Is a Higher UMF Worth It? | NZ Manuka Honey

Is a higher UMF™ worth paying for?

A higher grade means higher tested minimums, and that is the whole of what it means. UMF™ 20+ carries about 10.0× the minimum MGO of UMF™ 5+ — and at the brands we priced, it cost far more than about 10.0× as much. Whether that's worth it is a taste and budget question, not a health one.

Last checked 16 September 2026 against UMF Honey Association

Updated 16 September 2026 · About 4 minutes to read · Written by NZ Mānuka Honey

What does the extra money buy, exactly?

Higher floors on three published numbers. From UMF™ 5+ to UMF™ 20+, UMFHA's minimum MGO goes from 83 to 826 mg/kg, leptosperin from >100 to >200 mg/kg and DHA from 150 to 500 mg/kg. That is what the grade guarantees, and nothing else is guaranteed by it.

How does the price move against the grade?

Much faster than the MGO minimum does. At Comvita on the day we checked, a 250 g jar went from $43 at UMF™ 5+ to $257 at UMF™ 20+ — about six times the price for about ten times the minimum MGO. At Egmont it went from $12 to $130 over the same grades. The pattern is not consistent between brands, which is the point of publishing both numbers.

So what should I buy?

Buy the grade you like the taste of at the price per 100 g you're happy with. If you're buying a gift and want the number on the jar to read well, that's a legitimate reason and you should just say so to yourself. If you're buying it to do something for you, we're the wrong shop: we sell food and we don't make health claims.

Frequently asked questions

Is UMF™ 5+ a waste of money?

No. It's a certified grade with published minimums, and it's the cheapest way to buy a jar whose licence you can check. It is also the mildest, by producers' own descriptions.

Do I need UMF™ 15+ or higher?

"Need" implies a purpose we're not going to name. What we can tell you is what the grade measures and what it costs per 100 g.

Does a higher grade keep longer?

UMFHA tests DHA for shelf life, and the DHA minimum does rise with the grade. That's a statement about the test, not a shelf-life promise — check the best-before date the producer printed.

Is UMF™ 25+ twenty-five times UMF™ 1+?

No. The grade numbers aren't a multiplier of anything. On UMFHA's table, UMF™ 25+ carries about 14× the minimum MGO of UMF™ 5+.