Understanding MGO Why High-MGO Manuka Honey Has Become a Winter Staple for Australian Families

"Walk into almost any pharmacy, health food store or supermarket during winter and you'll notice something interesting. The Manuka honey shelves become noticeably busier. Every year, more Australians discover Manuka honey, yet many still ask the same questions: What does MGO actually mean? Why are some Manuka honeys more potent than others? And how do you choose the right one?" 

The answers begin long before the honey reaches the jar. 

They begin in the Australian landscape itself. 

It All Starts Long Before the Bees Arrive 

Every jar of genuine Australian Manuka honey begins with a flowering Leptospermum plant. 

Australia is home to more than 80 recognised species of Leptospermum, growing across an extraordinary range of landscapes—from coastal heathlands and subtropical forests to alpine regions and semi-arid environments. 

While all are uniquely Australian, not every species, or even every individual plant, has the same potential to produce premium Manuka honey. 

For more than 10 years, Gather By has worked alongside growers, beekeepers and research partners to better understand the remarkable relationship between Australian Leptospermum, bees and premium Manuka honey. 

Our understanding has been built through ongoing field observations, nectar and honey testing, commercial plantings and, most importantly, learning from nature itself. 

Every flowering season teaches us something new. 

Every harvest adds another piece to the puzzle. 

That knowledge has helped shape our Medicinal Honey Forest™ program, where carefully selected Australian cultivars are planted not only for their potential to produce exceptional Manuka honey, but also for their resilience, flowering sequence and suitability across different Australian landscapes. 

Exceptional Manuka honey doesn't happen by chance. 

It begins years before the bees arrive—with thoughtful plant selection, healthy ecosystems, thriving pollinators and a commitment to continually learning from the natural world. 

Because while science helps us understand the process, it is ultimately nature that creates something extraordinary. 

What Does MGO Actually Mean? 

MGO stands for methylglyoxal. 

It is the naturally occurring compound measured in genuine Manuka honey and is recognised around the world as an indicator of its activity. 

Interestingly, bees don't collect MGO from flowers. 

They collect nectar containing a naturally occurring compound called DHA. 

Over time, as the honey matures naturally, that DHA slowly converts into MGO. 

Nature does the chemistry. 

The beekeeper simply provides the opportunity. 

Nature Still Has the Final Say 

Even with exceptional plant selection, producing premium Manuka honey is never guaranteed. 

Every season is different. 

Rainfall influences flowering. 

Sunshine affects nectar production. 

Temperature impacts flowering periods. 

Healthy bees determine successful pollination and nectar collection. 

The best harvests occur when healthy plants, thriving bee colonies and favourable seasonal conditions come together. 

That's why every vintage of Manuka honey is unique. 

And it's why truly exceptional Manuka honey remains relatively rare. 

More Than Just a Number 

When people first discover Manuka honey, it's easy to assume that a higher MGO number automatically means a better honey. 

The reality is more interesting than that. 

Every MGO level has its place. 

Some people are just beginning their Manuka journey. 

Others enjoy it as part of their daily wellness routine. 

Some appreciate a beautifully balanced premium honey. 

Others seek exceptionally high-potency harvests produced only in outstanding seasons. 

Rather than asking, 

"What's the highest MGO?" 

perhaps the better question is, 

"Which Manuka honey is right for me?" 

Choosing the Right Manuka Honey 

One of the wonderful things about Australian Manuka honey is that there is a place for every level of MGO. 

MGO300+ 

An excellent introduction to premium Australian Manuka honey and a wonderful choice for everyday enjoyment. 

MGO600+ 

A popular step up, offering greater potency while remaining beautifully versatile. 

MGO900+ 

Favoured by many customers seeking a richer, more concentrated Manuka experience, particularly during winter. 

MGO1200+ 

One of Australia's highest potency retail Manuka honeys, produced in limited quantities from exceptional seasons and carefully selected apiary sites. 

And then there are the truly extraordinary harvests. 

Occasionally, nature delivers something exceptional. 

These rare batches become honeys like Gather By's internationally recognised MGO2200+, showcasing the remarkable potential of Australian landscapes, healthy bees and carefully selected Leptospermum plantings. 

Why Australian Manuka Is Different 

Australia's native landscapes provide one of the world's richest collections of Leptospermum species. 

Combined with diverse climates, healthy ecosystems and an extraordinary range of flowering environments, they create the conditions capable of producing some of the world's most remarkable Manuka honey. 

At Gather By, we've spent more than a decade continuing to learn from those landscapes. 

Working with growers. 

Supporting local beekeepers. 

Establishing Medicinal Honey Forest™ plantings. 

Observing flowering patterns. 

Studying nectar and honey. 

And allowing every season to improve our understanding. 

Because exceptional Manuka honey doesn't begin in the honey house. 

It begins in the landscape. 

Looking Beyond the Jar 

Every jar of Australian Manuka honey tells a story. 

A flowering Leptospermum. 

A healthy bee. 

A patient beekeeper. 

A season that delivered the right conditions. 

More than a decade of applied learning and continual improvement. 

And nature quietly doing what it has always done. 

Perhaps that's why premium Manuka honey has become such an enduring winter ritual for so many Australian families. 

Not because it follows a trend. 

But because it reflects something we've always known. 

Nature, given the opportunity, produces extraordinary things. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

What does MGO stand for? 

MGO stands for methylglyoxal, a naturally occurring compound measured in Manuka honey that develops naturally from DHA present in the nectar of certain Leptospermum plants. 

Is higher MGO always better? 

Higher MGO indicates a higher measured concentration of methylglyoxal, but the best Manuka honey is the one that suits your individual preferences and needs. Every MGO level has its place. 

Why are some Manuka honeys rarer than others? 

Exceptional Manuka honey depends on many factors coming together—plant selection, seasonal conditions, healthy bee populations and time. Nature determines the harvest. 

Why is Australian Manuka honey unique? 

Australia is home to more than 80 recognised species of Leptospermum. Combined with diverse climates and more than a decade of applied learning, these landscapes are capable of producing some of the world's most remarkable Manuka honeys. 

Why does Manuka honey vary from season to season? 

Like fine wine or olive oil, every Manuka harvest reflects the environmental conditions of that particular flowering season. No two years are ever exactly the same. 

For more than 10 years, Gather By has been privileged to work alongside growers, beekeepers and research partners in better understanding Australia's remarkable Manuka landscapes. 

Every flowering season continues to teach us something new. 

Every harvest deepens that understanding. 

Our role isn't to rush nature. 

It's to learn from it, care for it and share its remarkable gifts with others. 

Whether you're discovering Australian Manuka honey for the first time or have enjoyed it for many years, we hope this article has helped you better understand the extraordinary journey behind every jar. 

Written by Matt Blomfield 
Founder, Gather By Australian Manuka Honey