Why Is Australian Manuka Honey So Remarkable

These names reflect the published research, although some botanical classifications have since changed. 

A 2018 Australian study investigating nectar from 55 species demonstrated substantial differences in DHA concentrations. 

This is why selecting the right plants matters. 

More Than a Decade of Research 

Gather By's research partnership with the University of the Sunshine Coast has helped us understand the extraordinary potential of Australian Manuka. 

Our research programme has examined 87 Australian Leptospermum species and related plant material, identified 15 high-activity varieties and selected five promising high-DHA clones for further development. 

The objective is to move beyond relying entirely on naturally occurring Manuka stands. 

By identifying exceptional plants, propagating them and establishing purpose-designed plantings, we aim to create a more reliable foundation for producing high-MGO honey. 

This research underpins our Medicinal Honey Forest™ programme. 

It's an investment measured in years, not months. Trees must be propagated, planted and established before their flowering and commercial potential can be realised. 

What Makes MGO So Special? 

The chemistry begins in the flower. 

Certain Australian Manuka plants produce nectar containing DHA. Bees collect that nectar and transform it into honey. 

Over time, DHA progressively converts into methylglyoxal, or MGO. 

MGO is measured in milligrams per kilogram of honey. 

An MGO300+ jar contains at least 300 mg/kg, while MGO900+ contains at least 900 mg/kg. Exceptional MGO2000+ honey contains at least 2,000 mg/kg. 

These are measurable concentrations, not arbitrary marketing grades. 

Australian research published in PLOS ONE demonstrated a strong relationship between MGO concentrations and non-peroxide antibacterial activity in laboratory testing. 

Generally, higher MGO means greater MGO-associated antibacterial activity. 

That doesn't mean a honey with twice the MGO necessarily provides twice the clinical benefit. Specific therapeutic applications require their own evidence. 

But it does explain why MGO is such an important scientific measure of Manuka honey. 

Beyond MGO — New Discoveries About Australian Honey 

Australian honey science continues to reveal fascinating discoveries. 

In September 2025, the University of the Sunshine Coast announced research using a rapid analytical method capable of testing for 109 phenolic compounds in honey. 

Phenolics are naturally occurring plant-derived substances that contribute to the chemical characteristics of many foods. 

More than half the compounds investigated were detected across the Australian honey samples examined. 

The research offers new opportunities to understand botanical origins, investigate antioxidant properties and identify distinctive Australian honeys. 

Phenolic analysis doesn't replace MGO testing, nor does laboratory antioxidant activity establish a clinical benefit. 

But it reinforces something important: Australian honey is chemically diverse, and we're still discovering what makes different floral sources remarkable. 

Spring Harvest — Why Exceptional Honey Takes Time 

Spring is a busy period for our beekeepers and Medicinal Honey Forest™ growers. 

As flowering conditions permit, bees collect nectar while beekeepers manage their colonies and harvest honey. 

But harvesting isn't necessarily the end of the journey. 

Fresh Australian Manuka honey may contain significant DHA that hasn't yet converted into MGO. 

At Gather By, selected honey can be carefully stored for up to 18 months while its natural maturation progresses. 

During that period, we monitor its development through independent laboratory testing. 

The original nectar chemistry, storage conditions and time all influence the final MGO concentration. 

And not every batch develops into ultra-high-MGO honey. 

That's what makes exceptional honey so rare. 

Why Is MGO2000+ Honey So Expensive? 

Producing exceptionally high-MGO honey requires an unusual combination of circumstances. 

The right plants must produce nectar with extraordinary DHA potential. Bees must successfully collect that nectar, and the resulting honey must be carefully harvested, matured and tested. 

Even then, only a small proportion of production reaches the highest MGO concentrations. 

At Gather By, we've independently tested exceptional batches exceeding MGO2300+. 

Honey of this concentration is extraordinarily scarce. 

Its price reflects that rarity, together with years of plant research, beekeeping, specialised production, storage, testing and the time between harvest and sale. 

Higher-MGO honey contains a greater measured concentration of methylglyoxal, with associated differences in laboratory antibacterial activity. 

It is not a guarantee of proportionately greater clinical outcomes. 

For customers seeking the rarest expressions of Australian Manuka, however, these exceptional grades represent a remarkable natural product. 

Independent Testing and the Role of AMHA 

Premium Manuka honey deserves credible evidence behind its claims. 

At Gather By, independent laboratory testing measures important compounds, particularly MGO and DHA, supporting accurate grading, traceability and quality assurance. 

The Australian Manuka Honey Association (AMHA) also plays an important role in building confidence in Australian Manuka. 

Its work includes scientific standards, industry representation, authentication, consumer education and protecting international recognition of Australian Manuka. 

The AMHA's Mark of Authenticity provides a verification framework for appropriately licensed products. 

Its classifications include Authorised, Authentic and Elite, with Elite beginning at MGO500+ and a minimum DHA requirement of 500 mg/kg under the association's published position. 

The distinction between authentication and potency is important. 

The AMHA Mark verifies compliance with defined standards. An individual honey's MGO rating measures its methylglyoxal concentration. 

The Elite threshold doesn't represent the maximum potency Australian Manuka can achieve. 

For consumers, independent testing and credible authentication help provide confidence in what they're buying. 

Medicinal Honey Forest™ — Growing More Than Honey 

Gather By's long-term vision is to establish productive Australian Manuka landscapes through our Medicinal Honey Forest™ programme. 

Working with landholders, we propagate and plant selected high-performing Australian native Manuka varieties. 

These plantings are designed to provide bee forage and support high-MGO honey production while creating opportunities for farmers to diversify their income. 

For beekeepers, they offer the potential for more dependable flowering resources and longer-term grower partnerships. 

For First Nations communities and regional Australia, we see opportunities in land partnerships, plant propagation, beekeeping, processing and commercial participation. 

Appropriately designed native plantings can also contribute flowering habitat and opportunities for improved ecological function, although outcomes depend on site conditions and management. 

Our model connects the entire value chain: research, propagation, planting, beekeeping, honey maturation, testing, packing and sales. 

And it follows a simple principle. 

The more honey we sell, the more trees we can plant. 

Honey sales support the commercial foundations for future plantings. Those plantings create opportunities for growers and beekeepers, potentially producing more honey and supporting further reinvestment. 

It's a developing circular business model intended to combine economic opportunity with environmental stewardship. 

Our ambition is to help establish a new Australian regenerative agribusiness industry, not simply expand a honey brand. 

Five Questions About Australian Manuka Honey 

1. What does MGO measure? 

Methylglyoxal concentration, expressed in milligrams per kilogram of honey. Higher MGO ratings indicate higher measured concentrations. 

2. Why is ultra-high-MGO honey rare? 

It requires exceptional nectar chemistry, suitable flowering and bee activity, and successful maturation. Only a small proportion of honey reaches these concentrations. 

3. Does Manuka honey become stronger as it ages? 

MGO can increase as DHA converts during maturation. However, the process depends on the honey and its storage conditions; MGO doesn't increase indefinitely.