Every jar of Kai Ora mānuka honey carries a number — 80+, 200+, 510+, sometimes higher. That number is the MGO grade, and it is the simplest, most honest way to know exactly what is in your jar.
What MGO measures
MGO stands for methylglyoxal, a natural compound found in mānuka honey. It comes from the nectar of the mānuka flower, and the amount varies from harvest to harvest and hive to hive. The MGO number on the label tells you how many milligrams of methylglyoxal are in each kilogram of honey — MGO 200+ means at least 200mg per kilo, independently tested.
Simply put: the higher the number, the rarer the honey — and the deeper and more intense its flavour.
The Kai Ora ladder
- 80+ MGO — our everyday mānuka. An easy introduction, lovely on toast and in tea.
- 200+ MGO — the versatile middle ground, for every day and gifting alike.
- 510+ MGO — high-grade and one of our most loved. Richer, deeper, rarer.
- 825+ and 1000+ MGO — our rarest harvests, released in limited numbers. Keep an eye on the collection.
MGO and UMF — what is the difference?
You may also see UMF grades on New Zealand mānuka. UMF is a licensing system that tests several markers together; MGO is the key compound behind the grade, measured directly. As a rough guide, MGO 263+ sits around UMF 10+, and MGO 514+ around UMF 15+. We label with MGO because it is the clearest number to compare jar to jar.
Which grade is right for you?
There is no wrong door. If you enjoy honey daily, start at 80+ or 200+. If you want a special jar for a special person — or to taste why the world talks about mānuka — go 510+ and up. Every grade is small-batch, triple-creamed, tested and traceable, from our whānau in Awanui to you. Ngā mihi nui.