Here in New Zealand we’re known around the world for a few things… green grass, NZ lamb, flavoursome dairy, jandals and hokey pokey ice cream, but there’s another truly uniquely kiwi thing that’s not only incredibly good for us, but delicious and also world-renowned too. Manuka honey.
I had the pleasure of meeting the lovely, down-to-earth folk from The True Honey Co. earlier in the year at their NZ launch held at Orphans Kitchen and then again at The Food Show the following weekend (where I was doing cooking demos) and have been doing little bits of work for them here and there ever since. I couldn’t help but be blown away by the entire story behind the brand and the humbleness of the people running the show. Every part of what they do is real, honest and well, true.
I’ll be bringing you an in-depth look into the production and extraction side of the operation early next year after a visit to the Hawkes Bay, so for now let’s talk about this world-renowned golden honey. What makes Manuka honey differ from every other kind of honey is the high concentration of a sugar molecule called Methylglyoxal (MGO). The higher the MGO level, the more beneficial properties the honey contains. All of the True Honey Co. Manuka honey contains 300+MGO or more, meaning you can be assured you’re getting the good stuff. Their hives are placed in some of the most remote areas of New Zealand (some hives even get helicoptered in to some parts where driving in is not an option!), where their bees feast on our native Manuka flowers and the magic process of making honey begins…
Manuka honey is naturally antimicrobial and is often taken internally – in teas to help aid sore throats or added to smoothies and dressings or drizzled on porridge, but I know loads of people who use it topically as well, to help heal cuts and grazes. It’s always the first thing I reach for in the pantry when one of the kids complains of a sore throat, a spoonful of honey is enough to put a smile on anyone’s face aye? I also stir it through shots of my Turmeric Fire Cider when I’m feeling a cold coming on, though I’m yet to convince my kids to try this…
GIVEAWAY!
UPDATE: This competition is now closed, thanks so much to all those who entered. The winner was Sian Dowling, congrats!
For those of you who missed out on last week’s competition, I’m super excited to be offering another chance to win a super amazing prize pack, thanks to the lovely folk at The True Honey Co. To be in the draw to win a 400g jar of The True Honey Co. 300+mgo Manuka honey + a copy of my latest cookbook A Year in My Real Food Kitchen simply leave a comment below sharing your favourite way to enjoy Manuka honey. Competition only open to New Zealand readers. One winner will be drawn at random 5pm Wednesday 7th December. Good luck!
These exotic frozen treats are a beautiful way to get your daily dose of Manuka honey goodness, with the saffron adding both a lovely colour and delicate perfume. I took inspiration from Heidi Swanson’s book Near & Far for the saffron soaking technique used to extract all that beautiful flavour and colour.
Makes 6-7
2 pinches saffron threads
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 tablespoons The True Honey Co. Manuka honey
2 cups natural Greek yoghurt
Combine saffron and vanilla in a small bowl, mix well then set aside to infuse for 10 minutes. Stir through honey. Place yoghurt into a bowl, add saffron honey and stir through – leaving a few patches of honey unmixed. Spoon into ice block moulds, insert sticks and freeze 4 hours of overnight. Run moulds under warm water to help release pops.
This post is sponsored by The True Honey Co. As always, all views are my own. Thank you for supporting the companies who allow me to continue providing free recipes and content.
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175 Responses
In Choc Avocado Mousse
Manuka honey, Greek yoghurt and fresh fruit on nutty granola – yummy!
They look amazing! And just in time for summer too. My favourite way to use manuka honey recently has been to add a wee dollop into homemade caramel sauce before pouring it over popcorn. A very indulgent treat but the honey gives it a lovely sweet hit!
A new book, I’d lurv to win that! I had no idea you had another one in the pipeline.
Manuka honey always goes in hot honey and lemon drinks (with the addition of a few drops of tabasco). Great for sore throats and colds 🙂 I also make the kids honey joys with manuka. Jo , Melbourne. AUST.
These look beautiful and delicious just like your cookbook! I would love to win these beautiful prize THANKYOU.
My kids love it by the spoon at grannys for me its lemon and honey drink but after reading this i feel i need to be a bit more adventurous with it
I love using lemon in my homemade muesli at the end to make it sticky!
I love real Manuka honey! So many great ways to enjoy it, but I think my favourite is Manuka propolis lollypops! Not only are they delicious, but they ward off any cold I feel coming on. Such a great product, and so good to hear True Honey are sharing it with the world.
My favourite way to eat Manuka honey is a teaspoon in hot water with lemon and ginger!
With blue cheese + fruit
I love Manuka honey with cider vinegar in the morning. Also on toast.
Yum!
a delish summer recipe and super generous giveaway Emma
… we enjoy using Manuka Honey in our summer dressings 🙂
How many ways to enjoy manuka honey? On it’s own 😉or to get the most from it, poured over Greek yoghurt with some toasted almonds and perhaps some dried apricots. Makes the most of all the ingredients!!! I love honey in your ginger nectar which I adore, but use less precious honey as the flavour would not come through.
i love a bit of manuka honey with my chai tea and almond milk before bedtime!
Basically I take honey every day.
I make my own natural yoghurt and stir a spoon through and I have a tsp in my morning cup of tea. I rarely get ill, and I attribute a lot of my good health to my daily dose of honey.
manuka honey with peanut butter and banana on toast. perhaps with a sprinkling of cacao nibs. delicious!
I like to put it in my home made balsamic dressing to make it sweeter, but I always get too much so I can lick the spoon 🙂
I put manuka honey in homemade turmeric chai!
Butter and honey on chunky sourdough, simple and delicious!
Yum!! I can’t wait to try these! I’m such a honey fiend – I’m always acquiring a new jar whenever I go to the farmer’s markets. My favourite way to enjoy honey is stirred into hot kawakawa and ginger tea, or in frozen yoghurt which I have been making a lot of recently – I blend greek yoghurt, honey, and a selection of frozen fruit (currently loving avos for a creamy base, bananas and strawberries) then pop in the ice cream maker to churn for 30mins.
Awesome! My favourite way is to eat it on Vogel’s toast, or simply to suck it straight off my finger – we call it “hairy chest honey” in our house because it is said to put the hairs on your chest!
As the sweetner in your delicious tahini fudge! Yum!
These yoghurt pops look amazing too!
On a piece of lovely dark rye bread, sometimes with a bit of nice camembert or blue cheese on top. Yumm!
Peanut butter and Manuka honey on buttered toast. A childhood favourite.
I love it on toast with figs and prosciutto! <3 I would also love, love, LOVE a copy of your book and some of The True Honey Co.'s fantastic manuka!! Thanks!
Vogels toast, buttered, with nice thick covering of Manuka honey. Simple and delicious.
Does on a spoon count? I love a little honey in my green smoothies to make them a lot nicer
The best way has got to be on hot toast with nothing else, so the honey goes all melty and delicious !
I was going to say spooned into a hot milky tea after dinner, but I can never help sneaking a spoonful on it’s own! Haven’t tried it topically yet but I did read an article about how to use it to treat grazes recently. Good quality Manuka honey is a treat around here though as it’s not cheap!
Lately I’ve used honey in my Bliss ball recipe which includes a nut butter, LSA, coconut oil and cacao. My boys adore them. But honey on grainy bread is always Devine!!
Drizzled over hot buttered crumpets😀
Manuka honey on all the things! Toast, porridge, smoothies, a spoon…
Nut balls are the best! Simply add 1 tbsp of manuka honey (from the True Honey Co. of course 🙂 to 1 cup raw peanuts and 1 tbsp carob in a food processor and process. Shape into balls and roll in coconut. Yum!
I’m Vegan, so coconut water, seasonal fruit & honey…….. nothing more delicious!!
On crumpets….keeping it simple 🙂
I love a teaspoon of Manuka honey with apple cider vinegar first thing in the morning:) The recipe looks amazing, can’t wait to try it!
I love manuka honey and it gets a real workout in cold and flu season in our house. Also wanted to say I associate boysenberry ice cream with NZ. I haven’t found it anyway else!
If I have a sore throat I take a spoonful of Manuka honey. Love it on toast, in dressings, smoothies, baking, anything to replace sugar.
Mixed in with my porridge in the morning.
Wow, these look amazing! I have already made two of your recipes today – I love them, thanks!
I love a simple spread of honey on buttered toast. Yum.
Honey mixed in with yogurt & yogurt parfaits would be so good. Also, some fresh honey on some milk toast bread would be yummy.
On my homemade thinly sliced sourdough toast, with lots of butter. The honey melts into the butter and then you get to dip the toast in the ‘puddles.’
With a spoon. Undiluted
Love using Manuka honey with butter spread on sourdough dark rhye bread. Or stirred through my sons porridge in the morning 👌💛
Lovely lemon and honey drinks!
Manuka honey on homemade bread with butter. The simple pleasures…
Absolutely loved the post, and I will definitely need to try those delicious yogurt pops! This giveaway is amazing, and I would love to win it to share with my lovely family. Personally, I like to have my honey on my gluten free weet bix with almolmond milk and fresh fruit. I do a generous drizzle on top and it sure satisfies my taste. Another way I like to incorporate honey into my food is simply having it on a piece of gluten free fruit loaf, or in one of my banana smoothie (only bananas and almond milk) to add some extra sweetness. I would absolutely love to win this, and as I am only 14 years old, I absolutely love learning about healthy eating and living and how to incorporate more foods that are good for our wellbeing into my life. Thanks Emma, your blog has really made my experience with coeliac disease ( I’ve only had it for 3 months) a very great way to learn, understand and find different options to thoroughly enjoy.
I love honey and Greek yoghurt!
My favorite way to enjoy it is drizzled over almond butter and banana on a crunchy piece of bread. Maybe paired with some tea with honey as well 🙂
With grilled figs and yoghurt or just on some hot crumpets.
I love manuka honey on hot toast in the morning or mixed with lemon in the winter.
Best on a big bowl of porridge!
Either with blue cheese or in hot lemon and ginger drinks
I’ll be honest ! I actually haven’t tried Manuka Honey before !! It’s quite an expensive ingredient, but these popsicles sure look like a way I’d love to try my first taste of Manuka honey
I like the classic – Manuka honey on toast! Or by itself by the spoonful 😉
Honey mixed into my porridge each morning is simply delish
I love honey! My favourite way to enjoy would be with Greek yogurt and muesli x
I enjoy it drizzled on a slice of homemade life changing loaf that’s got a generous spread of almond butter and mashed banana – delish!
My favourite way to enjoy Manuka is ìn a lemon and honey drink in the winter time.Good and healthy for you💖💕💛💛
I am going to move to New Zealand for this jar of honey <3
Apart from hot lemon and honey drinks, I love Manila honey spread over hot buttered wholemeal sourdough from the Tanner Street Bakery, Christchurch. Sweet, nutty, grainy goodness with a pinch of salt. Yum.
I love adding Manuka honey to my morning oats alongside cinnamon and coconut for a delicious warming breaky and also love adding it to my smoothies/smoothie bowls for a delicious sweet hint in my smoothies 😊
Manuka honey with lemon, ginger, turmeric and cayenne pepper steeped in boiling water to combat the winter bugs! My flatmates hate it but they secretly love me when it banishes their sniffles! Manuka magic 🙂
In my smoothies
I’d love to win this gorgeous bundle for my sister in law Hayley (and her 3 teeny children) who live in Tauranga and whom I haven’t seen for almost 3 years now because we are in London. Its would be a special gift for her at Christmas .
So many amazing and creative ways people use manuka honey! Food round here tends to be fairly simple: I love it on toasted paleo bread and in lemon honey drinks when I have a sore throat or a cough.
simply spread generously on a slice of warm toast…mmm! (pops look beautiful and sound lovely, thank you – believe I will be making a pop mould purchase)
Manuka honey on sourdough toast…and I pop a teaspoon in smoothies too…yum! Can’t wait to try this ice treats.
In a dressing made by mum – white balsamic, honey and garlic poured over tomatoes. The tomato mix in and you can drink it at the end. Mmmm
We love it mixed with yogurt and walnuts on top of porridge!
on toast dripping with butter of course !
Hot whiskey! Fresh lemon juice, a couple of teaspoons of manuka honey, warm water, a slice of lemon with a few cloves studded in it and a generous shot of whiskey at the first sign of a sniffle 🙂
Straight from the spoon! (and, more recently, dabbed directly onto the kids’ cuts and grazes = gentle but fast healing!)
On toast 🙂
I’m already a convert! I use it in my fresh fruit and yoghurt popsicles. Yum!!
Manuka honey goes well with some tahini, on the sourdough gluten-free loaf that I make using the wonderful recipe in “My Darling Lemon Thyme”. It also makes a good face mask treatment for rosacea!
I’ve been wanting to try Manuka honey and keep putting it into various online “shopping” carts but haven’t treated myself yet. Winning would be fantastic! I imagine I’d want to savour and really taste the honey so would likely serve it simply – on thick & creamy labneh or on toast with just a touch of tahini (& hemp seeds for crunch).
Honey is a beloved member of our pantry and is used for everything. My little ones called it liquid gold. We just wanted to say Thank you so much for all the knowledge you share with your recipes – they have changed the way we eat and my gluten free cooking is now no longer sad cakes that could break your teeth or crumble before they even were taken out of the tin. Have a stunning day and I can not wait to read your second book.
We love manuka honey in many dishes in this household, I have to hide it tho so it doesn’t end up in great slathers on my hungry teen’s toast……too precious for that!! Love your recipes, love your books, aroha nui!
ALWAYS comes out when we are feeling a cold coming either on it’s own or in smoothies😇
I use Manuka Honey in my Turmeric Lattes – it’s so good 🙂 and helping beat the refined sugar cravings
Love it drizzled over my breakfast, but it my go-to when I’m sick with ginger and lemon.
LOVE Manuka honey- especially in lattes and tonics, and most definitely over granola!
in green tea
I have just recently started making a choc icing with avocado and honey…so yummy!
I love it with some yogurt and granola.
The simple medicinal way: a tablespoon worth in a hot cup of hot water with lots of lemon – always makes me feel miles better 🍯🍋✨
Straight off the spoon – au natural 😊
With butter on toast. 🍯🍯
Absolutely love it in my morning coffee, but honestly, on a spoon, is the best! It was a healing agent when dealing with some HPHYLORI issues for awhile. Amazing for a a sore throat as well 🙂 Would be honored to have a copy of your book as well!
I use Manuka honey in my Berry Smoothie- which is frozen berries, fresh strawberries, Greek yoghurt, coconut oil melted, raw honey, ice cubes it is too die for yummy
I would love to win this! I love manuka honey drizzled over greek yogurt with fruit and granola.
My favourite way of having Manuka honey is on a teaspoon or in my lemon and honey drink – it’s something I’ve grown up with 🌿
Manuka Honey on homemade crumpets. Delish!!
Straight from the spoon but these icecreams look very delicious too!
I’ve your blog. Have been following for years and send my patients to your site for healthy recipes. Xx
Usually on toast, but that honey and yogurt looks amazing !!!!!
In a hot toddy with some Scottish whisky or just straight if the spoon. I arrive in New Zealand on Thursdasy can I be included.
Just on the spoon with a hint of fresh cinnamon ❤️. Best combination!
I use Manuka honey on my face every other day. I also used it in some homemade cough drops I made recently.
My Poppa’s answer to a sore throat was to get a large teaspoon of Manuka and say swallow it as slowly as you can. The honey soothes your throat on the way down, easing the pain, and at the same time puts a smile on your face. A teaspoon of Manuka is still my favourite way to have it.
On a spoon!
A little spoonful in my roobios tea, makes for a delightful treat x
Nothing quite like a Hot Toddy with manuka honey! Also, a special adult only version with a shot of whiskey. There nothing more indulgent, to get rid of those midseason sniffles..
I have manuka honey with cider vinegar every morning. Also great in cream cheese icing on banana cake! This recipe sounds amazing and I can’t wait to try it this summer.
These look incredible 😍 I would paint my house this beautiful colour. My favourite way to eat manuka honey is drissling it over roast carrots!
Absolutely love it just by the spoonful.
I love to add it to my salad dressings which I mostly make up as I go along from what is in the pantry and drizzle over yummy veges from my garden
My daughter loves Manuka honey by the spoonful. I love Manuka honey drizzled over coconut yoghurt on some yummy granola. Your recipes are amazing. They were our lifeline when we had to start cooking GF and DF. I have had no failures to date!
Love just eating it off the spoon and in smoothies ♡♡♡
HI Emma, a recipe I loved as a girl was pulled taffy made with butter and honey that I found in the confectionary section of mums copy of Alison Holsts big red cookbook 🙂 it was the honey that gave the taffy this chewy texture and once I figured out the recipe I made it all the time! I used them as Christmas presents one year, wrapping individual pieces in colored celophane! I would love to make this recipe again and use the True Honey Manuka honey for a yummy twist on an old favorite! 🙂
Manuka honey is liquid gold, and the best way to enjoy it is to drizzle a little it on top of a cup of fresh organic full cream cows milk. The smooth texture of the honey and the creaminess of the milk compliment each other perfectly, and the subtle flavours of the honey mix well with the softness of the milk. Otherwise it is the best home remedy for a sore throat, taking just the plain honey on a spoon!
I love banana honey and cinnamon smashed together on toast.
I love honey! Every morning on my gluten free toast with a cup of tea. And at the first niggle of a sore throat, teaspoons of the stuff!!
Oh I would just love a copy of your book! My favourite way to enjoy honey is straight out of the jar! Not very inventive I know but you can just taste all the goodness that way. Other than that I love it in a mug of hot water!
My husband brews us a pot of chai in the evening after our respective long days. He drizzles Manuka honey down the mugs before he pours it for us both. Soothing our minds and our tums. I love the ritual.
I love using Manuka honey in raw desserts 🙂 I also like to have a little bit on a spoon when I’m feeling under the weather!
Nothing beats puddles of butter with lashings of honey on grainy toast, so simple.
Manuka honey on grainy toast with banana and crunchy peanut butter sprinled with a little cinnamon.
These Popsicles look fantastic Emma! I love to keep our Manuka honey for medicinal use. One way we use it is to chop up an onion, add honey and allow to soak for 24hours, then strain. The honey draws out all the goodies from the onion and you are left with a syrup. Then I add good quality oil which is great for soothing throats. That’s our home made cold syrup. Tastes good too 😊
I just love it directly from the spoon, but your recipe inspires me 😉
Hey Emma,
It is so true that Manuka honey is one of New Zealand treasure. I am looking forward to discovering your next post about True Honey early next year.
Well, I love to used the strong test of Manuka honey for spices bread. And It is also going to be on our christmas table here in raglan, as It is one of my favourite in France !
Thank you for this giveaway.
Pauline
Hi there Emma,
I am making my crispy fennel-chips with Manuka Honey and a dash of sugar, (rose) water and a zest of an organic lemon.
Slice the fennel thinly, soak it and then bake for the ultimate crisp.
As for the rest of the marvelous mixture i usually let it simmer down to make a thin salted caramel.
Heaven (two-in-one)!
Give it a go! Its rather splendid.
Enjoy 🙂
Love manuka honey on crepes with chopped walnuts!
I looove Manuka honey with Greek yoghurt and fresh fruit
Straight out of the jar with a teaspoon!
On fresh figs from the family orchard before roasting and them being devoured scattered with farm fresh walnuts. Goats cheese may appear on the plate also xx
On toast with lots of butter 😊
We love our Manuka honey in EVERYTHING but I rekon it’s at its best straight from the pot! Whenever the kids or we are feeling tired or run down or any hint of sickness, it’s straight to the honey pot. Sometimes simple is best, with ingredients as stunning as this! X
What a gorgeous and generous giveaway! I’d adore a copy of your new book, I’ve so enjoyed My Darling Lemon Thyme 💛 we love honey in lemon coconut truffles, and in all refined sugar free treats, also on hot buttery toast and when something ails us a big spoonful in hot water and lemon or on its own. I very successfully used manuka honey topically and internally to heal mastitis once. A lifesaver!
Straight out of the jar for my boys & I 😜😜😜
A spoonful of Manuka a day keeps the doctor away – straight out of the jar is always the best way!
Melted w/ coconut oil and drizzled over popcorn w/ a pinch of sea salt .
I have been known to smear it over my face for an at home facial whilst bathing . Dreamy .
Among the many ways to enjoy/useManuka honey, I actually just love to simply lather it on hot toast! Yum. Btw the recipe looks epic. I’ll def be giving that a whirl. Will no doubt be a hit with the kids too .,,
Hey Sian, you’re the lucky winner of the honey + cookbook prize pack! Huge congrats xx
Honey! Honey on finger, honey on toast, honey in dressing, honey in smoothies…. I love me some honey! 🙂
Love the antibacterial awesomeness of Manuka Honey – I enjoy it lots of ways but it is always my go to for me or the family at the first sign of a sore throat
Straight out of the jar on a spoon!
Honey on toast. As simple as that but so scrumptious ! 🙂
With butter on gf toast every morning and just eat it by the spoonfuls ☺
On crumpets! 😍
Straight from the jar to swill out a sore throat – works wonders!
On a spoon! Ice blocks look amazing, Ill make them this week. It got HOT in Hamilton today.
Manuka Honey is such a lifesaver when I’m sick – hot water + juice a lemon from our tree + some grated ginger and a big spoonful of manuka honey – this concoction will cure a sore throat in no time. Amazing stuff 🙂
Mixing it through my yogurt and fruit salad, and when I’m sick straight off the teaspoon.
Licking the spoon after adding some to a recipe!
I fell in love with manuka honey when I Santorini of all places! I was encouraged to try a dollop of it in some thick, authentic Greek yoghurt with walnuts, OMG – I’ve never looked back! Amazing!
In a good cup of coffee 🙂
Also amazing for healing! Fixed my sons head injury! Miraculous!
in fruit almond muffins, tahini muesli bars or on a spoon!
Lemon,HONEY,fresh ginger and numeric cordial in hot water with a grnd of black pepper…… Start every day with this good drink. 🙂
What a gorgeous colour the honey is !
I especially enjoy raw unadulterated honey in Tahini Bliss Balls. Simply bellissimo !
I love it drizzled across you yogurt n fresh fruit or when sick mixed with lemon in a hot toddy …
On a slice of freshly baked rye sourdough bread = heaven on earth 🙂
Yummm can’t wait to try this recipe! I love adding Manuka honey to my golden milk (I use warm coconut milk + turmeric), along with a little cinnamon. Perfect evening/bedtime drink 😊
i love using it with turmeric and ginger tea! I also put it on my scones with butter! so good. but usually, I take a spoonful out of the jar and just eat it! It’s so good.
I love manuka honey in my herbal tea and my lemon and honey drinks. Also if I or the kids have a rash, scraps or cuts a bit of manuka honey applied to them helps the healing process best
Straight off the spoon!
I haven’t had the pleasure yet, but I would love to add it to my Greek yogurt!
As a sore throat remedy straight off the spoon. Soothes the throat and helps with recovery from a chesty cough and cold. My kids survive winter with help from Manuka honeys healing properties.
I loovee it drizzled over my oats in the morning. so so good and really perks me up for the day!
I use Manuka in my turmeric chai lattes, and also keep some in my little first aid kit – it’s magic!!
But I love your recipe here so will give that a go as soon as I’ve bought the moulds 🙂
I love to use manuka honey in my chamomile tea, after a busy day it’s my favorite way to wind down.
I love it on vogels bread toasted! Simple and delicious!
Love my manuka honey on toast in the mornings
Wow what an amazing giveaway!!! I love to start my day with a hot lemon and ginger drink with a spoonful of Manuka honey stirred in. This all looks so delicious, it would be amazing to win!
My favorite way is manuka honey, nice squeeze of lime, warm water and a good pinch of tumeric but I also love it in some creamy plain yoghurt with cut up fruit
Manula honey – great in lemon drinks for sore throats, but best – drizzled on grain toast!!
Straight off the spoon is my favorite especialy if a sore throat is pestering but a spoonful in a cocoanut pudding never goes a miss
Love honey with lemon or apple cider in a drink, with Greek yoghurt on muesli, just plain on toast. And that recipe for honey and saffron yogurt pops looks like a must with 11 extra people in the house over Christmas.
Straight from the jar! or on vogels
Such a beautiful post! I love manuka honey on just about everything, but this time of year, during the colder winter months, I love adding it to a classic hot toddy! Can’t wait to try your popsicle recipe!
A dollop with Greek yoghurt – yum!
With my oats and yoghurt
On toast with tahini – a great middle eastern combo. I also use it topically on my dog’s skin when she has a flare up of her grass allergies.
in a cup of hot herbal tea – yum – or sometimes even on a spoon
Always a spoonful in my morning cup of tea, and then a facepack of honey once a month 😉 A dollop in my home made yoghurt as well.