Top 5 Tips to Optimise Your Manuka Honey
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So you’ve bought a jar of Manuka honey. Now what?
As we start to head into flu season it’s more important than ever for people juggling work, workouts, families, and everything in between, to maintain their immunity, energy and general wellbeing.
Whether you're a fitness-focused woman looking to naturally support recovery, or a mum searching for trusted home remedies, Manuka honey can be your best friend in winter.
But you should know how to use it properly.
Unlike regular honey, Manuka honey is renowned for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, thanks to its high concentration of methylglyoxal (MGO). But to truly unlock its benefits, it’s important to be mindful of how and when you’re consuming it.
Here are our top tips for getting the most out of every spoonful.
1. Take It Cold (Yes, Really!)
This is one of the most important tips: don’t stir your Manuka honey into hot drinks. While it feels right to mix it into a hot lemon tea when you’re under the weather, heat can degrade the very compounds that make Manuka honey so special—especially the enzymes and MGO.
Instead, take your Manuka honey straight off the spoon, or stir it into cool or room temperature smoothies, yogurt, or overnight oats. This preserves its potent natural properties and ensures you’re getting the full immune-supporting benefits.
2. Start Your Day With a Spoonful
Make Manuka honey part of your morning ritual. A small spoonful on an empty stomach can help line your gut and support digestion throughout the day. For women focused on gut health or looking for natural remedies for bloating or reflux, this can be an easy, tasty first step.
Try pairing it with a slice of sourdough and almond butter, or let it melt gently over porridge that's been cooled slightly.
3. Use as a Natural Energy Boost
For active women, especially those into the gym, running, yoga, or strength training, Manuka honey can be a natural pre- or post-workout energy source. Its natural sugars provide a clean energy lift without the crash, while the MGO and antioxidant compounds help reduce inflammation and support recovery.
Keep a small sachet or travel-sized jar in your gym bag and take a teaspoon about 30 minutes before your workout—or add it to a post-workout snack to support muscle repair.
4. Soothe Sore Throats the Smart Way
With sore throats, colds, and dry coughs back on the horizon, especially with kids bringing home every seasonal bug, or anyone feeling that tickle in the throat, Manuka honey is a natural remedy worth keeping on hand, especially for Mums.
Take a spoonful into your mouth and let it mix with your saliva for 10-15 seconds before swallowing. Your mouth and gums will love this too as there’s almost as much active bacteria here as in your gut.
Or you might prefer to mix your Manuka honey with a little fresh lemon and cool water for a soothing throat tonic. Again, keep it cool to preserve the honey’s antibacterial action.
5. Treat Your Skin to a Honey Mask
Manuka honey isn’t just for eating—it’s also a gentle, natural skin treatment increasingly found in cosmetic products. Its antimicrobial properties make it great for breakouts, and it helps retain moisture for dry, winter skin.
Try applying a thin layer as a DIY face mask, leave it on for 10–15 minutes, then rinse with lukewarm water. It’s especially beneficial for hormonal breakouts or sensitive skin types.
Stay strong this winter!
Manuka honey is more than a sweet treat—it’s a natural powerhouse for women looking to stay strong, balanced, and healthy throughout the challenging winter months. Just remember: keep it cool, keep it pure, and make it part of your everyday rituals.
Whether you’re hitting the gym, soothing a sore throat, or just need a little daily immunity boost, this liquid gold has your back.