One of the things that comes to mind when you think of New Zealand is honey. Among them, Manuka honey, which contains a special ingredient called "Methylglyoxal", is highly popular around the world due to its strong antibacterial properties.
Of course, this ingredient is not added later, but is natural. Therefore, the amount of this ingredient varies depending on the honey harvested. MGO is the amount (mg) of methylglyoxal contained per kg that was quantified by a German university.
Manuka honey is relatively easy to obtain in Japan through mail order, and the most luxurious one has an MGO value of 829+. The UMF (Unique Manuka Factor), which is a numerical value indicating the concentration of manuka ingredients, is UMF20+. Only about 1% of all manuka honey has such a high value.
Meanwhile, in New Zealand, a super high-grade Manuka honey with the highest content of methylglyoxal has been created and is currently a hot topic.
MGO reaches world record high
The Manuka honey in this beautiful glass bottle has an MGO of 1717+ , which means 1778mg of methylglyoxal per kg.
This is the highest figure ever, beating the 1700+ Manuka honey that was introduced on this site last year.
By the way, it is known that the MGO value increases as Manuka honey ages, so it is expected that it will reach 2000mg in the future.
Presentation by craftsmen
This ultra-premium Manuka honey was introduced by Zealandia Honey in Taubo.
Zealandia Honey does not produce honey itself, but works with beekeepers to turn honey into products. It was founded just 15 months ago by Sri Govindaraju, Sri's husband Sunil Govindaraju, and Robin de Geus. The company's base in Taupo is equipped with a warehouse as well as a laboratory for various research and development.
Not only are both Sri and Sunil well-versed in plant chemistry, but Sri's entrepreneurial acumen, Sunil's knowledge of honey (he has studied biotechnology) and Robin's passion for design and branding have all come together to make Zealandia Honey's special Manuka honey even more special.
The glass bottle that the honey comes in is hand-blown by local glass craftsman Lynden Over. Taupo is located in the center of New Zealand's North Island, where a volcanic plain stretches across the land, and the glass is blown to represent this.
Even the stoppers are handcrafted by woodworker Robbie Graham and the metal sleeves that encase the bottles are the work of artist Raynor Dunn.
This promotional video was also created by filmmaker Joel Corbett.
Thanks to the efforts of many artists, high-quality Manuka honey has been turned into a work of art and released into the world.
The price is... $3,100 (New Zealand dollars)... about 220,000 yen in Japanese yen!
Buyers have already emerged, with some of the pieces set to go to the Royal Family of the United Arab Emirates.
Manuka honey's popularity soars amid coronavirus outbreak
Manuka honey has a strong antibacterial effect, and is effective in preventing colds, treating sore throats, mouth ulcers, and wounds, and also regulates the intestines, so it is also effective in regulating the stomach. I often hear people around me say that by taking Manuka honey on a daily basis, they are less likely to catch a cold.
Manuka honey is not some dubious health food at all; it is used for medical purposes in New Zealand and its effectiveness is well-backed.
Manuka honey seems to be becoming even more popular due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Of course, most people can't afford Manuka honey that costs over 200,000 yen, but you can get high-concentration UMF 15+ and UMF 20+ honey for around 10,000 to 15,000 yen.
By the way, I use high concentration UMF20+ when I'm feeling unwell, and UMF10+ on a regular basis.
You can also get this honey at Bokumo , so be sure to try it.
