HOW TO READ AN ACTIVE HONEY
"Is this like Manuka?" is the question we get most. Both are prized active honeys — they're just graded on different scales. Here's how to read them.
UMF - Unique Manuka Factor
MANUKA . NEW ZEALAND
UMF grades the non-peroxide activity unique to Manuka — the part driven by MGO (methylglyoxal), verified alongside two other markers (DHA and leptosperin). It measures one route to activity: the MGO compound. Higher number, stronger honey.
TA - Total Activity
Jarrah, Marri & Yarri · Western Australia
TA grades the honey's total antibacterial activity — both the natural hydrogen-peroxide activity (created by the bees' own glucose-oxidase enzyme) and non-peroxide activity — on a phenol-equivalent scale. It counts the whole picture, not one compound. Our Jarrah is TA 35+.
Different scales, same goal — telling you how active the honey is. UMF counts one path to activity; TA counts them all, which is why a TA number and a UMF number aren't a like-for-like swap.