- UMF™ 5+
- MGO 83 mg/kg minimum, per UMFHA
- UMF™ 15+
- MGO 512 mg/kg minimum, per UMFHA
- UMF™ 25+
- MGO 1197 mg/kg minimum, per UMFHA
- 25+ against 5+
- about 14× the minimum MGO, not a strength claim
| UMF™ grade | MGO mg/kg (min) | Leptosperin mg/kg | DHA mg/kg (min) |
|---|---|---|---|
| UMF™ 5+ | 83 | >100 | 150 |
| UMF™ 10+ | 261 | >150 | 250 |
| UMF™ 15+ | 512 | >200 | 400 |
| UMF™ 20+ | 826 | >200 | 500 |
| UMF™ 25+ | 1197 | >200 | 500 |
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
Source: UMF Honey Association — the UMF™ Four Factor Quality Testing (the grade table), last checked 16 September 2026. UMFHA also tests HMF for freshness but does not publish a figure per grade, so neither do we.
Look up what a UMF™ grade requires
- MGO, minimum
- 261 mg/kg — potency
- Leptosperin
- >150 mg/kg — authenticity
- DHA, minimum
- 250 mg/kg — shelf life
UMFHA's own answer is: “MGO /NPA does not convert to UMF™.” Type a figure above and we'll tell you which grades' MGO minimum it clears — which is not the same as telling you its grade.
What does a UMF™ grade actually measure?
Four compounds, each with a minimum set by the UMF Honey Association: MGO for potency, leptosperin for authenticity, DHA for shelf life and HMF for freshness. A jar carrying UMF™ 15+ has been batch-tested against all four minimums for that grade. The grade is a floor, not an average, and not a dose.
Why can't I convert an MGO number to a UMF™ grade?
Because UMFHA says you can't. Asked directly how to convert MGO to UMF™, their own page answers: "MGO /NPA does not convert to UMF™." MGO is one compound; a UMF™ grade is four tested together plus a licensed, batch-traceable certificate behind it. A jar showing only MGO has had one thing measured.
This matters because several popular pages run an "MGO to UMF calculator". Ours is a lookup, not a converter: pick a UMF™ grade and it shows you UMFHA's minimums for that grade. Type an MGO number in and it tells you what UMFHA says, which is that the two don't convert.
Is UMF™ 20+ four hundred times stronger than UMF™ 5+?
No, and an earlier version of this site said it was, which was wrong. On UMFHA's table the minimum MGO for UMF™ 20+ is 826 mg/kg against 83 mg/kg for UMF™ 5+ — about 10.0×, not four hundred times. UMF™ 25+ against UMF™ 5+ is about 14×. We've deleted the old claim and left this paragraph in its place.
What about the MGO figures printed on the jars themselves?
Brands print their own MGO figure beside the UMF™ grade, and those figures don't always match UMFHA's current table. Arataki's UMF™ 20+ jars say MGO 826+; Egmont's say MGO 829+. Both are above UMFHA's minimum. We show what the producer prints on the jar, and UMFHA's table separately, and we don't reconcile the two for you.
What does the New Zealand government test for?
Separately from UMF™, the Ministry for Primary Industries runs a test that decides whether honey can be sold as mānuka at all, and whether it is monofloral or multifloral. UMFHA describes its own system as building on that government test. MPI's website blocks the automated requests we can make, so we link you to their page rather than quoting numbers we could not open ourselves.
How do I check a jar's grade is real?
Checking a UMF™ grade on a jar
- Find the licence number
A UMF™ jar carries a licence holder number and a batch number. If there is a UMF™ mark but no licence number, that is the first thing to ask about.
- Look the licensee up
UMFHA publishes its certified brands, each with the licence number and the legal entity behind it. If the number on the jar and the number on their page don't match, stop.
- Check what the number is
MGO on its own is not a UMF™ grade. A jar saying "MGO 300+" is telling you one measurement; it is not UMF™ 10+ by another name.
- Read the floral type
Monofloral and multifloral mānuka are both real categories under the government's test, and they are not the same thing. The label should say which.
What are the four factors UMF™ tests?
MGO (methylglyoxal)
The compound the grade number is pegged to. UMFHA sets a minimum mg/kg for every UMF™ grade, and the higher the grade, the higher that minimum.
Leptosperin
UMFHA describes leptosperin as a compound found only in mānuka flower nectar that can only be created by nature, which is why measuring it tells you the honey is really mānuka.
DHA (dihydroxyacetone)
DHA converts to MGO slowly over time, so a jar with enough DHA still meets its stated MGO later in life. UMFHA requires more than 70 mg/kg of DHA for any UMF™ certification.
HMF (hydroxymethylfurfural)
UMFHA tests HMF because it shows whether honey has been overheated or stored too long. UMFHA's public table does not print an HMF figure per grade, so neither do we.
Frequently asked questions
What UMF™ grade should I buy?
That is a budget and taste question, and we won't turn it into a health one. The useful comparison is price per 100 g at a grade you're happy with — that's exactly what our NZ-dollar price table shows.
Is MGO 250+ the same as UMF™ 10+?
No. UMFHA's answer to that question is "MGO /NPA does not convert to UMF™." A jar with an MGO number has had methylglyoxal measured; a UMF™ grade also requires minimum leptosperin and DHA and a batch-traceable certificate.
What is leptosperin for?
Authenticity. UMFHA describes it as a compound found only in mānuka flower nectar that cannot be added to honey, which is why a minimum leptosperin level tells you the honey really is mānuka.
What is DHA for?
Shelf life. UMFHA says DHA slowly converts to MGO, so enough DHA means a jar still meets its stated MGO later in its life. They require more than 70 mg/kg of DHA for any UMF™ certification.
Does a higher grade taste different?
Producers describe higher grades as stronger in flavour, and you can read their own words on their own pages. We don't stock the jars yet, so we have no tasting notes of our own and won't borrow anyone else's as ours.
Do you hold a UMF™ licence?
No. UMF™ is the UMF Honey Association's trade mark and a licence belongs to a producer or packer. We are a retailer of other people's sealed jars, so we quote their licensed grade and licence number and never put a grade on anything ourselves.
Sources
- UMF Honey Association — the UMF™ Four Factor Quality Testing (the grade table) — last checked 16 September 2026
- UMF Honey Association — what UMF™ means — last checked 16 September 2026
- UMF Honey Association — UMF vs MGO — last checked 16 September 2026
- UMF Honey Association — certified brands — last checked 16 September 2026
- Ministry for Primary Industries — mānuka honey testing (blocked automated access; read it yourself) — last checked 16 September 2026
- Arataki Honey — their own New Zealand shop — last checked 16 September 2026
- Egmont Honey — their own New Zealand shop — last checked 16 September 2026