Mānuka Honey
Mānuka Honey is collected from the nectar of the Mānuka (leptospermum scoparium) tree native to New Zealand. Bees can only collect the nectar needed to make Mānuka Honey for around 6 weeks of the year when the Mānuka trees are in flower. Renowned for its rich flavour, Mānuka Honey is recognised worldwide for its unique properties.
Mānuka Honey is different from other honeys. It contains over 2,000 individual compounds which is more than 20-fold higher than pasture honey such as clover, giving it a range of special properties that are unique to Mānuka Honey. You can read more about the scientifically researched benefits here.
Honey has a long history of use since ancient civilisations. Modern scientific research shows that the health benefits associated with traditional uses of honey are not just a folklore. New Zealand Mānuka Honey, sourced from the indigenous shrub Leptospermum scoparium, exhibits a combination of bioactive properties that give it unique benefits beyond just culinary use.
Mānuka Honey is renowned for its antibacterial properties and is well-researched for various topical uses such as treating wounds and burns and eczema and dermatitis. As a food Mānuka Honey is a delicious-tasting honey that can be taken on its own or in combination with other beverages such as tea. In addition to its use as a natural sweetener, the honey is commonly used as a remedy to help alleviate the symptoms of common colds and winter chills such as cough and sore throat as well as to support gut health. You can read more about the scientifically researched benefits here.
There is a significant body of scientific evidence to support the unique composition, bioactivity and health benefits of Mānuka Honey with over 9,000 research papers published in scientific journals. Comvita leads the way in creating and understanding the science behind Mānuka Honey. Over the last two decades Comvita scientists and research collaborators have authored numbers of research papers, reports and articles and are committed to continuing to push the boundaries of scientific research on Mānuka Honey every day to understand more about what makes it so special. You can read more about the scientifically researched benefits here.
Mānuka Honey is collected from the nectar of the Mānuka (leptospermum scoparium) tree native to New Zealand. Bees can only collect the nectar needed to make Mānuka Honey for around 6 weeks of the year when the Mānuka trees are in flower. We cannot comment on the practices of other companies but here at Comvita our beekeeping and honey testing practices ensure that all of our customers around the world are getting real genuine Mānuka Honey from New Zealand. Our beekeepers carefully consider hive placement, timing of placement and other factors to optimise the collection of pure Mānuka nectar needed to make genuine, real Mānuka Honey. Our Mānuka hive sites are located in remote locations in New Zealand, these sites are many hundreds of acres in size with very few non-Mānuka species flowering at the same time as the Mānuka trees, because of this the bees can collect pure Mānuka nectar.
Mānuka contains many unique compounds not found in other honey types making analysis and verification of honey floral origin and purity possible. All of our Mānuka Honey undergoes rigorous scientific laboratory and quality testing for food safety, purity and potency. We use advanced analytical chemistry techniques to precisely measure the quantity of a range of unique Mānuka Honey compounds to verify the honey’s floral origin, its potency and to ensure that it is true to label. All Comvita UMF™ Mānuka Honey products are tested and certified as monofloral Mānuka Honey. UMF™ is an independent certification and is the gold standard test for the purity and potency of Mānuka Honey, it measures the presence of 3 signature compounds found in Mānuka Honey including leptosperin that cannot be purchased commercially and is not found in any other honey type, this makes it an ideal compound for confirming authenticity. We also test all our honey for the presence of Lepteridine™ 3,6,7-Trimethyllumazine, a unique Mānuka Honey compound recently discovered by Comvita Scientists. No other company can test its honey for this compound. At Comvita we also test to ensure all of our Mānuka Honey meets the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) standards, this tests for four additional Mānuka compounds and the presence of Mānuka pollen DNA. All of our domestic and export monofloral Mānuka Honey meets the same UMF™ and MPI standards meaning that, wherever they buy our product, our consumers around the world can be confident that they are buying genuine monofloral Mānuka Honey from New Zealand. Learn more about the science in identifying real Mānuka here.
UMF™ stands for Unique Mānuka Factor, an independently certified quality assurance mark for genuine New Zealand monofloral Mānuka Honey. UMF™ measures both the purity and quality of Mānuka Honey based on the levels of four unique signature compounds: leptosperin, dihydroxyacetone (DHA), methylglyoxal (MGO) and HydroxyMethylFurfuraldehyde (HMF). Comvita adopts a dual grading system - MGO & UMF™ to provide additional assurance to consumers.
The MGO lettering is the shorthand for ‘Methylglyoxal’, the dominant active component in Mānuka Honey, used to measure anti-bacterial activity. Labels with MGO (plus a number) explain the presence of Methylglyoxal in the content. The minimum for a monofloral Mānuka Honey is MGO 83. The higher the number, the higher the MGO level.
Measuring only one compound, such as MGO, is not sufficient to ensure that compound is from a natural Mānuka Honey source. That's why Comvita adopts a dual grading system - MGO & UMF™ to provide additional assurance to consumers.
In one country, it was found that a company was adding synthetic MGO to honey to achieve test results so it is important to check all 3 markers are present in Mānuka Honey.
Other measuring tools such as 'Active', 'NPA' are used at the discretion of the producing company, with no third party checks in place.
Comvita has a long-term reputation for integrity. Our testing data shows our UMF™ Mānuka Honey has consistently met or exceeded the stated UMF™ level. The amount of testing and quality requirements add to the quality and price of our brand. Comvita is the leading producer of UMF™ Mānuka Honey, our integrity is important as we sell our honey products globally and must meet stringent requirements in all markets.
We are very selective about the honey we source and the beekeepers we work with – we only source the best and we test it to make sure.
All honeys are antimicrobial to some extent. The high sugar, low pH and low water content of honey creates an environment which is unfavourable for bacterial growth (Molan 1992a, Bogdanov 2004). Most honeys also release hydrogen peroxide when diluted which kills bacteria. This hydrogen peroxide is generated by the enzyme glucose oxidase, which is added by bees to nectar during the honey-making process.
Mānuka Honey has a unique non-peroxide antimicrobial activity that distinguishes it from the other honey types. In comparison to the peroxide-based antimicrobial activity found in other honey types, the non-peroxide antimicrobial activity of Mānuka Honey is highly stable, making Mānuka Honey excellent for antimicrobial uses such as wound care.
Mānuka Honey also carries an abundance of other bioactive plant-derived compounds such as phenolic acids and flavonoids (Russell 1990, Stephens 2010). Phenolic acids and flavonoids are well-known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities (Gutiérrez-Grijalva 2016) which may explain some of the health-benefits reported for Mānuka Honey.
Rest assured Comvita Mānuka Honey is indeed pure, unadulterated Mānuka Honey. All of our Mānuka Honey is rigorously tested using internationally recognised testing methods. We comply with New Zealand government Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)’s requirements and UMF™ standard to ensure the authenticity, quality and purity of the product. You can read more about our Triple test guarantee, which ensures the origin and the efficacy of the honey in three distinct ways here.
Mānuka Honey has been taken by pregnant women for many years with no reported problems as a result of its ingestion. As a food, we suggest that UMF Mānuka Honey is generally considered safe to take during pregnancy. If you do have concerns, please consult your healthcare professional.
If your healthcare professional has suggested that honey could be consumed with your condition, Comvita recommends to start with small quantities and monitor blood sugar levels. Indian Ayurvedic physicians suggest that honey serves as a valuable sugar substitute and can be consumed by diabetic subjects. Recent studies suggest that honey is tolerated by individuals with impaired glucose tolerances.
Honey that is left 'raw' straight from the hive contains bee pollen and parts of the beehive or the honeycomb. Comvita's honey is filtered remove these particles, to ensure you have a raw clean honey.
Honey is a natural product, influenced by seasonal and regional conditions. Some areas produce paler honey than others. Like a good wine, honey will grow in flavour and darken with age.
We do not recommend that honey be given to children under the age of one.
No. Mānuka Honey that is purchased in a jar is for oral/internal use only. Comvita® recommends sterile medical grade honey products such as Comvita Medihoney® Antibacterial Wound Gel™ for use on wounds.
If you suspect counterfeit product, we advise you contact us with as much information as possible so we can take appropriate action. It will be useful for you to provide the details of where you purchased the product (e.g. company name, website address, country you purchased it in), its batch number (it can usually be found near the barcode) as well as clear photographs if possible. We are committed to ensuring customers maintain their faith and trust in our brand, and to protecting consumers.
Propolis
Propolis is created by the bees from natural sap and resins found on trees. Trees produce these resins at the site of a plant injury and on new shoots. The bees collect the resin and carry it back to the hive where they mix beeswax and enzymes to make Propolis.
Propolis contains high levels of active bioflavonoids, with well-known antioxidant properties. Propolis helps to support and maintain a healthy immune system.
The strength of dose is the same, so it is more a question of suitability and personal preference.
Propolis Capsules should be swallowed with water. Propolis Tablets can be swallowed with water or chewed before swallowing. Propolis Extract can be dropped directly into the back of the mouth and throat, or mixed in water and drunk or gargled.
Vegetarians should choose the Propolis Tablets rather than Propolis Capsules due to the bovine gelatin in the capsule.
Olive Leaf
The Olive Leaf Extract Blood Sugar, as it is known as in Australia, is simply known as Olive Leaf Extract in the UK.
Polyphenols are compounds which are found abundantly in natural plant food sources.
Our Olive Leaf Extract Immune Support Capsules contain a dose of 66mg of Oleuropein per capsule. You only need to take one a day to get all the benefits of Olive Leaf Extract. Any changes to this dosage should be taken under the supervision of your healthcare practitioner.
Oleuropein is the active ingredient found in olive leaves.
Comvita Olive Leaf liquid contains vegetable glycerine, a natural ingredient which we use to suspend the extract. Glycerine happens to be sweet, which works well as Olive Leaf Extract on its own as an ingredient is quite bitter.
We advise you to consult your healthcare professional.
We advise you to consult your healthcare practitioner.
Comvita has developed Children’s Olive Leaf Extract to appeal to younger taste buds. Children’s Olive Leaf Complex can be given to children over the age of 2 years at a rate of 5mL (1 teaspoonful) twice daily. Children over two years of age may be given the original flavoured Olive Leaf Extract at 2.5mL (half teaspoonful) 2 to 3 times a day with food. Take up to 7.5mL daily. The Immune Support Capsules shouldn't be given to children under 12 years of age without medical advice.
If you are a vegan or vegetarian we recommend that you use either the liquid Olive Leaf Extract range which is made from 100% plant derived products, or our new Olive Life Veg Capsules. Our current Olive Leaf Extract capsule products contain a gelatin coating which is not suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
No, as long as it is kept in a cool dry place, away from sunlight, it will keep its active values until the use-by date.
Comvita is the only brand to measure the active Oleuropein in Olive Leaf Extract.
Wound Care
Medihoney™ Antibacterial Mānuka Honey is sourced from New Zealand hives, these hives are managed by beekeepers whose sole focus is producing medical-grade honey for Comvita. The honey is then transported to Comvita’s purpose built, state of the art facility for processing, once filtered to Medical-Grade standards, the honey is then transported to our Medical Device partner in Canada to complete the product to global medical device standards.
Comvita has developed a world-leading medical Mānuka Honey supply and extraction methodology into a system that has helped redefine honey industry standards. This has resulted in products licensed for use in hospitals in Europe and the United States.
The extraction and processing of medical Mānuka honey is vastly different to that of table honey. A key difference is the number of processes designed to minimise environmental contaminants. All of the tools we use to remove Mānuka honey frames are sanitised and the frames are hygienically transported to our specialised extraction and processing facility in Te Puke, New Zealand.
Automated closed extraction and filtration procedures minimise exposure to contaminants. At Comvita we use only the most stringent standards to ensure the consistency, efficacy and integrity of every product. Each batch is tested by an independent laboratory for its antibacterial activity and is sterilised to make it safe for use.
The extraction and processing of medical Mānuka honey is vastly different to that of table honey. A key difference is the number of processes designed to minimise environmental contaminants. All of the tools we use to remove Mānuka honey frames are sanitised and the frames are hygienically transported to our specialised extraction and processing facility in Te Puke, New Zealand.
Automated closed extraction and filtration procedures minimise exposure to contaminants. At Comvita we use only the most stringent standards to ensure the consistency, efficacy and integrity of every product. Each batch is tested by an independent laboratory for its antibacterial activity and is sterilised to make it safe for use.
No. Mānuka Honey that is purchased in a jar is for edible purposes only. Wounds, cuts and scratches or broken skin should only be treated with sterilised honey. Therefore, Comvita recommends using Medical-Grade Antibacterial Manuka Honey for such conditions such as our Medihoney®Wound Gel which is infused with antibacterial medical-grade Mānuka Honey. Medihoney Wound Care products are CE marked to European medical device standard 93/42/EEC and are the first honey-based products cleared for medical use by the FDA (North America), Europe and Australasia.
Yes. Medihoney™ Wound Gel is a sterile product.
Comvita is committed to researching the best honey for different applications or stages of wound healing. Our medical-grade Mānuka Honey has been selected because it contains high levels of Methylglyoxal, which has been shown to offer effective antibacterial protection. To ensure we manufacture highly efficacious products, Comvita will continue to re-evaluate the honey type and content of our products as we understand more about the therapeutic action of honeys.
Not every wound is the same and so we recommend that wound dressings are changed as required depending on the size and severity of the wound, as well as whether the dressing gets wet, dirty or damaged. It is important to keep your dressing fresh and clean to optimally support wound healing. Continue to keep the affected area covered until the wound is completely healed.
Due to the properties of honey, some people may experience some discomfort such as a stinging upon application. This will subside after a few minutes as the wound adjusts to the lower pH. If discomfort is of an unacceptable level, remove the dressing and wash the affected area. Honey has a low pH which can be responsible for the stinging sensation. Honey also has a very high sugar content and low water content. Excess fluid from the wound is drawn towards the honey which can cause a drawing or slight throbbing sensation.
Yes. Because Medihoney™ Wound Gel is sterilised, it is safe for the whole family.
Medihoney™ Wound Gel is unique in the sense that it is antibacterial, creates a moist environment conducive to optimal wound healing, and acts as a barrier against further infection. Other First Aid products have their place, but not all have the same unique qualities as Medihoney™.
My Account
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Ordering
All items ordered with Comvita depend upon availability. We want you to be able to order and receive the products you love effortlessly, so we’ll always aim to let you know if an item is out of stock.
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Once you’ve found the product you want, you’ll need to click ‘Add to cart’. You can either carry on shopping or click ‘View Cart’ in the top right-hand corner to check if you’ve got everything you need; this will give you the option to checkout.
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Check everything is correct and you’re good to go. We’ll send you an email confirming your order.
Yes, click on the ‘’Shopping Cart’ icon at the top right of the page and you’ll be able to see the item(s) you have in there so far.
Use the + button to stock-up on your favourite items, or the – button if you’ve selected too many. If you want to remove an item completely, then click the trash can icon.
All orders have to be placed online via our website. If you need assistance placing your order, please feel free to email our Customer Service team on [email protected] who will be able to guide you through this.
Yes, your delivery address is chosen at the checkout stage. Your order will automatically default to any saved addresses, but you can choose to add a new one by going to the ‘My Addresses’ tab in your account and clicking ‘Add address’. You can also choose to checkout as a guest.
We’ll send you an email as soon as your order is on its way. If you are registered with us, you can also check your account to see the progress of an order or to track it.
If you have registered with us, your account makes it easy to keep track of all your orders.
Once you’ve logged in, you’ll see each individual order that you’ve placed with us. Select the one that you want and you’ll be provided with all the details you need about that order.
We’ll also send you a dispatch email as soon as your order is on the way.
Your account will show any previous orders you’ve placed including a tracking link to see where your order is at. We’ll also send you a dispatch email as soon as your order is on the way.
We’re sorry to hear you want to cancel.
If there is anything that we might be able to do that means you don’t have to cancel, then you can contact our Customer Service team on [email protected]
As per our Terms & Conditions, you may cancel your order within 14 days after the date of delivery by contacting our Customer Service team on [email protected]. If your order has already been dispatched, or you have already received your order, then you will need to return the items to us, unused and in their original packaging and at your cost. Our Customer Service team will provide you with a link to easily log your return back to our warehouse.
Once we have confirmed receipt of the goods, we will then process your refund within 14 days and using the same method originally used by you to pay for your order.
Because all orders go through our systems very quickly, once you’ve placed your order, we cannot make any changes to it.
If you want to try and cancel so that a new order can be placed, then you’ll need to contact our Customer Service team on [email protected].
We’re really sorry that happened as we aim to provide high quality items to all of our customers. So that we can look into this for you, please contact our Customer Service team on [email protected]
To speed the process up, it’d really help if you could find the information below before contacting us. Don’t worry if you can’t though, we can help once you get in touch.
- Order Number
- Product Name
- Details of the fault
- Images that support the fault, if applicable
As soon as we’ve looked into the fault, we’ll let you know what we plan to do next by sending you an email.
We take pride in our products so we’re sorry to hear you’ve received your order damaged. Sometimes things can go wrong but don’t worry, we are here to help. Please send us an email on [email protected] and one of our Customer Service team will get in touch.
Please don’t throw the item away, we may ask for pictures of the damage to ensure we take measures to prevent it happening again. As soon as we’ve looked into what went wrong, we’ll let you know what we plan to do next by sending you an email.
We’re really sorry to hear that, sometimes things can go wrong. Please send us an email on [email protected] and one of our Customer Service team will get in touch.
We’ll need to know the following information so that we can fix this for you-
- Order number
- Incorrect item received
- The correct item ordered
As soon as we’ve looked into what went wrong, we’ll let you know what we plan to do next by sending you an email.
We’re sorry you have an item missing from your order. Please send an email, with the following details, to our Customer Service team at [email protected] and one of our team will get in touch.
- Order number
- Product name and quantities missing
Payment & Discounts
We offer payment via credit card or PayPal. You can select your preferred payment method at checkout. As we take fraud very seriously, you will face validation and authorisation by us and the card issuer. We do this to ensure that our customers are safe while they shop.
If you’re seeing the status ‘’Under Review’ on one or more of your orders, then this means that we need to check the payment information that has been submitted. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your payment, then please email our Customer Service team on [email protected].
Once you place an order, the payment will show in your account as pending until we send the products to you. The pending transaction is telling you that the payment is authorised to be taken.
Once you’ve found all the items that you want, then click the cart icon in the top righthand corner. You’ll see a box located under the total amount which says ‘Enter promo code’. Enter your code here and then click ‘apply’.
If the code doesn’t work, then you’ll need to check that you’re not trying to use more than one offer and none of the items are on our exclusions list. If you are still having issues with the code, then please contact our Customer Service team on [email protected].
We’re sorry to hear your code isn’t working. You’ll need to check that you’re not trying to use more than one code per order and that your item isn’t excluded.
To take advantage of the extra 5% discount, you must be logged into your Comvita account to receive the Royal Treatment discount. We are not able to add this discount retrospectively.
Delivery
We send you an email, with tracking link, as soon as your order is on the way.
Have you checked for any delivery cards? Your parcel may have been left somewhere safe, such as with a neighbour or been taken to a local depot.
Our shipping page can give you more information and timescales.
All our delivery options can be found on our shipping page.
Our shipping page can tell you the timeframes associated with our different delivery options alongside their costs.
Don’t worry, if your order cannot fit through the letterbox, then you should receive a calling card.
This card is from the courier and lets you know where your parcel is and how you can collect it.
Refunds & Returns
Please refer to our RETURNS POLICY page for more information.
For all returns, please contact our Customer Service team on [email protected] in the first instance. You’ll need to tell us the reason for the return so we can choose the best option for you.
Please also refer to our RETURNS POLICY page for more information.
We want all our customers to enjoy their products so if you’re not happy with your order then you can send it back to us. All we ask is that you let us know that you don’t want the order within 14 days of receipt and make sure the products have not been opened.
To get the order back to us safely please contact our Customer Service team on [email protected]. We’ll send you all the information you need, but you can also refer to our returns policy page for more information.
As soon as we receive your order, we’ll review the reason for return and let you know what we plan to do next. You should receive an email to notify you of any action taken.
Your refund should be returned to your account within 14 days from the date we receive the goods back to our warehouse and we’ll send you an email to let you know it’s on its way.
If you don’t receive your refund then you’ll need to contact our Customer Service team on [email protected].
Website
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