The recent guidelines issued by the Ministry of Primary Industries of New Zealand require all companies selling Manuka honey to use the titles "monofloral" and "multifloral" instead of measuring the pollen to categorize their products.

Monofloral Manuka honey is derived entirely or predominantly from the Leptospermum scoparium plant, compared to multifloral Manuka honey, which is a blend sourced from a variety of plant sources with a significant amount of Manuka plant.

Monofloral Manuka honey is considered superior as it contains higher levels of two chemical compounds from the plant and represents the purest form of Manuka honey, gathering more health benefits.

Manuka honey is considered superior to other varieties of honey, thanks to methylglyoxal or MGO, a natural chemical substance found only in the nectar of the manuka plant, which gives it its antimicrobial action. This active antimicrobial ingredient is not present in all Manuka honeys, but only in those of high quality.

The MGO rating is an accurate global measurement standard for the unique reliable antibacterial activity contained in Manuka honey. The higher the MGO rating, the stronger its antibacterial action. For example, Manuka honey with MGO 400 is certified to contain at least 400mg/kg of methylglyoxal, while the minimum required for health benefits is 100mg/kg.