Thick. Raw. Real. What "Raw" Means on a Mānuka Honey Label
Education

Thick. Raw. Real. What "Raw" Means on a Mānuka Honey Label

Raw honey is honey that hasn’t been pasteurized. Learn what “raw” means on a Mānuka Honey label, why most shelf honey isn’t raw, and how to spot raw Mānuka Honey.

Jump to recipe

Tip a jar of most supermarket honey and it pours like syrup. Tip a jar of Wedderspoon Mānuka Honey and it takes its time.

It's also raw. Here's what that word means on a label.

Quick answer: Raw honey is honey that hasn't been pasteurized. Wedderspoon Mānuka Honey is raw and never pasteurized, 100% sourced and packed in New Zealand, and graded by MGO (methylglyoxal), with every batch independently lab tested.

What does "raw" actually mean on a honey label?

In everyday use, "raw" means the honey hasn't been pasteurized, so it hasn't been heated to high temperatures the way most shelf honey is. It's honey kept as close as possible to how it left the hive.

Here's the catch: "raw" isn't a tightly defined label term for honey in the US. That's why it pays to know what a brand means when it says raw.

Why most honey on the shelf isn't raw

Most honey on the shelves is heated and processed until it runs thin like syrup. Heat keeps honey liquid longer and makes it easier to bottle.

The result pours nicely. It also isn't raw and loses its benefits when heated.

What raw means for Wedderspoon

Wedderspoon Mānuka Honey is never pasteurized, retaining all of its benefits, 100% sourced and packed in New Zealand.

What you'll notice in a jar of raw Mānuka Honey

It's thick. Wedderspoon Mānuka Honey is dense and slow-pouring.

It can change texture over time. Raw honey can crystallize. That's not a flaw. More on that below.

Crystallization isn't a problem. It's a sign.

If your honey turns firmer or grainy, nothing has gone wrong. Crystallization is a natural process in honey, driven by its natural sugars.

Raw tells you how it's handled. MGO tells you how strong it is.

Raw is one half of the story. The other half is potency. Every Wedderspoon jar is labeled with its MGO rating: the level of methylglyoxal, the naturally occurring compound Mānuka Honey is graded on. Every batch is independently lab tested by a New Zealand government-approved lab.

The Wedderspoon range runs from MGO 50+ to MGO 1100+.

  1. MGO 50+: Best for everyday enjoyment
  2. MGO 100+: Incorporate into your meals & recipes
  3. MGO 150: A step-up for everyday use
  4. MGO 400+: Solid strength for consistent routines
  5. MGO 850+: Higher potency for extra wellness support
  6. MGO 1100+: Wedderspoon's highest potency, the ideal addition to your wellness and immunity routine
How to spot raw Mānuka Honey on the shelf
  1. Read the label. Look for "raw" or "unpasteurized."
  2. Check what the brand means by raw. Because "raw" isn't tightly defined, look for a plain statement of how the honey is handled.
  3. Look for an MGO number. Raw and tested is the combination you want.
  4. Check the origin. Sourced and packed in New Zealand.
Quick answers

Is Wedderspoon Mānuka Honey raw? Yes. It's raw and never pasteurized.

Is raw Mānuka Honey the same as high-MGO Mānuka Honey? No. Raw describes how honey is handled. MGO describes how potent it is. Wedderspoon labels every jar with its MGO grade, from MGO 50+ up to MGO 850+ and MGO 1100+.

Why did my Mānuka Honey crystallize? Crystallization is a natural process in raw honey. It doesn't mean the honey has gone bad.

Is raw honey safe for babies? Honey should be given to children under 1 year old.


Thick. Raw. Real. Reach for Wedderspoon.

Buy Raw Mānuka Honey | Wedderspoon® New Zealand Honey – Wedderspoon Organic 

Read more
Mānuka at Full Strength: Inside MGO 1100+
Education 2 mins read

Mānuka at Full Strength: Inside MGO 1100+

Wedderspoon MGO 1100+ Mānuka Honey is the highest of our six MGO grades, tested at a methylglyoxal (MGO) level of 1100+. It’s raw, never pasteurized and independently lab tested, batch...

What MGO 850+ Mānuka Honey Really Means
Education

What MGO 850+ Mānuka Honey Really Means

Raw Mānuka Honey MGO 850+ is the second-highest grade in Wedderspoon’s range. MGO stands for methylglyoxal, the naturally occurring compound Mānuka Honey is graded on. Here’s what the number means,...

Building a Cold-Season Wellness Kit with Mānuka Honey
Health & Wellness 3 mins read

Building a Cold-Season Wellness Kit with Mānuka Honey

What to keep in a cold-season wellness kit and how Mānuka Honey fits in. Covers Wedderspoon’s range from MGO 50+ to MGO 1100+, a honey-ginger tea recipe, and a pantry...

Wedderspoon Mānuka Honey Lemon Drops Are Now at Target
Health & Wellness 3 mins read

Wedderspoon Mānuka Honey Lemon Drops Are Now at Target

Your favorite Wedderspoon Mānuka Honey Lemon Drops are now available in a convenient 10-count box at Target. Made with Organic Mānuka Honey and Bee Propolis, they’re a pocket-sized wellness essential...

Girl holding organic manuka honey pops
Health & Wellness 4 mins read

New School Year, Same Sick Season

Here's how Mānuka Honey — from a morning spoonful to lunchbox-ready pops — can help your family's routine (and your sanity) survive the first few weeks back.

What Is Mānuka Honey? A First-Timer's Guide
Education 5 mins read

What Is Mānuka Honey? A First-Timer's Guide

Mānuka Honey is honey made by bees that feed on the flowers of the Mānuka bush (Leptospermum scoparium), a plant that only grows wild in New Zealand. That's the short...

Golden Summer Recipes
Recipes 5 mins read

Golden Summer Recipes

Glow from within all summer long with these Mānuka sweetened recipes! From frozen sorbets to glazed donut holes, we're rounding up the recipes creators are making right now — each...

Mānuka Honey Authentication Explained
Education 6 mins read

Mānuka Honey Authentication Explained

The Truth Is on the Label—If You Know Where to Look You've heard the buzz about Mānuka honey. Maybe a friend swears by it for immune support, or you spotted...

Lemon Raspberry Cheesecake Bars
Recipes 1 min read

Lemon Raspberry Cheesecake Bars

The Lemon Raspberry Cheesecake Bars are the perfect summer dessert! Made with Simple Mills lemon thin crust, creamy raspberry cheesecake filling, and buttery streusel sweetened with Mānuka Honey. Ingredients: Crust-...

Mother's Day, But Make It Wellness: A Brunch Menu She'll Love
Recipes 4 mins read

Mother's Day, But Make It Wellness: A Brunch Menu She'll Love

This Mother's Day, skip the crowded restaurants and create something truly special at home: a wellness-focused brunch that celebrates mom with nourishing, delicious food she'll love. These Mānuka Honey brunch recipes...

Healthier Cereal Treat Footballs
Recipes 1 min read

Healthier Cereal Treat Footballs

Powered by New Zealand sunshine and rich in MGO, Mānuka upgrades both flavor and function. Game day just got brighter with these healthier cereal treat footballs.

The Mānuka Mocktail Edit
Recipes 3 mins read

The Mānuka Mocktail Edit

Dry January is here, and so is the hunt for drinks that still feel fun. Good news: Mānuka Honey brings smooth sweetness, natural depth, and a little sunshine to every...

KFactor to MGO, Everything You Need to Know
News 1 min read

KFactor to MGO, Everything You Need to Know

We’re transitioning from KFactor to the globally recognized MGO standard. It's the same Mānuka you love, now with a clearer way to understand its strength and the power behind it

Meet the New Wedderspoon
News 1 min read

Meet the New Wedderspoon

The sunnier honey just got an upgrade! Wedderspoon, your favorite Mānuka Honey, now has a refreshed, brighter look.

Save Your Winter Skin with Mānuka
Health & Wellness 3 mins read

Save Your Winter Skin with Mānuka

Winter isn’t always kind to your skin, but Mānuka Honey’s soothing properties help support hydration and glowing skin.

Why Mānuka Honey Belongs in Your Sleep Routine
Health & Wellness 4 mins read

Why Mānuka Honey Belongs in Your Sleep Routine

Mānuka Honey’s slow-breaking natural sugars help keep blood sugar stable and quietly fuel your brain overnight, a simple way to support calmer nights and a sweeter sleep routine.

The Sweetest Sleep Hack
Health & Wellness 2 mins read

The Sweetest Sleep Hack

A spoonful of Mānuka Honey before bed can help steady blood sugar and gently fuel your brain overnight, making your sleep routine feel a little sweeter.

10 Easy Lunchbox Treats with Mānuka Honey
Health & Wellness 3 mins read

10 Easy Lunchbox Treats with Mānuka Honey

Back-to-school doesn’t have to mean boring sandwiches and uneaten snacks. With a touch of creativity, and a drizzle of raw Mānuka Honey, you can pack a lunch that brings a...

Mānuka Honey Face Masks: Benefits for Sensitive Skin
Health & Wellness 4 mins read

Mānuka Honey Face Masks: Benefits for Sensitive Skin

Mānuka honey isn’t just for tea and toast. It’s a gentle, skin-loving ingredient that helps calm, hydrate, and brighten—perfect for sensitive faces craving a little extra care.