Kanuka vs. Mānuka: Two Native Honeys, Two Unique Scientific Stories

When it comes to New Zealand honey, mānuka has earned global recognition. Its unique chemistry, rigorous certification systems, and proven antibacterial properties have positioned it as one of the world’s most valuable natural products.

But mānuka is not the only native honey with potential. Its close relative, kānuka, is increasingly drawing scientific interest and through new testing and validation, its bioactive properties are beginning to be revealed.

Different Plants, Different Chemistry

Though they often grow in similar landscapes, Leptospermum scoparium (mānuka) and Kunzea ericoides (kānuka) are distinct species with different phytochemical profiles.

• Mānuka honey is defined by its methylglyoxal (MGO) content, now widely adopted as a standard measure of activity.

• Kānuka honey lacks the same MGO signature but has demonstrated strong anti-inflammatory effects in laboratory studies defined by the Arabinogalactan Proteins (AGPs) present in it, suggesting a complementary rather than competing mechanism of action.

The Testing Challenge

Sunil Pinnamaneni working on Shimadzu HPLC for Kanuka Chemical Markers Test

One reason mānuka advanced so quickly in global markets was the development of robust, standardised testing frameworks. From MGO quantification to UMF certification, the industry created a common scientific language that regulators, distributors, and consumers could trust.

Kānuka honey, with increasingly gaining attention for its immune stimulating properties, is relatively new to the global consumer market. Its activity, the AGPs, are now measurable, however, they are not yet expressed in a framework that can be consistently applied across the industry that producers and exporters can use. This gap in standardisation is currently one of the main barriers to wider recognition. However, that is changing.

Innovation through AGP testing and chemical markers

At The Experiment Company (trading as PAQ Laboratories), we have developed Arabinogalactan protein (AGP) and Chemical Marker testing to quantify not only the immune stimulating performance of honeys such as kanuka but also the authenticity profile of kanuka honey. This provides two distinct advantages:

1. Direct functional readout: AGP testing along with the presence of high concentration of 3-Phenyl lactic acid (3-PLA) and Lumichrome (a unique chemical marker present in Kanuka Honey) measures the combined action of multiple bioactive compounds rather than assuming activity from one marker alone.

2. Meaningful comparability: Because AGP and chemical marker testing generates results that can be benchmarked across honey types and against gold-standard reference controls, it creates a common performance language that benefits the entire value chain.

   • Producers gain evidence of bioactivity that can differentiate their harvest.

   • Packers and exporters can validate claims with robust, standardised data, building credibility in international markets.

   • End consumers benefit from clearer, science-backed assurances of honey quality and function.

By refining and validating AGP testing, we are laying the groundwork for kānuka honey to be recognised with the same confidence and trust that has propelled mānuka onto the global stage.

Unlocking the Next Chapter for New Zealand Honeys

Mānuka has already proven how science and innovation can transform a native honey into a globally recognised natural product. Kānuka is the logical next chapter, not as a substitute, but as a distinct honey with its own unique properties.

With the right testing infrastructure, kānuka can follow a similar path:

• Evidence-based validation of activity

• Industry-wide adoption of standardised methods

• Stronger positioning in global health and wellness markets

Looking Forward

The story of New Zealand honeys is far from complete. By investing in robust science and innovative testing technologies, we can expand the industry beyond a single hero product and give kānuka the recognition it deserves.

At PAQ Laboratories, our goal is clear: build the tools that will allow the world to understand, trust, and ultimately unlock the full potential of kānuka honey.