A Guide to Honey: Manuka, Floral Varieties and How to Choose

Honey is one of the oldest foods we know, and it is also one of the most varied. Open a few jars side by side and you will find colours ranging from pale gold to deep amber, and flavours that shift from delicate and floral to rich and almost treacle-like. That variety is no accident. Every honey carries the character of the flowers the bees visited to make it, which is why no two types taste quite the same. Here is a friendly guide to the main kinds of honey, what makes Manuka so special, and how to pick the right jar for you.

Why honey tastes so different

The flavour, colour and texture of any honey come down to one thing: the flowers. Bees gather nectar from whatever is blooming nearby, and the type of blossom shapes the finished honey. As a rule, the paler the honey, the milder and more delicate the taste, while darker honeys tend to be stronger and more robust. The season, the region and even the weather all play a part, which is what makes honey such a fascinating natural product.

Honey generally falls into two broad camps. Blossom honey, sometimes called multifloral, is made from the nectar of many different flowers and offers a rounded, classic honey flavour. Single-flower honey, known as monofloral, comes mostly from one type of blossom and has a more distinctive character all of its own.

Popular floral honeys

Some of the best-loved honeys are named after the flower that defines them. Acacia honey is very pale and mild, with a light, almost syrupy sweetness that makes it a favourite for drizzling and for sweetening drinks without overpowering them. Orange blossom honey carries a gentle citrus note and a fragrant aroma. Wildflower honey, gathered from a mix of meadow blooms, changes with the seasons and gives you a true taste of the local landscape.

At the deeper end of the scale, heather honey is thick, amber and full-bodied, with a bold flavour that stands up well on toast or alongside cheese. Chestnut honey is darker still, with a rich, slightly bitter edge that many people come to love. Part of the joy of honey is exploring these differences and finding the ones you keep coming back to.

What makes Manuka honey special

No honey has captured attention quite like Manuka. It comes from the nectar of the Manuka bush, which grows in New Zealand, and it has a thick texture and a distinctive, earthy flavour that sets it apart from lighter floral honeys.

Manuka's real claim to fame is a natural compound called methylglyoxal, or MGO for short. You will see MGO ratings printed on the jar, and the higher the number, the greater the concentration of this compound. A honey labelled MGO 100+ is milder, while higher ratings such as 250+ are prized and priced accordingly. You may also see the letters UMF, which stands for Unique Manuka Factor, another grading system used to show quality and authenticity.

Because genuine Manuka is highly sought after, it pays to buy from a trusted source and to look for a clear MGO or UMF rating on the label. If you would like to explore it, our range includes options from everyday Manuka honey at MGO 40 up to a stronger Manuka honey at MGO 250+, so you can start gently or go for a more intense jar.

Raw, set and runny honey

Beyond the flower, you will also see honey described by how it has been processed and how it looks. Raw honey is minimally filtered and not heated to high temperatures, so it keeps more of its natural character. Runny honey is smooth and pourable, perfect for drizzling, while set or crystallised honey has a thick, spreadable texture that many people love on toast. Crystallisation is completely natural and is not a sign that anything is wrong. A gentle warm-water bath will loosen a set honey again if you prefer it runny.

Choosing the right honey for you

The best honey is really a matter of taste and how you plan to use it. For sweetening tea or drizzling over yoghurt and porridge, a mild, pale honey such as acacia or a light blossom honey works beautifully. For baking and cooking, a good all-rounder blossom honey does the job without costing a fortune. If you enjoy a bold flavour on toast or with cheese, reach for a darker honey like heather. And if you are curious about Manuka, start with a lower MGO rating and work your way up.

One thing to keep in mind: honey is a natural sugar, so it is best enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet. It should also never be given to babies under one year old.

A jar worth savouring

From the palest acacia to the boldest Manuka, honey is a reminder of just how much variety nature packs into a single ingredient. Every jar tells the story of a particular place, season and set of flowers. Try a few, notice how different they taste, and you will soon discover which honeys deserve a permanent spot in your cupboard.