People have been consuming bee honey since ancient times. Nowadays, beekeeping is developed in many countries. At the same time, there are a huge number of different types of honey. I would even say that all honey is unique in its own way, because the combination of honey plants for each bee colony is different. In this article we will talk about the famous Manuka honey, which is produced in New Zealand and partly in Australia. We will try to understand why Manuka honey is so expensive.
Limited area where Manuka honey can be produced
Manuka honey is extracted from the nectar of the wild tree Leptospermum scoparium. It grows most abundantly in New Zealand and in some areas in Australia. The environment in these lands is ideal for this plant.
This limited growing area of Manuka is an obstacle to the amount of honey that can be produced. This is the first factor that affects the cost of this honey.
About 2 800 tonnes of Manuka honey are produced each year, compared to 1.9 million tonnes of other honey produced worldwide. And such a small amount makes its way into the global honey market.
Short flowering period of the manuka
Manuka blooms for 4 to 6 weeks only once a year. Therefore, during this short period, all the efforts of beekeepers are directed towards harvesting this expensive honey. Here lies another factor that affects the amount of honey harvested. This is the weather, which may not be favourable during this period and the bees will simply be less active. As a result, the amount of Manuka honey harvested may be less than if the weather conditions were more favourable.
Valuable properties of Manuka honey
Any honey is beneficial and has antimicrobial, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant properties. It also contains vitamins, minerals, acids, flavonoids and enzymes. But manuka honey has a higher content of methylglyoxal (MGO), which enhances the antibacterial, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Methylglyoxal, by penetrating the cell affected by bacteria, thanks to its properties evaporates the liquid from it. Harmful organisms have nothing to feed on, and they die. At the same time, the cell itself quickly regenerates.
MGO is formed by the conversion of dihydroxyacetone (DHA). This substance is found in the nectar of Manuka flowers. It is the concentration of MGO that affects the value of the finished product. The higher it is, the more beneficial properties and the higher the price of Manuka honey.
Compliance with standards
Determining the quality of Manuka honey affects its value. For this purpose, the UMF Honey Association was established in New Zealand. This organisation is responsible for maintaining quality standards for Manuka honey. They use the so-called UMF Unique Mānuka Factor. After examination, honey can receive a UMF rating of 5+, 10+, 15+, 20+. The higher the number, the more beneficial properties the honey has. The price is of course higher.
For example,
- UMF 10+ = MGO 261 costs 29$ for 250 grammes;
- UMF 15+ = MGO 512 costs 47$ for 250 grammes;
- UMF 20+ = MGO 826 costs 94$ for 250 grammes;
- UMF 30+ = MGO 2190$ costs 1475$ for 250 grammes.
If the honey is labelled UMF, it means the honey meets the most rigorous quality standards and was produced and packaged in New Zealand. These costs also increase the cost of Manuka honey.
There are also other grading systems which are BioActive, K-Factor, Molan Gold Standard (MGS). The measurements are methylglyoxal (MGO) and non-peroxide activity (NPA).
Manuka Brand
The global popularity of Manuka honey and marketing efforts to promote the brand have yielded results in increasing the value in the global market. It is a fact that consumers are willing to pay more for Manuka honey because they see more value in it.
For comparison, lets take statistics on the value of exported honey from New Zealand and other countries. So the value of 1kg of honey from New Zealand in 2023 was $21.7 USD. Whereas the average value of exported honey worldwide was 3.1$ USD. The difference is very big. And this is despite the fact that New Zealand produces not only Manuka, but also other honeys that are cheaper. Therefore, the cost of 1kg. Manuka honey for export will be even more.
Conclusion
Summarising the above, the high price of Manuka honey is determined by the following factors:
– Relatively not large growing area of the honey plant;
– Short flowering period of Leptospermum Scoparium;
– The influence of weather on bee activity during the flowering period;
– Unique properties of Manuka honey;
– Very strict certification;
– Brand awareness around the world.
All of these combine to make Manuka honey an expensive product.
