What's the Best Way to Get Mānuka Honey Benefits in Winter?
This time of year can mean ills and chills, stressed skin, and the ongoing search for sustainable wellness habits. You understand the value of genuine Mānuka honey, but how do you actually use it to get real benefits? Here are five practical approaches based on different occasions throughout your day.
Mānuka Honey With Oats or Smoothies
Get the day off to a good start with a drizzle of Mānuka honey over oatmeal, or blend it into your morning smoothie. This simple and sweet switch-up can turn a regular breakfast into something that more actively supports your wellness goals.
Why this works: you're supporting gut health, and using honey as a sweetener gives you lasting energy without the sugar peaks and crashes.
Best for: wellness seekers focused on gut health, people looking to reduce their processed sugar intake, athletes seeking more lasting energy, or anyone who eats the same breakfast most days and wants to boost its nutritional value.
Soothing Mānuka Honey & Warm Water Tonic
Swirl a teaspoon of Mānuka honey into warm water with fresh lemon juice. Ensure the water is warm rather than hot, ideally below 100°F, to preserve all the active elements that make the honey therapeutic.
Why this works: studies show Mānuka honey delivers immune-boosting elements, soothes the throat, and supports digestion. The warm liquid helps dilute the honey, allowing it to more evenly coat your throat, while the honey helps fight bacteria and reduce inflammation. (Let the mixture sit in your mouth a little longer than you usually would, before swallowing to increase the protective benefits.)
Best for: people who wish to protect against colds or relieve a scratchy throat, those dealing with digestive discomfort, or households navigating sniffle season.
Mānuka Honey As a Skincare Treatment
More people are turning to natural skin care solutions. One traditional method now offers new benefits, thanks to the discovery of Mānuka honey. Medical-grade Manuka honey is used in hospitals to aid healing. You can apply it with confidence as a face mask to support skin health or soothe irritations.
Why this works: Mānuka honey is a natural humectant that hydrates skin, while its anti-inflammatory properties help calm redness and irritation. The antibacterial compounds help with minor blemishes without harsh chemicals. (As with any ingredient, patch testing is sensible, especially if you have sensitive or reactive skin.)
Best for: people battling dry or irritated winter skin, those with sensitive skin that reacts to cold weather, anyone dealing with winter breakouts, or those interested in natural skincare who want therapeutic benefits beyond basic moisturizing.
Mānuka Honey With Tea or Coffee as a Natural Sweetener
Replace the processed sugar in your daily tea or coffee with Mānuka honey. It makes sense to stir in additional nutritional benefits rather than just adding sweetness. Remember: keep your beverage warm, not hot. Temperatures above 140°F can reduce the potency of MGO and beneficial enzymes, so let your drink cool slightly before adding the honey.
Why this works: you're improving your current ritual with immune support and more lasting energy. So that cup gives you a next-level boost and helps support your health without adding extra steps to your day. Mānuka honey dissolves easily in warm liquids and adds a sophisticated, sweet flavor.
Best for: regular tea or coffee drinkers who want to eliminate refined sugar, people looking for simple ways to boost daily immunity, or anyone wanting wellness benefits incorporated into established habits.
Mānuka Honey With Your Meals As a Drizzle
Add an extra level of wellness with a drizzle of Mānuka honey over roasted vegetables like carrots, parsnips, or sweet potatoes. This foodie-friendly approach adds therapeutic compounds and balanced sweetness. See recipe here.
Why this works: the honey adds anti-inflammatory benefits to your meal. You're getting immunity support through delicious food, rather than opting for tablets or supplements that often have issues with bioavailability.
Best for: those who want wellness benefits without major changes to their routine, people who struggle to remember supplements, or anyone who prefers their health support to taste like an upscale side dish.
Choose The Occasion that Fits Your Lifestyle.
You don't need to use all five approaches. Pick the one that addresses your biggest winter challenge or fits most naturally into your existing routine. A ritual targeting your specific wellness need will make the greatest difference.
Winter is ideal for establishing this kind of focused habit. You're already looking for ways to feel better during the coldest, darkest months. Adding one Mānuka honey practice to something you already do requires minimal effort but creates real benefits.
Sourced directly from some of New Zealand’s wildest places, Taylor Pass Mānuka honey is B Corp-certified, independently tested and clearly labeled with UMF™ and MGO levels.
Shop Taylor Pass Mānuka Honey at a store near you, or online here.
