Honey Potency Explained: What MGO, TA, PA & NPA Mean

If you've spent any time comparing Manuka honey or other premium raw honeys, you've probably seen jars marked with acronyms and numbers such as MGO 250+, UMF 10+, TA, PA or NPA. They may look similar, but they do not all measure the same thing.

These markers are used to describe different aspects of honey activity and quality. Understanding what they mean makes it easier to compare products and understand why WILDCURE independently tests each infused honey blend.

Where MGO Came From

Manuka honey, produced mainly in New Zealand, built much of its grading system around a measurable compound called methylglyoxal (MGO). MGO forms naturally from a compound found in Manuka nectar, and measuring it gave the industry a simple number that consumers could compare from jar to jar.

This is also why systems such as UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) exist. UMF is a broader quality and authenticity grading system that incorporates MGO alongside additional markers.

Why a Single Number Doesn't Tell the Whole Story

Raw honey is chemically complex. Its naturally occurring activity can be influenced by enzymes added by bees during production, peroxide-related activity, plant-derived phenolic compounds and other trace components that vary according to floral source, season and handling.

That means one marker can be useful without necessarily describing everything that is measurable in a particular honey. Different testing methods look at different aspects of the sample.

The Three Markers WILDCURE Tests For

Rather than relying on a single marker, WILDCURE independently tests its infused honey blends for TA, PA and NPA to help monitor measurable activity and consistency between batches.

TA - Total Activity

TA refers to the overall measured activity of the honey sample. It gives a broader comparative figure that takes more than one contributing pathway into account.

PA - Peroxide Activity

PA refers to activity associated with the natural peroxide-producing system in honey. One of the key enzymes involved is glucose oxidase, which bees add to nectar during honey production.

NPA - Non-Peroxide Activity

NPA refers to measured activity that remains when peroxide-related activity is excluded. It can be influenced by floral source and naturally occurring plant-derived compounds within the honey.

Looking at TA, PA and NPA together provides a broader picture of the tested sample than relying on a single compound alone.

Why This Matters When You're Buying Honey

A number on a jar is only useful if you understand what it represents. MGO is associated particularly with Manuka honey, while TA, PA and NPA measure different aspects of honey activity.

Consistency also matters because raw honey is a natural agricultural product. Every harvest can vary according to season, floral source and handling. Independent testing gives WILDCURE an objective way to monitor its blends from batch to batch.

WILDCURE currently offers three infused honey blends - Amazonian, Cape Propolis and Desert Red - each made with a different South African honey base and independently tested for TA, PA and NPA.

The Short Version

• MGO = a specific compound most commonly associated with Manuka honey grading.

• TA = an overall measure of activity in the tested honey sample.

• PA = activity associated with the honey's natural peroxide-producing system.

• NPA = measured activity that remains when peroxide-related activity is excluded.

You do not need to memorise the chemistry. The important point is that these numbers describe different things, and they should not be treated as directly interchangeable.

Explore the WILDCURE infused honey range or learn more about WILDCURE's approach to raw South African honey, botanicals and independent testing.