UMF
- What it measures
- Four markers: MGO, Leptosperin, DHA and HMF
- Independently verified?
- Yes, licensed by the UMF Honey Association, tested by accredited third-party labs
- What it tells you
- Potency, authenticity, shelf-life stability and freshness
Licensed UMF Producer, Auckland
UMF Certified Manuka Honey,
Direct From New Zealand
Compare strengths from UMF 5+ to UMF 25+, see the lab results behind every batch, and buy Manuka honey online direct from the producer. No middlemen, nothing to hide.
- UMF Licence #1052
- Independently Lab-Tested
- Made & Packed in NZ
- Shipped from Auckland
UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) is New Zealand’s independent grading system for genuine Manuka honey, measuring four signature compounds: MGO, Leptosperin, DHA and HMF.
Higher grades mean higher potency: UMF 5+ (MGO 83+) suits everyday wellness, UMF 10+ (MGO 263+) daily immune support, UMF 15+ (MGO 514+) advanced support, and UMF 20+ to 25+ (MGO 829 to 1197+) maximum potency.
ApiHealth is a licensed UMF producer (licence #1052) in Auckland, New Zealand. Every batch is independently lab-tested and verifiable by the batch number on your jar.
Find Your Strength
Which UMF Strength Is Right for You?
Every grade is the same pure, certified New Zealand Manuka honey. The difference is potency. Select a grade to compare strength, uses, and price.
EverydayMaximum potency
Immune Support
UMF 10+ Manuka Honey
The most popular starting strength for health-focused use. Moderate antibacterial activity for everyday immune and digestive support, and our best-selling grade.
- Winter immune support
- Digestive comfort and daily gut routines
- Regular, health-focused daily use
263+
MGO mg/kg
250+
DHA mg/kg
NZ$29.00
From (250g)
Not sure where to start? UMF 10+ is our most popular grade for daily immune support.
Direct From the Producer
Buy UMF Manuka Honey NZ
Every jar is UMF certified under licence #1052, independently tested, and shipped fresh from our Auckland facility.
UMF Honey
Manuka Honey UMF 5+
NZ$21.00
(1)
UMF Honey
Manuka Honey UMF 10+
NZ$29.00
(1)
UMF Honey
Manuka Honey UMF 15+
NZ$70.00
(1)
UMF Honey
17% OFF
Manuka Honey UMF 20+
NZ$75.00NZ$90.00
(2)
UMF Honey
6% OFF
Manuka Honey UMF 20+ 6 Pack
NZ$450.00NZ$480.00
UMF Scale at a Glance
Compare UMF Manuka Honey Grades
Each UMF grade guarantees a minimum level of MGO (methylglyoxal), the naturally occurring compound behind Manuka honey's potency.
| UMF Grade | MGO (mg/kg) | Strength | Best For | Price From | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UMF 5+ | 83+ | Mild | Daily wellness and general health maintenance | NZ$21.00 | Shop |
| UMF 10+ | 263+ | Moderate | Winter immune support | NZ$29.00 | Shop |
| UMF 15+ | 514+ | High | Targeted immune support in cold and flu season | NZ$60.00 | Shop |
| UMF 20+ | 829+ | Very High | Intensive, targeted wellness support | NZ$75.00 | Shop |
| UMF 25+ | 1197+ | Ultra | The highest UMF rating we produce | NZ$250.00 | Notify Me |
UMF 5+Mild
- MGO
- 83+ mg/kg
- Price from
- NZ$21.00
- Best for
- Daily wellness and general health maintenance
UMF 15+High
- MGO
- 514+ mg/kg
- Price from
- NZ$60.00
- Best for
- Targeted immune support in cold and flu season
UMF 20+Very High
- MGO
- 829+ mg/kg
- Price from
- NZ$75.00
- Best for
- Intensive, targeted wellness support
UMF 25+Ultra
- MGO
- 1197+ mg/kg
- Price from
- NZ$250.00
- Best for
- The highest UMF rating we produce
Need to convert between systems? Try our UMF to MGO converter.
UMF vs MGO vs NPA vs K-Factor
Not all Manuka honey ratings mean the same thing. UMF is the only system that cross-checks potency, authenticity, and freshness through independent labs.
MGO
- What it measures
- Methylglyoxal only
- Independently verified?
- Varies, often tested in-house with no licensing body
- What it tells you
- Potency only; no authenticity or freshness check
NPA
- What it measures
- Non-peroxide antibacterial activity (phenol equivalent)
- Independently verified?
- Lab-tested, but a single-compound measure
- What it tells you
- Antibacterial strength only
K-Factor
- What it measures
- Pollen count (monofloral vs multifloral)
- Independently verified?
- A single brand’s own trademark
- What it tells you
- Whether it contains Manuka nectar, not how potent it is
| System | What It Measures | Independently Verified? | What It Tells You |
|---|---|---|---|
| UMF | Four markers: MGO, Leptosperin, DHA and HMF | Yes, licensed by the UMF Honey Association, tested by accredited third-party labs | Potency, authenticity, shelf-life stability and freshness |
| MGO | Methylglyoxal only | Varies, often tested in-house with no licensing body | Potency only; no authenticity or freshness check |
| NPA | Non-peroxide antibacterial activity (phenol equivalent) | Lab-tested, but a single-compound measure | Antibacterial strength only |
| K-Factor | Pollen count (monofloral vs multifloral) | A single brand’s own trademark | Whether it contains Manuka nectar, not how potent it is |
Certification Proof
Certified. Tested. Verifiable.
Anyone can print a number on a label. We back every grade with a UMF licence, independent lab results, and batch-level traceability you can check yourself.
UMF Licence #1052
ApiHealth is a licensed member of the UMF Honey Association, the only body authorised to certify UMF grades. Look for licence #1052 on every jar.
Independent Lab Testing
Every batch is tested by an accredited third-party laboratory against the four-compound UMF standard before release. We never grade our own honey.
Packed in New Zealand
Harvested, extracted, tested, and packed in New Zealand under an MPI-registered Risk Management Programme. Never blended with imported honey.
Batch-Verified, Jar by Jar
Each jar carries a batch number linked to its UMF release certificate, so you can see the exact lab results for the honey in your hands.
The Four Compounds Behind Every UMF Grade
MGO
Potency
Methylglyoxal, the key antibacterial compound that defines each grade.
Leptosperin
Authenticity
Found only in genuine Manuka nectar and impossible to add artificially.
DHA
Stability
Converts to MGO over time, confirming potency will hold across shelf life.
HMF
Freshness
A low reading proves the honey was never overheated or stored poorly.
Verify Your Jar in 30 Seconds
- 1Find the batch number printed on your jar’s label.
- 2Enter it on our certificate lookup page.
- 3See the independent lab results for your exact batch.
Understanding UMF
What Is UMF?
UMF stands for Unique Manuka Factor, the independent grading system run by the UMF Honey Association in New Zealand. Accredited labs test each batch for four naturally occurring compounds: Leptosperin (a marker unique to Manuka nectar that cannot be added artificially), DHA (which converts to MGO over time, protecting long-term potency), MGO (the key antibacterial compound), and HMF (an indicator of freshness and careful handling).
Quality Assurance
Why UMF Matters When You Buy
Many Manuka honeys are sold on an MGO number alone, a single compound with no authenticity or freshness check behind it. UMF is the only system that cross-checks all four markers through accredited third-party labs, making it significantly harder to fake. When you buy a UMF graded jar, you are buying honey that passed a multi-factor test, and with ApiHealth, one you can trace back to the lab report.
Buying Guide
UMF Manuka Honey FAQs
UMF stands for Unique Manuka Factor, the independent quality trademark and grading system run by the UMF Honey Association in New Zealand. A UMF grade (such as UMF 10+ or UMF 20+) certifies that an accredited third-party laboratory has tested that batch for four signature compounds: MGO (potency), Leptosperin (authenticity), DHA (shelf-life stability), and HMF (freshness). Only licensed New Zealand producers can display a UMF grade.
It depends on how you plan to use it. UMF 5+ suits everyday use as a natural, health-positive sweetener. UMF 10+ is the most popular choice for daily immune and digestive support. UMF 15+ offers high potency for targeted support during winter. UMF 20+ and above are maximum-strength options for intensive wellness use and premium gifts. If you are unsure, UMF 10+ is the best all-round starting point.
UMF grades commonly range from UMF 5+ to UMF 25+ or higher, but honey testing above UMF 25+ (about 1197 mg/kg MGO) is genuinely rare. Only a small number of batches in New Zealand ever reach it. Extremely high numbers on unlicensed labels are a red flag: always check the brand holds a UMF licence and can show batch test results. ApiHealth’s range runs from UMF 5+ to our rare-reserve UMF 25+.
Higher grades contain more methylglyoxal (MGO), the key antibacterial compound, so they are more potent, but "better" depends on your goal and budget. For a daily spoonful in tea, UMF 5+ or 10+ is ideal and better value. For targeted, intensive support, UMF 15+ or 20+ makes sense. Every grade we sell is the same pure, certified New Zealand Manuka honey; the difference is concentration, taste intensity, and price.
MGO is a single compound: methylglyoxal, the main antibacterial marker in Manuka honey. UMF is a full grading system that measures MGO plus three more markers: Leptosperin (proves it is genuine Manuka nectar and cannot be added artificially), DHA (shows the MGO level will hold over shelf life), and HMF (shows the honey has not been overheated). An MGO number alone tells you potency; a UMF grade tells you potency, authenticity, and freshness, verified by an independent body. As a guide: UMF 5+ ≈ MGO 83+, UMF 10+ ≈ MGO 263+, UMF 15+ ≈ MGO 514+, UMF 20+ ≈ MGO 829+.
Look for three things: a UMF grade with the trademark, the producer’s UMF licence number (ApiHealth’s is #1052), and batch traceability. Every jar of ApiHealth UMF Manuka honey carries a batch number you can enter on our certificate page to see the actual laboratory results for your jar, including MGO, Leptosperin, DHA and HMF, issued by an accredited independent lab.
A UMF release certificate is the official document confirming a specific batch of Manuka honey has been tested by an accredited laboratory and meets the UMF Honey Association standard for its stated grade, before it is released for sale or export. It records the batch number and measured levels of MGO, Leptosperin, DHA and HMF. You can view the release certificate for any ApiHealth batch using the batch number printed on your jar on our certificate lookup page.
Yes. The UMF trademark can only be used on Manuka honey that is harvested, extracted, tested and packed in New Zealand by a licensed UMF Honey Association member. ApiHealth honey comes exclusively from New Zealand’s native Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) and is never blended with imported honey. Packed at our Auckland facility under an MPI Risk Management Programme.
Experience the UMF Difference
From everyday UMF 5+ to rare-reserve UMF 25+, every jar is batch-traceable, lab-verified, and shipped direct from New Zealand.
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