Science

How we test every batch for purity

The seven things our labs check before a jar gets a label.

Written by Dr. James Chen, food science
Published
Read time 5 min
How we test every batch for purity

Every batch we sell is tested by an independent NATA-accredited laboratory. The certificate sits on our website and travels in the shipping box. Here is what they actually measure:

  1. Moisture content (must be below 18.5%)
  2. Diastase activity (the enzyme number that proves the honey hasn’t been over-heated)
  3. HMF — hydroxymethylfurfural — a marker of heat damage or age
  4. Pollen profile (botanical origin)
  5. Methylglyoxal (MGO), for our manuka grades
  6. Sugar profile via HPLC
  7. Heavy metal screen

If any one of these fails, we don’t bottle the batch. We feed it back to the bees.

About the author

Dr. James Chen, food science

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A storyteller from the family — sharing what we learn on the ridge, in the rainforest, and in the kitchen.

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