Manuka Honey appears as a signature dish in 1 New Zealand cities. See each city's local variant and where to eat it.
Manuka Honey · Auckland
Manuka honey is the New Zealand monofloral honey from the manuka tree (Leptospermum scoparium). Dark, caramel-thick, with high methylglyoxal content; sold as both food and medicine.
Manuka has been used by Maori for medicine and antiseptic purposes for centuries. The honey itself was largely a byproduct of commercial beekeeping until the 1980s, when University of Waikato research identified its uniquely high methylglyoxal (MGO) content as the source of antibacterial activity. By the 2000s manuka honey became a global commodity; counterfeit production from Australian L. polygalifolium became a trade-dispute issue. Today certified manuka must meet New Zealand government UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) standards, with the highest grades selling at NZD $200+ per 250g jar. Northland, Coromandel and East Cape are the production hotspots.
Where to eat in Auckland:
- La Cigale French Market
- Matakana Farmers Market