the nights draw in, many of our customers step up to a stronger grade for their daily spoonful:

• MGO 400+: thick and rich with deep caramel notes. Ideal in a mug of hot water, lemon and ginger.
• MGO 550+: dark and treacly. Best taken straight from the spoon, so it doesn't need dissolving.

A cough that lasts more than three weeks, or that comes with a high temperature or breathing difficulties, needs a GP or NHS 111, not a jar of honey. Never give honey to babies under 12 months.

Best manuka honey for skin: MGO 700+ to 830+

Our pick: Manuka Honey MGO 830+

Manuka has been a skincare favourite for years, and many of our customers use it in a simple DIY face mask. Spread a thin layer of a high-strength grade over clean skin, leave for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Patch-test on your inner arm first.

• MGO 700+: rich and intense. Our go-to for a weekly honey mask.
• MGO 830+: for when you want our most intense Intense grade

What the wound-healing research says

Manuka is one of the most-studied honeys in wound care. At Cardiff Metropolitan University, Professor Rose Cooper's team showed in the lab that manuka honey stops Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA from completing cell division. Hospitals use medical grade mānuka honey medical-grade honey and honey dressings have been used in UK hospitals since the first honey product registered as a medical device in the UK.

Best manuka honey for gifting and true manuka lovers: MGO 1046+ to 1200+

Our pick: Ultra Reserve Premium Mānuka Honey Set

Our Ultra grades are rare raw monofloral honeys, UMF™ certified and gift-boxed. Manuka this strong is rare, so these are jars for savouring slowly by the spoon.

• MGO 1046+: deep and bold, with a long finish.
• MGO 1200+: our rarest jar (equivalent to UMF™ 25+). Dark and bittersweet, almost like treacle.
• Ultra Reserve Set: MGO 1046+ and 1200+ together, the ultimate gift for someone who knows their manuka.
• Build Your Own Mānuka Gift Box: mix grades for a tasting set, from everyday MGO 70+ to a rare Ultra jar.

The Mānuka Matrix - Which Egmont Mānuka Honey should I buy?

If you want it for…	Choose	Why
Baking, cooking, natural alternative to processed or refined sugar	MGO 40+, 70+ or 100+	Mild flavour, best value for heat
Toast, porridge, instead of jam	Creamed Honey & Raspberry or Passionfruit	Spreadable, fruity
A daily spoonful of energy	MGO 250+	Rich manuka character, everyday price
Gym bag, desk, travel	UMF™ 10+ sachets	Sealed 10g portions
Winter honey and lemon - soothe and coat throats	MGO 400+ or 550+	Stronger grades for the colder months
A DIY face mask to support dry and damaged skin	MGO 700+ or 830+	High-strength, UMF™ certified
A special gift - the ultimate wellness moment	MGO 1046+, 1200+ or the Ultra Reserve Set	Our rarest, gift-boxed

FAQs

What is the best strength of manuka honey? It depends on your use. MGO 40+ to 100+ for cooking, MGO 250+ to 400+ for a daily spoonful, and MGO 550+ and above when you want a high-strength, immune supporting wellness product.

Is MGO the same as UMF™? No. MGO measures one compound, methylglyoxal. UMF™ tests four markers to confirm strength and authenticity. As a guide, UMF™ 10+ equals MGO 250+ and UMF™ 20+ equals MGO 830+.

What is the difference between multifloral and monofloral manuka? Multifloral manuka blends manuka nectar with other native flowers, giving a milder taste and lower MGO. Monofloral is predominantly manuka, with a stronger flavour and higher MGO.

Can children eat manuka honey? Children over 12 months can enjoy honey. Never give honey to babies.

Is Egmont manuka honey raw? Yes. Every jar is raw and unpasteurised, from our own hives in Taranaki, New Zealand, and lab-tested for MGO.

Shop all Egmont manuka honey. Free UK delivery on orders over £50.

References

1. Mavric E, Wittmann S, Barth G, Henle T (2008). Identification and quantification of methylglyoxal as the dominant antibacterial constituent of Manuka honeys from New Zealand. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research 52(4): 483–489.
2. Carter DA, Blair SE, Cokcetin NN, et al. (2016). Therapeutic Manuka Honey: No Longer So Alternative. Frontiers in Microbiology 7: 569.
3. Cooper R (2014). Honey as an effective antimicrobial treatment for chronic wounds: is there a place for it in modern medicine? Chronic Wound Care Management and Research 1: 15–22.
4. Cooper R, Gray D (2012). Is manuka honey a credible alternative to silver in wound care? Wounds UK 8(4).
5. Cooper R (2016). Review of honey in wound care (PDF, hosted by the UMF Honey Association). Journal of Wound Care.
6. NICE (2019). Cough (acute): antimicrobial prescribing, NG120 – summary of the evidence.
7. UMF Honey Association. UMF™ grading: the four factors.