Buying Guide to Australia's Manuka Honey

The main decision when buying Australia's Manuka honey is which MGO strength suits the way you plan to use it. The range available from Shop Naturally includes MGO 100+, MGO 300+ and MGO 550+, each in a 250g jar. All three let you enjoy Australian manuka honey as a food, but their measured methylglyoxal concentrations and typical price points differ.

What does MGO mean?

MGO stands for methylglyoxal, a naturally occurring compound associated with manuka honey. The number on a jar indicates its measured MGO concentration in milligrams per kilogram. For example, honey labelled MGO 100+ contains at least 100mg of methylglyoxal per kilogram, while MGO 550+ has a substantially higher measured concentration.

The rating provides a straightforward way to compare jars from the same range. It is a measurement rather than a recommended serving size or a scale assigning honey to particular health conditions. A higher rating also does not automatically make one jar the right purchase for every household.

Choosing an MGO strength

MGO 100+ is the most accessible option in this range for frequent culinary use. It makes sense when you expect to use manuka honey regularly, such as from a spoon, spread over toast or stirred into food and drinks. Its lower MGO concentration also generally makes it the more economical starting point.

MGO 300+ sits in the middle of the range. Choose it when you want a higher measured MGO concentration than the everyday MGO 100+ jar without moving directly to the highest-rated option stocked by Shop Naturally. As all three jars are the same size, the decision comes down to concentration and how often you intend to use the honey rather than pack quantity.

MGO 550+ contains the highest measured MGO concentration in the available range. It is suited to shoppers specifically seeking a high-MGO food honey and who are comfortable paying more for that concentration. It may also suit more occasional use, when a 250g jar will last longer. The higher number describes MGO concentration; it should not be treated as a medical recommendation or a promise of better results.

Consider flavour and intended use

Before choosing, think about how the honey will fit into your kitchen. For generous or frequent servings, MGO 100+ is usually the practical choice. MGO 300+ offers a middle ground, while MGO 550+ is for customers whose priority is the highest displayed MGO rating in this particular range. If you mainly want sweetness for baking or large-volume recipes, a specialised high-MGO honey may offer features you do not need for that purpose.

Manuka honey can be eaten directly or used as a sweetener. Its distinctive flavour may be more noticeable in simple uses than when combined with many other ingredients. Start with a small amount and adjust it to taste rather than assuming that the same serving will suit every dish or drink.

Cold-extracted manuka honey

Australia's Manuka uses a cold-extraction approach that limits unnecessary heat during processing. The producer uses this method to help preserve the honey's naturally occurring compounds and measured MGO level rather than relying on high-temperature extraction.

Cold extraction does not mean the jar must be refrigerated. Store it correctly in the pantry and use a clean, dry utensil each time. If retaining the character of minimally heated honey matters to you, add it to warm food or drinks once they have cooled from boiling rather than subjecting it to unnecessarily high temperatures.