How to Compare Manuka Honey's (UMF) value to TA (Total Activity) and What it Means for Our Honey

Killer Bees Honey’s recent comprehensive analysis from New Zealand’s Analytica Labs has piqued the interest of many of our customers. Most queries center on the efficacy of our Smoky Mountain Wildflower as compared to Manuka honey. We covered what the TA value is (a more global rating for quality honey) in the last blog post.  So here, I'll try to lay out the specific differences between the TA measurement and UMF without making your eyes glaze over or reach for the Adderall. 

What does UMF Measure?

UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) measures the non-peroxide activity of methylglyoxal (MGO). A higher UMF rating signifies the MGO authenticity, content and freshness of New Zealand’s Manuka honey. UMF does not measure peroxide activity. Compare this to TA (Total Activity) which measures both Peroxide Activity and Non-peroxide Activity (TA=NPA+PA) taking Into account various compounds such as hydrogen peroxide, phytochemicals and other factors. 

Who came up with this Manuka factor?

Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) is a quality trademark and grading system created in 1998 by, wait for it… the UMF Honey Association (UMFHA) in New Zealand. The UMFHA was founded by local honey producers to identify and quantify unique antibacterial properties of their own, Manuka honey. Back in 1981, Dr. Peter Molan discovered compounds in Manuka honey, such as methylglyoxal (MGO) which had unique antibacterial qualities that weren’t linked to hydrogen peroxide (H₂0₂). MGO is in the nectar of the Leptospermum Scoparium, or Manuka plant which is native to New Zealand. Therefore, UMF essentially measures the non peroxide activity of Manuka honey. 

…maybe you'll need that Adderall after all.

Historical Note

The Manuka plant was used by Capt. James Cook who, while gallivanting and murdering his way throughout the South Pacific, used the Manuka leaves to make a tea substitute. He gave the plant the name, “tea tree”. Manuka tea was used to fight scorbus (scurvy) and sooth the soar throats of his crew. One can assume Cook’s observations of the medicinal qualities of the Manuka plant were disseminated to Her Majesty’s fleet before his untimely demise at the hands of Hawaiians (Not the Maori, get your history straight) on Valentine’s Day, 1779.

How did UMF become a thing and why both TA AND UMF?

UMF is trademarked by New Zealand honey manufacturer’s and is fiercely defended. Australian honey producers also have tea trees and began using the UMF factor to describe their honey. Needless to say, this didn’t go over well with the Kiwi’s who took their northern cousins to the International Court of Justice. The Kiwi’s won. Not to be undone, Australian beekeepers came up with their own version of UMF called the ULF, or Leptospermum Factor. How imaginative. And since all honey’s have hydrogen peroxide, they included in their measurements both non-peroxide AND peroxide activity, calling the analysis, you got it, Total Activity. Not only proving their honey was just as medicinal, but also giving the proverbial middle finger to their beekeeping neighbors.

Killer Bee's Honey (with our Wildflower honey), the Australians, and some EU beekeepers now use Total Activity as a quantifiable rating to measure the overall antibacterial and antimicrobial properties of honey. 

While both UMF and TA scales or ratings, are different, the fact they both have the same antibacterial/antimicrobial properties can’t be denied: they both measure the overall effectiveness in inhibiting the growth of bacteria and pathogens. Both are used to assess the quality and potency of honey, particularly those used for therapeutic or medicinal purposes.

Difference between MGO and TA

The big difference between MGO and TA? MGO in Manuka honey increases in potency over time. Total Activity in other honey, including ours, can degrade over time. But hear me out; if stored properly, it takes up to fifteen years for TA 30+ honey to deteriorate and will probably crystalize before the degradation occurs. I think it’s safe to say you would have consumed a 12oz jar of our Smoky Mountain Wildflower honey by then. And all the Lord's people said, "Amen".

Why this matters to Killer Bees Honey

Killer Bees Smoky Mountain Wildflower Honey scored a phenomenally high Total Activity score of 33.2. This compares to a Manuka honey with an MGO factor of 2700+. How did Killer Bee Honey bees produce such a flavorful yet high TA scoring honey? Look no further than the hundreds of floral sources or high zinc soil content nourished by spring fed streams surrounding our mountaintop apiary. All located in the middle of Pisgah National Forest. 

Killer Bees Honey is the only North American honey producer who measures Total Activity and publishes the results along with other analysis of our honey.

The Total Activity found in our honey provides natural antibiotic and antimicrobial properties. These properties promote gut and digestive health by protecting against bacteria related digestive disorders such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), low stomach acid and acid reflux. The high medicinal qualities of our honey provide effective treatments for soothing soar throats  and coughs. In fact, the protocols of UK’s National Health Service (NHS) recommends a warm lemon and honey tea to soothe a sore throat. They know honey is a well documented and accessible remedy with antimicrobial and wound-healing properties. In retrospect, Capt. Cook may have discovered a more flavorful elixir for his crew and collected his pension if he was born decades earlier than John Cabot and headed east rather than his ill-fated western exploration.

—The Beekeeper