You have probably seen Manuka Honey in health shops, as an ingredient in recipes and on cafe menus, but is there more to this spread than its delicious taste?

The answer is yes! Manuka Honey is a popular ingredient in recipes and baking. It's used as a breakfast spread and stirred into herbal teas, but many people don't realise just how special it is. Let's take a look at five pieces of trivia about Manuka Honey that you may not know already.

1. Manuka Honey is sourced from the New Zealand Manuka flower.

Only honey produced by bees that have foraged for nectar and pollen from the New Zealand native Manuka Bush, Leptospermum scoparium, can be considered to be true Manuka Honey. It is the special properties of this plant that make Manuka Honey so great tasting and unique.

2. Some Manuka Honey contains a unique type of antibacterial activity.

Honey has been known for its antibacterial and healthy properties for thousands of years. All honey has some level of activity from osmosis, sugar concentration and Hydrogen Peroxide. Some honeys from specific plants include more of these special properties than others. The honey sourced from some strains of the New Zealand Manuka bush (Leptospermum Scoparium) is one of these. This unique activity is over and above the usual active properties of honey and is not present in all manuka honey.

3. UMF® Manuka Honey is guaranteed to contain the special non-peroxide antibacterial activity.

The presence of a special non-peroxide activity can be detected only by an array of scientific testing directly relating to the phenol standard. The UMF® (Unique Manuka Factor) rating has a one-to-one relationship to the phenol standard e.g. UMF® 5 Manuka honey has the same non-peroxide antibacterial activity as a 5% phenol solution.

4. Manuka Honey is used in winter wellness, beauty and natural skincare products.

This natural resource is a popular ingredient in New Zealand natural products including elixirs, lozenges, skin creams and wound care products.

5. Manuka Honey is well researched with a quality standard.

UMF® is the only quality standard behind the research on Manuka honey Leptospermum scoparium. The standard is internationally recognizable and verifiable. Products simply labelled "Manuka Honey" while still delicious, may not contain this special antibacterial quality.

Now that you've learned a few extra things about nature's wonderfood - Manuka Honey, you know that there's more to it than the delicious taste. All the more reason to include it in on your shopping list!