Field notes
Reading before you buy
Practical writing on the things that matter — what the numbers actually mean, what grade suits your use, and how to filter the counterfeits flooding the global mānuka market.
Field note · 6 min · 26 April 2026
UMF vs MGO — what the numbers actually mean
Methylglyoxal, leptosperin, antibacterial activity. The two competing rating systems for NZ mānuka, what each measures, and which to look for.
Field note · 5 min · 26 April 2026
What grade of mānuka honey do you actually need
Throat support, wound care, gut health, just-eating-it. Matching UMF rating to use-case so you're not over- or under-paying.
Field note · 7 min · 26 April 2026
Spotting counterfeit mānuka honey
Annual global mānuka 'sales' exceed actual NZ production by ~5×. Here's how to tell whether the jar in your hand is real or relabelled imported honey.