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CONTACT INFORMATION
Telephone:
61 03 9576 7614
Fax:
61 03 9576 7625
Open:
Mon-Fri 10-6.30pm
Sat 10-1.30pm
Retail Shop address:
529 North Road
Ormond VIC Australia
Postal address:
P.O. Box 243 Ormond VIC Australia 3204
Email:
General Information:
healthwatch@tpg.com.au
Wholesale Enquiries:
hwf@tpg.com.au
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Manuka Honey
Manuka honey is gathered in New Zealand from the manuka bush, Leptospermum
scoparium, which grows uncultivated throughout the country. Manuka honey is not
only delicious to eat, but is well known throughout the world for its remarkable
healing properties. This kind of "active" manuka honey is identified by its UMF
rating.
Note: In other parts of the world, the manuka bush is known as jelly bush, which
is also from the Leptospermum species. Australia in particular offers jelly bush
honey, but while offering some similar properties, it's just not the same as
Manuka honey. And that's because of something called UMF.
UMF - Unique Manuka Factor
UMF stands for Unique Manuka Factor, and refers to an antibacterial property
produced naturally by the nectar of manuka flowers. Not all manuka honey has
this property, and those that do vary in their level of UMF activity. The UMF
standard was developed to identify that small proportion of manuka honeys which
contain the UMF healing properties, and to what degree.
The Honey Research Unit at The University of Waikato in New Zealand established
criteria for the scientific testing used to detect the presence of the UMF
property. Gribbles Analytical Laboratories in Hamilton, New Zealand is the only
laboratory approved to carry out this special testing procedure.
UMF follows a rating system in which the initials UMF are followed by a number
indicating the strength of the UMF antibacterial property, with the honey being
compared with a standard reference antiseptic (phenol) for potency. So, for
example, a honey with a UMF rating of 10 would be equivalent in antiseptic
potency to a 10% solution of phenol. In order to be suitable for treating
infections, and qualify to use the UMF name, a batch of honey must have at least
a UMF 10 rating.
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