What this means for buyers:
- MGO500+ and MGO800+ are different measured grades of Manuka honey, but the higher number is not automatically the better purchase for every use.
- MGO500+ often makes sense when you want a premium jar for regular use or a Manuka honey ingredient in a carefully made beverage.
- MGO800+ is generally a rarer, higher-priced choice suited to buyers who specifically value the grade, presentation, or gifting experience.
Comparing MGO500+ vs MGO800+ Manuka honey can appear simple: one number is higher, so it must be better. In practice, the useful question is not which grade wins. It is which grade, format, and price make sense for what you are actually buying.
A jar for your pantry, a premium gift pack, and a ready-to-drink Manuka honey beverage are three different purchases. The MGO rating matters in each case, but it should be considered alongside certification, traceability, taste, serving format, and how you expect to use the product.
What does the MGO rating mean?
MGO is a measured marker used to grade Manuka honey. The number refers to the measured concentration of methylglyoxal, a naturally occurring compound associated with genuine Manuka honey. A label such as MGO500+ indicates that the honey meets or exceeds that stated grade, while MGO800+ indicates a higher measured level.
This gives buyers a practical way to distinguish between Manuka honey grades. It does not mean every product carrying the same grade will taste identical, come from the same place, or offer the same overall value.
The rating also should not be treated as a medical ranking. MGO800+ is a higher grade than MGO500+, but that alone does not establish that it is necessary for your intended use. If you are choosing a food, drink, pantry item, or gift, format and enjoyment may matter as much as the number.
MGO500+ vs MGO800+ at a glance
| Buying consideration | MGO500+ | MGO800+ |
|---|---|---|
| Measured grade | A premium Manuka honey grade with a substantial MGO rating | A higher measured MGO grade |
| Typical purchase context | Regular jar use, premium food and beverage applications, or a versatile gift | Special purchases, premium presentation, collecting, or gifts centred on a rarer grade |
| Availability | Generally more accessible than MGO800+ | Generally rarer and more selectively positioned |
| Price expectation | Premium, but often more approachable for ongoing use | Usually commands a higher price because of its grade and relative rarity |
| Taste expectation | Distinctive Manuka character, although the exact flavour depends on the honey and product format | May offer a concentrated, robust honey experience, but the rating alone does not guarantee a particular flavour |
| Format fit | Well suited to jars and ingredient-led beverages | Often makes the most sense when the separate jar and higher grade are central to the purchase |
| Best value for | Buyers balancing grade, versatility, and frequency of use | Buyers who deliberately want the higher grade and accept the associated premium |
Choose the format before comparing the number
The most useful buying decision often begins with format. Ask whether you want a jar of Manuka honey, a beverage made with Manuka honey, or a package that brings different formats together.
A separate jar gives you control over use
A jar is the straightforward choice if you want to spoon, spread, drizzle, or combine the honey with food and drinks yourself. You control how much you use and what you pair it with. In this format, the grade, jar size, origin information, certification details, and price per jar are directly relevant.
MGO500+ can offer a practical balance for a buyer who wants a premium Manuka honey jar that will be opened and enjoyed. MGO800+ may be more appropriate when the elevated grade itself is a meaningful part of the purchase, particularly for a special gift or premium reserve selection.
A beverage is a complete flavour experience
When Manuka honey is incorporated into a ready-to-drink beverage, you are not buying a jar in liquid form. You are choosing a finished recipe in which the honey works alongside other ingredients.
Avatar Elixir, for example, is made with certified MGO500+ Manuka honey, lemon, elderflower, B vitamins, vitamin C, clean caffeine, and lightly carbonated water. The MGO500+ honey is incorporated into the beverage. It is not a separate jar, and the drink should be evaluated as a complete beverage rather than compared with spooning honey directly from a jar.
For a beverage buyer, flavour balance, carbonation, caffeine, can format, and drinking occasion are central considerations. A higher MGO number would not automatically make a finished drink more suitable or enjoyable. The recipe still has to achieve the intended balance of honeyed depth, fresh citrus, floral elderflower, and light sparkle.
A package can offer more than one experience
The Beekeeper's Choice 12Pk includes an MGO500+ jar, giving the buyer a separate honey format alongside the package's ready-to-drink offering. The jar remains distinct from the MGO500+ Manuka honey incorporated into Avatar Elixir. One is a pantry product you can use as you choose, while the other is part of a formulated beverage.
The Founders' Reserve is the option containing MGO800+ Gold Label Manuka honey. This format makes more sense for someone who specifically wants the higher-grade jar as part of a premium pack, rather than someone simply assuming the largest MGO number is necessary.
Because package sizes and inclusions can matter to value, review the current product details before ordering. Compare exactly what is included, which item contains the honey, and whether the jar is separate from any beverages in the pack.
Does MGO800+ taste better than MGO500+?
MGO800+ does not automatically taste better than MGO500+. Taste is personal, and the MGO number is a grading marker rather than a flavour score.
Manuka honey can have a distinctive profile that feels rich, aromatic, earthy, herbal, caramel-like, or gently bitter depending on the particular honey. Its sensory character can also be influenced by harvest, handling, age, storage, and how it is served. Two jars with different grades may taste different, but the higher number alone cannot tell you which one you will prefer.
Format changes the experience further. Honey eaten directly from a spoon will be dense and concentrated. Honey stirred into a warm drink will open up differently. Honey used in a chilled, lightly carbonated beverage will share the palate with acidity, aroma, sweetness, and bubbles.
What this means for choosing a grade: If flavour is your priority, consider how you plan to consume the honey instead of relying only on the MGO number. For a finished beverage, assess the entire ingredient and flavour profile. For a jar, decide whether you want an everyday pantry experience or a rarer reserve-style purchase.
Why MGO800+ usually carries a higher price
MGO800+ Manuka honey is generally rarer than MGO500+, so buyers should expect a higher price. That premium may be reasonable when the elevated grade, scarcity, jar presentation, or gifting value is central to the decision.
However, paying more for a higher number does not necessarily create more value for every buyer. If you plan to use the jar regularly in food or drinks, MGO500+ may provide the grade and versatility you want at a more approachable price. If you want a distinctive premium gift or specifically collect higher-grade Manuka honey, MGO800+ may align more closely with that purpose.
Value is therefore about fit rather than obtaining the largest number within your budget. A product you enjoy in the format you actually wanted can be a better purchase than a higher grade that feels too precious to open or does not suit the occasion.
Check certification and traceability at either grade
Certification and traceability matter whether you choose MGO500+ or MGO800+. A large number on the front of a label should not be the only information guiding your decision.
When reviewing a Manuka honey product, check for:
- A clearly stated grade: The MGO rating should be easy to identify and attached to the relevant honey product.
- Certification information: Look for clear support for the grade rather than vague phrases that only suggest Manuka content.
- New Zealand origin and producer details: The packaging or product information should help you understand where the honey comes from and who stands behind it.
- Traceability: Batch, lot, or other production information can help connect the product to its supply chain.
- Clear format descriptions: Confirm whether you are buying a jar, a beverage containing Manuka honey, or a pack with both.
- Complete ingredient information for beverages: The MGO grade identifies the honey used, but the whole recipe determines the finished drink.
The same standard of scrutiny applies at both grades. MGO800+ should not receive an automatic pass because it has a higher number, and MGO500+ should not be treated as a lesser choice when it comes with the certification, origin, and format you want.
Which grade fits your purchase?
There is no universal winner between MGO500+ and MGO800+. The most sensible choice depends on the occasion and what you want to receive.
- For a premium jar you expect to open and use regularly: MGO500+ is likely the more practical starting point, especially when you want to balance grade, flexibility, and price.
- For an ingredient-led ready-to-drink option: Consider Avatar Elixir, which uses certified MGO500+ Manuka honey as part of a complete lemon, elderflower, clean caffeine, vitamin, and lightly carbonated beverage recipe.
- For a package combining drinks with a separate premium jar: The Beekeeper's Choice 12Pk includes an MGO500+ jar. Remember that the jar and the honey incorporated into the beverage are separate formats.
- For a premium pack centred on a higher-grade jar: The Founders' Reserve contains MGO800+ Gold Label Manuka honey and is better aligned with buyers who deliberately value that elevated grade and presentation.
- For gifting someone unfamiliar with Manuka honey: A versatile MGO500+ format may be easier to enjoy, while MGO800+ may suit a recipient who already appreciates grade distinctions.
- For the buyer focused mainly on flavour: Look beyond the rating. Compare the jar or beverage format, ingredient profile, intended serving style, and the recipient's preferences.
The clearest decision is not “higher versus lower.” It is whether you want a versatile MGO500+ jar, a finished drink made with certified MGO500+ Manuka honey, or a more exclusive pack featuring MGO800+ Gold Label Manuka honey. Once the format and occasion are clear, the grade becomes useful context rather than the entire reason to buy.
These practical checks help you compare MGO grades across jars, drinks, and gift packs without relying on the number alone.
Does MGO500+ show how much Manuka honey is in a drink?
No. MGO500+ identifies the measured grade of the Manuka honey used, not the quantity of honey in the finished beverage. In Avatar Elixir, certified MGO500+ Manuka honey is incorporated into the complete drink recipe. It does not mean that the beverage includes a separate jar or that the rating describes the drink's total honey content.
How should I compare value between a jar and a beverage?
Compare products within their intended formats before comparing price. For a jar, consider its grade, size, certification, traceability, and how often you expect to use it. For a beverage, assess the full recipe, flavour, carbonation, caffeine, and drinking occasion. A jar and a ready-to-drink product provide different experiences, even when both reference MGO500+ Manuka honey.
Can an MGO rating predict sweetness or caffeine level?
No. An MGO rating grades the Manuka honey using a measured marker, but it is not a sweetness, flavour, or caffeine score. In a finished beverage, sweetness and taste depend on the complete recipe, while caffeine is a separate ingredient consideration. This helps you avoid using the MGO number to judge qualities it was not designed to describe.
What should I confirm before ordering a Manuka honey gift pack?
Check the current product details for the exact pack contents, the grade attached to each honey product, and whether a jar is included separately from any beverages. The Beekeeper's Choice 12Pk includes an MGO500+ jar, while The Founders' Reserve contains MGO800+ Gold Label Manuka honey. Confirming the format helps you choose a gift based on what the recipient will actually receive.
