If you've ever stood in front of a shelf of Manuka honey jars, each stamped with a number like MGO 250+ or MGO 800+, and had no idea which one you actually needed, you're not alone. The labels look more like a chemistry exam than a grocery item, and most brands don't bother explaining them. So let's break it down plainly.
What does MGO actually stand for?
MGO stands for methylglyoxal, a compound that occurs naturally in honey. Regular honey has small amounts of it. Manuka honey, made by bees feeding on the Manuka bush native to New Zealand, can contain up to 100 times more, and that difference is what sets it apart from honey you'd find in a regular grocery aisle.
Why does the number on the jar matter?
The MGO number tells you how many milligrams of methylglyoxal are present per kilogram of honey. So a jar marked MGO 400+ has at least 400 mg/kg. The higher the number, the more concentrated the honey, and the more of Manuka's signature properties you're getting in every spoonful. It's not a marketing flourish. It's closer to a nutrition label for the one compound that makes Manuka honey worth seeking out in the first place.
Does a higher MGO rating mean better honey?
Higher generally means more potent, but not necessarily better for every use. A lower MGO honey is still real Manuka honey and works well stirred into tea or drizzled over toast. Higher-MGO honey is more concentrated, which is why it shows up in products meant to be used in small, targeted amounts, like a throat spray, where a little goes a long way.
How Manuka honey fits into a daily wellness routine
- Keep a Manuka-based product on hand during the seasons your throat tends to get dry or scratchy. Dry winter air and long meetings talking are both common triggers.
- Use it at the first sign of a dry, scratchy throat rather than waiting it out.
- Pair it with basics that already work: water, rest, and warm (not scalding) drinks.
- Choose a format you'll actually use consistently. A spray you can toss in a bag beats a jar you forget about in the pantry.
Why MGO matters more than the marketing around it
The honest answer is chemistry, not hype. Methylglyoxal is what gives Manuka honey its natural antibacterial and antioxidant activity, properties that regular honey has in smaller amounts. That's the mechanism behind why Manuka has been used as a soothing remedy for dry, irritated throats for so long, and why our Manuka Honey + Propolis Throat Spray leans on real Manuka honey rather than flavoring or filler. Propolis adds its own layer here too. It's made of over 300 natural compounds bees use to protect the hive, and it works alongside the honey rather than competing with it.
None of this means Manuka honey replaces rest, water, or a visit to your doctor when you need one. It means the number on the jar isn't arbitrary. It's telling you something real about what's inside. Nature knows best, but now at least you know what the label is actually saying.
Products related to this post:
- Manuka Honey + Propolis Throat Spray, $13.99
- Manuka Honey + Tallow Balm, $29.99
