What is Manuka Honey?
In the beautiful, pollution-free fields of New Zealand, Manuka (Leptospermum-scoparium) grows as a wild plant.
This indigenous shrub produces beautiful pink and white flowers that contain an extraordinary nectar used by bees to produce honey.
The bees take this nectar, carry it to their hives and add enzymes to it, producing this special type of honey that has become one of the most desired commodities of recent times.
It is not the bees, but the nectar of the manuka bush that possesses these remarkable healing properties.
Definition of UMF
UMF is an abbreviation that stands for Unique Manuka Factor. It is a phytochemically derived antibacterial property (i.e. It is derived from the nectar of the flowers) found in some types of Manuka honey. Only in honey obtained from certain Manuka bushes, also identified as Leptospermum-scoparium or the New Zealand tea tree, will the natural element UMF be found.
The UMF factor arises from the antibacterial activity of hydrogen peroxide found in all honeys (this activity is due to an enzyme that is added to the nectar by the bee). Both antibacterial activities work synergistically - enhancing their effects.
UMF factor
Immediately after the letters UMF, a number will appear on a bottle of Manuka honey. The UMF number is a standard form of the product that is used to measure the power of action against bacteria. Therefore, the higher the UMF rating, the higher the potency of effectiveness and speed with which germs are exterminated. Although we must consider that not all people have the same level of tolerance, a manuka honey grade 30+, could produce adverse effects in some people, such as redness of the skin, hypersensitivity or itching. In general, manuka honey with a UMF factor of 10+ to 18+ is the most commonly used for medical purposes. Honey containing a grade 10+ or higher is most commonly used in the cosmetology industry. On the other hand, honey containing a UMF factor of 15+ is the most required by cosmetic factories
UMF classification
At present there is a wide variety of manuka honeys. As we mentioned earlier, when buying Manuka Honey we are going to notice that there are different types of packaging with certain numbers. These represent the activity of the honey in terms of medical actions, especially antimicrobial.
This factor is called Unique Manuka Factor or Unique Manuka Factor (UMF factor) and is represented by the acronym UMF®
The HONEY RESEARCH UNIT laboratory at the University of Waikato in New Zealand is responsible for analyzing the presence of this factor.
Only honey with a UMF factor of 10 or higher is considered "active".
Activity of Manuka Honey
UMF factor 0+ is not detected.
MUF factor 5+ low level, not suggested for therapeutic treatments.
UFM factor 10+ maintenance level, indicated to improve vitality and immunity.
UFM factor 15+ useful level, high antibacterial factor.
Factor UMF 20+ high or high activity level, for occasional treatments.
What makes UMF special?
It kills bad bacteria.
In hundreds of studies the UMF property has been shown to be effective against a wide range of bacteria, including very resistant helicobacter pylori (this bacterium causes most stomach ulcers), wound infecting bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pyogenes (causes sore throats).
Provides Relief.
Naturally studies have revealed that manuka honey with high levels of UMF can be very effective in helping to relieve the symptoms of stomach ulcer and gastritis, and when applied externally, it naturally aids in healing skin ulcers, sores, burns, pimples, chapped skin, MRSA. Studies are also showing that the UMF property helps to make Manuka honey an excellent element when relieving sore throats and other oral diseases.
It is very stable.
The UMF property is highly stable, compared to the anti-bacterial property of hydrogen peroxide found in most common honeys, which is easily destroyed by heat, light, as well as specific enzymes in the body. Therefore, honeys with UMF are particularly stable and resistant to destruction by these factors.
Why is UMF only present in some types of Manuka honey?
Manuka honey with the special UMF property is collected from the Leptospermum flowers - UMF is not in the nectar of all of them. Some areas of the Manuka tree do not produce honey with the UMF property every year, and the concentrations of UMF can vary from batch to batch and from year to year. For this reason, each batch of Manuka honey is tested to see if it contains the special UMF property before it is packaged and labelled. Only honey that contains the UMF property is allowed to carry the UMF mark on its label - it is their guarantee of superior anti-bacterial activity. The reason why only some Manuka honey has the unique UMF antibacterial property has not yet been discovered. Perhaps it is because of a subspecies of Manuka or because of some environmental factor, such as soil type. Researchers are studying this question.
Tiptree's Manuka Honey
Tiptree has been buying Manuka honey from the same supplier for 30 years. He visits New Zealand and knows the beekeepers personally. He is an expert who has a reputation to uphold. The supplier provides certificates for every delivery he makes.
At Tiptree they verify the supplier's certificates with their own testing through UKAS accredited food laboratory, they test every container and every batch of Manuka 10+ before they release it for sale.
This guarantees the authenticity of the UMF 10+ factor.
Company information:
The company Wilkin & Sons Limited, was founded in 1885, by Mr. A. C. Wilkin. The Wilkin family owns some 400 hectares of land around Tiptree, where they grow fruit such as strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, red plums and, of course, the famous Little Scarlet strawberries which have been grown for over 100 years. The other varieties of fruit, which cannot be grown in Tiptree, are imported from the best regions of the world. On arrival at the factory, all fruit is washed and sorted by hand before processing begins. Wilkin & Sons Ltd. never uses artificial colours or preservatives in its products and does not work with or for other companies. The final product will bear the famous oval "Tiptree" label, a guarantee of the highest quality for gourmets around the world
