Manuka Honey vs. Raw Honey

Honey can be found across the world. There are many different types of honey, with Manuka honey being one of the most popular varieties for its delicious taste. Raw honey has also become increasingly more popular because it’s not heated up or processed in any way – leaving this type as an authentic natural product to enjoy!

What are the differences between Manuka honey vs raw honey? They both come from bees and have some similarities, but there is a stark contrast when you compare them.

Manuka Honey

Our favorite Manuka honey
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Manuka honey gets made from the nectar of plants that have flowers. These are usually ones with a high level of pollen, which bees collect in their stomachs and bring back to fill up their hive. Over time, inside these hives, where food is stored for wintertime consumption, this much-needed sustenance breaks down into sugars – thus producing honey.

The main ingredient of Manuka honey comes directly from the Manuka plant. The properties of each honey are due to the nectar it was made from. Unlike other types of honey, which can be golden or amber in color and thinner in texture, Manuka honey tends to have a darker hue and thicker consistency.

The Manuka bush is a rare and expensive plant that only grows in New Zealand and Australia. In the latter, its use has extended beyond honey to medicinal purposes because of all its healing properties.

It’s also worth mentioning that other plants are used as substitutes for the scarce Manuka nectar, such as Jellybush Tree or Golden Tea trees, from where they extract nectar as well.

Manuka honey is a powerful antibacterial agent and has been used for years as an effective healing remedy. Manuka Honey was even tested in recent research, which confirmed its potency against bacteria. The UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) on the label indicates how strong this product can be when fighting off bacterial infections.

Manuka honey not only works well to fight infection. People use it internally or externally for various reasons, such as skin or hair care treatments. For example: if you have acne, then applying some pure raw organic unfiltered Manuka honey directly onto affected areas may help reduce symptoms.

Manuka honey is a type of superfood that contains concentrated methylglyoxal and leptospira. The presence of these two ingredients makes Manuka honey sought after all over the globe.

Pros

It kills infection and bacteria.
It cleanses wounds without water or soap.
It can be used on skin injuries. You’ll be able to ditch the antibiotics and antibacterial cream.
Manuka honey is natural and contains no chemicals.
You’ll get a stronger immune system, and digestion will be improved.
Manuka honey is antibacterial and antifungal.
It moisturizes hair, which prevents dandruff. People often mix it with coconut oil for that.
It helps generate heat in the body, which is great for the winter season.
It is great for people who have a hard time with colds or the flu.
It tastes and smells better than medicine.
Companies have started to use Manuka honey as a base ingredient for skin care because of its moisturizing properties, which helps keep skin looking healthy. Moisturizers made from this type of honey can be found at most retail stores.

Cons

Price: Since the Manuka plant only grows in Australia and New Zealand, the supply is limited and the demand very high. This makes Manuka honey pricey.
Local availability: Typically, the only sure way to get this honey is by ordering it online.
Thickness: Manuka honey is thicker than all the honey you are likely familiar with. This makes it harder to dip your spoon in, sizzle it, or spread it on bread.

Raw Honey

Our favorite raw honey
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Raw honey retains all its natural trace minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and enzymes that have been lost during processing with heat or filtration by modern methods in order to maintain color, flavor, texture as well as extend shelf life.

Raw honey has not undergone any type of refining process, which would result in stripping out many healthy nutrients found naturally within it, such as antioxidants (vitamin C), polyphenols (natural plant medicine), protein & carbohydrate content, while retaining some other important elements like pollen grains for nutritional value/flavor enhancement without adding anything artificial back into the mix!

Scientists haven’t labeled raw honey as something unsafe for your health. In fact, it has way more nutrients or vitamins than the regular processed honey we eat. But if you want to try this precious nectar of life, then prepare yourself for a road trip because not many beekeepers have set up shop near major cities, and larger grocers don’t carry anything but filtered and purified versions.

But there is good news! The few apiaries that do exist often welcome visitors with open arms – they even offer tours so curious locals can learn how bees make their sweet liquid gold from scratch while learning about what makes these little insects such an important part of our ecosystem without ever leaving town!

If you want to experience the best honey, then it’s going to take more than just a quick trip through your nearest grocery store. Fresh and unfiltered raw honey is hard to find in stores because of its high quality, but if you really care about experiencing authentic flavors with every bite, then I recommend that you go straight for the source!

Pros

Raw honey has, by definition, not been processed or pasteurized. It is unfermented and thus a natural product.
Raw honey is made from a variety of plants, not just the Manuka plant. To make raw honey, you must skip through certain levels in order to purify this product into an unprocessed form that still has all its natural benefits and qualities intact.
The process of making raw honey requires very little effort on behalf of those who are actually doing any physical labor.
Raw honey is the perfect low-calorie sweetener for your diet, as it has no added sugar or concentrated sugars in its properties. It won’t add to your weight and can even help you lose some pounds.

Cons

There may be yeast in the honey due to the missing fermenting or heating process
The color isn’t as nice as regular honey, so it won’t be a clear substance.
Raw honey has a rough texture because it is harvested directly from the beehive.
Pollen, wax, and other contaminants can end up in the product since it goes directly from the honeycomb into the glass.

Characteristics

The average person’s honey experience is limited to the mass-produced grocery store variety. But for those who care enough about what they put in their body and are not afraid of stepping outside of the box, there is a wide range of options – from raw clover honey harvested by hand just moments ago to iced wildflower honey that could have been gathered weeks or months before you even knew it existed!

It’s no surprise that globalization has increased trading. These days, stores can be found with a whole section dedicated only to honey – not just different brands but different types too.

Manuka honey is the new favorite among people who enjoy a sweet taste. This type of honey originates from New Zealand and stains light-colored clothing with residue after it has been consumed; however, this does not dissuade its fans because Manuka honey tastes great!

Let’s Compare: Raw Honey vs Manuka Honey

The question of whether raw honey or Manuka honey is better depends on what you are looking for. If you don’t want to pay as much and you like a sweeter taste, then it would be hard to beat just plain raw honey.

Since raw honey is a natural and unprocessed food that comes directly from honeycombs, it has more nutrients than any processed honey. However, Manuka honey has stronger antibacterial properties when compared with any other kind. So, if you want something with more health benefits and an exotic taste, then Manuka honey is the way to go!

Manuka honey has become popular in recent years, so much that demand for it is increasing. It is expensive, but this does not stop people from looking into a more holistic approach by using Manuka honey rather than spending hundreds on beauty care products like makeup as well.

Manuka honey has been shown to have health benefits, but it is still an added sugar and should be consumed in moderation. It is not something you should put on your toast every day. You should consume it twice a week at most. So instead of making this a daily thing, how about saving the Manuka honey for special occasions or as a part of your weekly health regimen?

Is Honey Considered Vegan?

Many vegans are faced with a dilemma: to eat honey or not. Some argue that bees should be left alone and allowed to do their job without interference from humans.

Others point out that beekeeping is one way in which we can ensure healthy populations for these crucial pollinators as they face threats such as climate change and pesticides on crops like almonds.

Some argue that honey is an animal by-product because it contains bee enzymes and DNA. But others disagree, saying the bees are just there to help pollinate plants while making a little bit of extra profit along the way.

It seems like each side has its pros and cons when debating this topic. You’ll have to decide for yourself as there seems to be no clear-cut answer. And what about beeswax candles for the dinner table? Are they vegan since they the wax is harvested from hives?

What Does Raw Honey Taste Like?

Every type of honey takes on characteristics depending on the flower which supplied the nectar. Clover honey, for example, is mildly sweet with a neutral flavor profile. Honey made from sage will be fruity and spicy with hints of malt undertones.

There is a wide selection of different types of honey that can taste quite different from each other, even if they are both labeled as raw. Some recipes involve the addition of flavors into the honey, such as vanilla-bean infused honey, which will have a stronger taste but not be classified as “raw.”

Raw honey tastes like processed honey, only more intense and stronger. For instance, buckwheat honey is very creamy and mild. Meanwhile, heather honey has a highly aromatic flavor that is slightly fruity with subtle hints of lavender.

Raw Honey Dangers

For children under 18 months old, raw honey should be avoided. The natural bacteria in the honey may pose a health hazard to babies whose digestive systems are still developing. It can also cause infant botulism (botulinum toxin) which is dangerous for an infant. Raw honey will contain pollen that has been debated as helpful for allergies or harmful because of the risk of sensitivity.

It is believed that raw honey causes more histamine reactions than tap water. Honey doesn’t usually cause dangerous side effects but results in irritations for people with bee allergies. It would be safer for those individuals to purchase regular commercially available honey instead of raw honey from a local farm store or farmer’s market.

The downside to raw honey is that it can crystallize more than pasteurized. This isn’t dangerous, but it might be unfavorable and annoying for some people.

Final Thoughts

Manuka honey is created just like any other type of honey, but it has more benefits and an exotic taste that makes it so popular. Raw honey is not as potent or enjoyable as Manuka honey but cheaper. After extracting it from the beehive, raw honey is stored and does not go through fermentation or any other kind of processing before arriving at the consumer.

It is hard to compare raw honey vs Manuka honey as there are many different types of raw honey, but one thing is clear: you get more out of Manuka honey already thanks to its health benefits alone. If you have the budget, we wholeheartedly recommend it!