Đây có phải là mật ong Manuka thật không? Giải thích về mật ong Manuka Úc chính hãng

If you've been told that authentic Australian Manuka honey isn't "real" Manuka, or that only New Zealand honey counts, you're not alone. You might have heard it from an AI assistant or an online review. Dr Peter Brooks, a senior chemist at the University of the Sunshine Coast who has tested Manuka honey for over a decade, has heard it too. "We both have very good Manuka," he told us in an interview. "New Zealand have said they're the only source of Manuka honey. Well, it's not true. Australia's got Manuka honey."

The short answer is yes. Australian Manuka honey is real Manuka honey. It comes from the same group of plants and is tested for the same active compound. The confusion comes from how New Zealand's tests and trade marks were built.

Below, we explain what each test measures, why one New Zealand marker can rule out authentic Australian Manuka honey, and what to check on the label.

Key Takeaways

• Manuka honey comes from Leptospermum plants. Australia has over 80 native species; New Zealand has one.
• A government-funded study of more than 5,000 Australian honey samples found at least seven native Leptospermum species, including the three behind our honey, produce honey with exceptionally high antibacterial activity.
• New Zealand's export test looks for a chemical marker and pollen DNA from one New Zealand species, so it can't judge authentic Australian Manuka honey, whatever its MGO.
• The AMHA Mark of Authenticity confirms Australian origin and minimum MGO and DHA levels through independent lab testing.

Yes, Australian Manuka honey is real Manuka honey

Manuka honey is honey that bees make from the nectar of Leptospermum flowers (1). The name refers to a group of plants, and that group grows in both countries. Australia has over 80 native Leptospermum species (84 by one 2018 count), while New Zealand has one, Leptospermum scoparium (2, 3). Dr Brooks put it simply in another interview with us. "It doesn't matter where it's from, so it could be from Australia or New Zealand. A Manuka honey is a Leptospermum honey that's got bioactivity associated with it." Biosota's authentic Australian Manuka honey comes from species including L. liversidgei, L. whitei and L. polygalifolium. That diversity is a big part of what sets Australian Manuka honey apart.

Manuka honey is valued for its antibacterial activity, driven mainly by a natural compound called MGO (methylglyoxal) (1). This is where authentic Australian Manuka honey stands up well. A study of 80 Australian Leptospermum honeys found MGO as high as 1,100 mg/kg in L. polygalifolium honey (4). In lab testing, honeys with more MGO showed stronger antibacterial activity. Of the 80, 22 were at least as active as the New Zealand Manuka honey used for comparison (4). A larger, government-funded study then tested more than 5,000 Australian honey samples and 2,000 nectar samples from over 50 Leptospermum species (5). It identified at least seven Australian species that produce honey with exceptionally high antibacterial activity, including L. liversidgei, L. polygalifolium and L. whitei, the species behind our honey. It also concluded that the activity of Australian Leptospermum honey comes from the same factors as New Zealand Manuka (5). Dr Brooks was one of the study's researchers. He told ABC News: "Our medicinal honey is as good as, or more active than, New Zealand medicinal honey." He added that "some of our species are three or four times more active than New Zealand" (6). Our guide to Manuka honey benefits covers what this activity may mean for you.

The name isn't New Zealand's alone, either. Trade mark offices in New Zealand and the UK have both refused applications to make "Manuka honey" a protected New Zealand term (7, 8).

So if authentic Australian Manuka honey is real Manuka, why do some tests say it isn't? It comes down to one marker.

Why some tests say Australian Manuka "isn't Manuka": the 2'-MAP marker

In February 2018, New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) introduced a definition of Manuka honey for New Zealand exports (9). It checks five things: four natural chemicals and DNA from Manuka pollen (10). Honey has to pass all five. The levels decide whether it counts as monofloral (mostly from Manuka flowers) or multifloral (a Manuka blend) (9).

Notice what's missing: MGO isn't one of the five. The test identifies a plant, so it can't tell you how strong authentic Australian Manuka honey is.

The marker that matters most for Australian honey is 2'-MAP. Besides L. scoparium, over 10 native Australian species produce active Manuka honey, including L. polygalifolium and L. liversidgei (2, 4). In MPI's own research, every chemical marker turned up in more than one plant species except 2'-MAP, which was found only in L. scoparium, New Zealand's single Manuka species, among the plants tested (10). In a 2018 study of 15 Australian Leptospermum honeys, every one had 2'-MAP below the level a lab can detect (11). So authentic Australian Manuka honey from these species is unlikely to pass New Zealand's monofloral test, however high its MGO.

The 2'-MAP level was debated in New Zealand too. MPI changed it twice before settling on 5 mg/kg (9). When one New Zealand lab applied the definition to hundreds of local honeys, only about half of those with MGO between 83 and 263 mg/kg qualified as monofloral Manuka (9).

At least one independent testing organisation outside New Zealand applies the same rule, including the 5 mg/kg 2'-MAP limit (12). Under that rule, Australian Manuka honey without 2'-MAP fails the monofloral check, whatever its MGO.

Identity markers vs activity: what MGO, DHA and leptosperin tell you

Manuka tests do two different jobs: some identify the plant, others measure activity.

Activity: MGO and DHA. MGO forms slowly in the honey from DHA (dihydroxyacetone), a natural compound in Leptospermum nectar (13). Research indicates Leptospermum nectar is unusually rich in DHA, which is why Manuka honey reaches far higher MGO than other honeys (14). In Australia, DHA varies by species. Nectar from L. whitei carried more than 16,000 mg/kg, while some other species had none detectable (3). That's why every batch of authentic Australian Manuka honey needs testing, rather than relying on the plant name alone. Our guide to how MGO is measured and graded goes deeper.

You may also see NPA (non-peroxide activity) on a jar of authentic Australian Manuka honey. It's a lab test of how well a honey stops bacteria once its natural hydrogen peroxide is neutralised. MGO and NPA tend to rise together, but MGO is a direct count of one compound, in mg/kg (15). The AMHA notes it's more accurate than the older plate tests (1). Here's more on what NPA means on a Manuka label.

HMF (hydroxymethylfurfural) is often described as a freshness test. It builds up in honey over time, and much faster in heat (5, 16). That matters for Manuka honey, because its MGO also needs time to form. In one storage study of Australian L. polygalifolium honey, DHA steadily turned into MGO over 10 months at 22°C while HMF stayed level. At 35°C, HMF rose sharply and MGO didn't increase (5). The researchers recommend storing young, high-DHA honey at about 22°C for around a year to get the most MGO (5). Dr Brooks explains the same in our maturation video: at around 20°C, DHA converts to MGO over 12 months to two years, but overheating honey destroys MGO. We mature our authentic Australian Manuka honey for 12 to 24 months under controlled temperatures for the same reason: so the DHA can finish converting into MGO without heat damage. That makes our honey matured, not "fresh", by design. Our guide to how temperature and shelf life affect Manuka honey explains how we look after it.

Identity: 2'-MAP, pollen DNA and leptosperin. These tell you about the plant, not the honey's strength. MPI's pollen DNA test uses a marker chosen to detect L. scoparium "but not related species" (10). Our medicinal, high-MGO honey comes from L. liversidgei, L. whitei and L. polygalifolium, so it doesn't pass that DNA test, however high its MGO. Dr Brooks names the same three species: "We have other species of Manuka, Leptospermum polygalifolium, Leptospermum whitei, Leptospermum liversidgei. They have greater natural MGO activity than New Zealand scoparium." The test was never designed to recognise these Australian species. New Zealand research has even found Tasmania's L. scoparium to be genetically distinct from New Zealand's (17), so authentic Australian Manuka honey from other Leptospermum species was never going to match a test built around New Zealand's plant. Leptosperin is a natural compound that the AMHA describes as found only in Manuka nectar and a stable marker of authentic Manuka honey (2). You may read that leptosperin is unique to New Zealand's L. scoparium, but research has found it in Australian Leptospermum honey too. One MPI-authored study found leptosperin and 2-MBA were significantly higher in Australian Manuka honey than in New Zealand Manuka honey, though it included only five Australian samples (10). Our own authentic Australian Manuka honey has been tested for it too: in July 2025, an accredited laboratory measured 1,770 mg/kg of leptosperin in a batch of our MGO 1717+.

The AMHA Mark of Authenticity: Australia's Standard

The Australian Manuka Honey Association (AMHA) is the industry body for Australian Manuka honey. Its Mark of Authenticity shows that a honey "has been tested and approved according to the Association's Criteria for Defining Authentic Australian Manuka Honey" (18). To carry it, honey must be pure, natural Manuka honey made entirely in Australia (18). An independent, approved lab must test it (18). Producers must also show the honey came from Leptospermum nectar. They can use flow diaries, colour, flavour, chemical markers and pollen tests (18).

Checking DHA alongside MGO matters because DHA is the nectar compound MGO forms from (13, 19). AMHA members also keep certificates of analysis from independent laboratories for every batch they sell (1).

You may read that a single measurement can't prove a honey is authentic Manuka. That's true, and neither Australian certification nor our own testing relies on one. The AMHA Mark needs MGO and DHA results plus evidence the honey came from Leptospermum nectar (18). Every batch of our honey also goes through a 3-in-1 test at an independent, accredited laboratory, measuring MGO, DHA and HMF. We've had leptosperin measured as well, as noted above. Our premium grades also go through an AMHA four-factor authentication test, carried out at the University of the Sunshine Coast. It checks DHA, MGO, 3-PLA and 2-MBA against minimum levels. Here are the results for one recent batch of our MGO 1200+ (ppm is the same as mg/kg):

The test outcome was "Authentic Australian Manuka Honey". That batch's 3-PLA level is also above the 400 mg/kg New Zealand's export test sets for monofloral Manuka (9).

Dr Brooks, who signed off our four-factor report, has seen this at the top end: "I know I've tested regularly over 2,000 parts per million of methylglyoxal... Australia can produce more active honeys than New Zealand can. I mean, they're not common, but when you specialise in those honeys, we often get those levels in Biosota honeys."

We hold AMHA Authentic across our full range of authentic Australian Manuka honey, from MGO 150+ to MGO 2200+, and every batch comes with its own Certificate of Authenticity. For our other certifications, see decoding Manuka honey ratings and certifications.

Who owns the word "Manuka"? The trade mark dispute and New Zealand's grading mark

A New Zealand group, the Manuka Honey Appellation Society, spent years trying to register "Manuka honey" as a certification trade mark. The Australian Manuka Honey Association opposed the application (7).

On 22 May 2023, the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand refused it, noting evidence that the plant grows natively in both countries (7). It added that "savvy marketing by Australian honey producers does not equate to dishonest trading on their part. Nor does it justify registration of a purely descriptive word" (7). Dr Brooks acknowledges the name's Māori origin: "We're not trying to claim the Maori name, we're claiming manuka, which is the Anglicized name," he told ABC News (6).

The UK's Intellectual Property Office also refused, finding the term "has become common to the trade as a reference to a type of honey" (8). The society later dropped its appeal (8). Neither office accepted that "Manuka honey" belongs to New Zealand producers alone. A 2021 legal update reported that an application in the European Union had also been refused as descriptive (20).

Where UMF™ fits: you'll often see UMF™ on New Zealand Manuka honey. UMF™ is a quality mark run by the UMF Honey Association (UMFHA), which describes it as a quality assurance system for New Zealand mānuka honey (21). It combines four factors: MGO, leptosperin, DHA and HMF (21). Products carrying the mark trace back to UMFHA-licensed suppliers (21). In the association's own words, "The UMF™ identifies authentic New Zealand mānuka, so consumers can be sure it is derived from the nectar of Leptospermum scoparium" (22).

That's why you won't find UMF™ on authentic Australian Manuka honey. It's a licensed mark for New Zealand honey from one species. Its absence tells you where a honey comes from, not how strong or genuine it is.

How to check Australian Manuka honey before you buy

You don't need a lab to choose authentic Australian Manuka honey. Look for these four things:

• An MGO number in mg/kg. It directly measures the compound behind Manuka honey's antibacterial activity (1). See why MGO numbers matter.
• The AMHA Mark and its level. AMHA Authentic means at least 85 mg/kg MGO and 170 mg/kg DHA (18).
• A certificate of analysis for your batch from an independent laboratory (1).
• An MGO figure, even if the label leads with NPA. Use the AMHA's approximate guide below (2).

If a jar of authentic Australian Manuka honey ticks those boxes, a missing New Zealand grading mark doesn't count against it.

Ready to Choose Your AMHA Authentic Manuka Honey?

Biosota's Manuka honey is authentic Australian Manuka honey, certified AMHA Authentic. It's independently tested from MGO 150+ to MGO 2200+, and every batch has its own Certificate of Authenticity. Explore the full Biosota range, or use our Manuka honey strength chart to find the MGO grade that suits you.

FAQs

Is Australian Manuka honey real Manuka honey?

Yes. Manuka honey comes from the nectar of Leptospermum plants. Australia has over 80 native species. Authentic Australian Manuka honey is tested for the same active compound, MGO. Trade mark offices in New Zealand and the UK have also refused to make "Manuka honey" a protected New Zealand term.

What's the difference between MGO and UMF™?

MGO is a natural compound, measured in mg/kg. It's the main driver of Manuka honey's antibacterial activity. Any Manuka honey can be tested for it. UMF™ is a licensed grading mark from the UMF Honey Association for New Zealand Manuka honey. It combines MGO with three other factors: leptosperin, DHA and HMF.

Why doesn't Australian Manuka honey have a UMF™ rating?

UMF™ is a licensed mark for New Zealand honey. The UMF Honey Association says it identifies honey from Leptospermum scoparium. Authentic Australian Manuka honey can't carry it, whatever its MGO. It's verified through MGO testing and the AMHA Mark of Authenticity instead.

Does Australian Manuka honey pass New Zealand's Manuka test?

Authentic Australian Manuka honey from species other than L. scoparium is unlikely to pass the monofloral check, and strength isn't the reason. New Zealand's export test requires at least 5 mg/kg of 2'-MAP, a marker MPI research found only in L. scoparium. In one study, all 15 Australian Leptospermum honeys tested had 2'-MAP below detectable levels.

What is 2'-MAP and why does it matter?

2'-MAP (2'-methoxyacetophenone) is a natural compound that New Zealand government research found only in Leptospermum scoparium, among the plants it tested. It identifies that species rather than measuring strength. In one study, none of 15 Australian Leptospermum honeys had a detectable amount.

What is the AMHA Mark of Authenticity?

It's the Australian Manuka Honey Association's mark for honey produced entirely in Australia and tested by an independent, approved laboratory. AMHA Authentic requires at least 85 mg/kg MGO and 170 mg/kg DHA. AMHA Authorised requires at least 30 mg/kg MGO and 60 mg/kg DHA.

Is Australian Manuka honey as strong as New Zealand Manuka honey?

It can be. In lab testing of 80 Australian Leptospermum honeys, 22 were at least as active against bacteria as a New Zealand Manuka honey control, and MGO reached 1,100 mg/kg. A larger government-funded study concluded that the activity of Australian Leptospermum honey comes from the same factors as New Zealand Manuka. Strength varies by batch, so always check the MGO number on authentic Australian Manuka honey before you buy.

References

1. Australian Manuka Honey Association, Quality Standards. https://manukaaustralia.org.au/quality-standards/
2. Australian Manuka Honey Association, "Australian Manuka Honey: 100% Pure, Natural, Active" consumer brochure. https://manukaaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/AMHA-Awareness-Brochure_v10_Web.pdf
3. Williams, Pappalardo, Bishop and Brooks, "Dihydroxyacetone Production in the Nectar of Australian Leptospermum Is Species Dependent", Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (2018). https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.8b04363
4. Cokcetin et al., "The Antibacterial Activity of Australian Leptospermum Honey Correlates with Methylglyoxal Levels", PLOS ONE (2016). https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0167780 (antibacterial results from lab testing, in vitro)
5. Cokcetin, Williams, Blair, Carter, Brooks and Harry, "Active Australian Leptospermum Honey: New sources and their bioactivity", AgriFutures Australia Publication No. 19-037 (2019). https://agrifutures.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/19-037.pdf
6. Nichols, "Stakes raised in Australia-New Zealand rivalry over manuka honey as study finds ours is the best", ABC News (24 October 2019). https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2019-10-24/medicinal-honey-in-australia-superior-to-new-zealand-manuka/11635412
7. ABC Rural, report on the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand's "Manuka honey" certification trade mark decision (22 May 2023). https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2023-05-22/australian-producers-score-another-win-in-manuka-honey-war/102376322
8. Griffith Hack, New Zealand honey producers drop appeal in UK Manuka trade mark dispute. https://www.griffithhack.com/insights/publications/new-zealand-honey-producers-back-down-in-manuka-trade-mark-dispute/
9. Braggins, Analytica Laboratories, "The Impact of MPI's Definition of Mānuka Honey", New Zealand Beekeeper (April 2018). https://www.analytica.co.nz/media/yyrngupd/the-impact-of-mpis-definition.pdf
10. McDonald, Keeling, Brewer and Hathaway, "Using chemical and DNA marker analysis to authenticate a high-value food, manuka honey", npj Science of Food (2018). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6550171/
11. Rückriemen and Henle, "Pilot study on the discrimination of commercial Leptospermum honeys from New Zealand and Australia by HPLC-MS/MS analysis", European Food Research and Technology (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-018-3036-1 (pilot study, 15 Australian samples)
12. ConsumerLab, Manuka honey testing methods. https://www.consumerlab.com/methods/manuka-honey-comparisons/manuka-honey/
13. University of Waikato Research Commons, conversion of DHA to MGO in Manuka honey during maturation. https://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz/server/api/core/bitstreams/812d8da7-e8eb-4b99-8bd6-9cfe1d278ff6/content
14. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, DHA content of Manuka (Leptospermum) nectar. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jafc.7b00797
15. Study of MGO concentration and non-peroxide activity in Manuka honey. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11111008/
16. Grainger, Owens, Manley-Harris, Lane and Field, "Kinetics of conversion of dihydroxyacetone to methylglyoxal in New Zealand mānuka honey: Part IV, Formation of HMF", Food Chemistry (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2017.04.066
17. Chagné et al., genetic differentiation between New Zealand and Tasmanian Leptospermum scoparium, Tree Genetics & Genomes (2023). https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11295-023-01606-w
18. Australian Manuka Honey Association, Mark of Authenticity. https://manukaaustralia.org.au/mark-of-authenticity/
19. Australian Manuka Honey Association, Criteria for Defining Authentic Australian Manuka Honey. https://manukaaustralia.org.au/quality-standards/criteria/
20. Clayton Utz, "This trade mark stoush is as sweet as honey" (2021). https://www.claytonutz.com/insights/2021/september/this-trade-mark-stoush-is-as-sweet-as-honey
21. UMF Honey Association, UMF™ Quality Assurance System. https://www.umf.org.nz/unique-manuka-factor/umf-quality-assurance-system/
22. UMF Honey Association, "UMF Honey Association: protecting consumers for 25 years". https://www.umf.org.nz/umf-honey-association-protecting-consumers-for-25-years/