Honey may be pretty much omnipresent on supermarket shelves in the modern world, but not all honey is created equal. We refer, of course, to the mighty manuka honey. More than just a health fad that has grown out of hand, Manuka honey is a tentpole in the kitchens of countless people – in addition to their beauty regimes, and even medicine cabinets. 

Yes, manuka honey comes with many uses and benefits. From healing wounds, including burns, to bolstering the immune system and staving off winter coughs, colds and chills, there are plenty of reasons to include manuka honey in your next shop. There's an elephant in the room, though – manuka honey is costly. As in, roughly ten times the price of a jar of standard acacia honey expensive. What gives, and where can you buy manuka honey without needing to remortgage your home? 

Genuine, authentic manuka honey is only available from the Leptospermum scoparium, aka manuka bush. No big deal ... except this shrubbery only grows in New Zealand, and even then for a short period of the year. This places logistical restraints on the shipping of the product, which will naturally have a financial impact. It would also be remiss to ignore the effect of demand vastly outstripping supply. 

Of course, in theory, you'll need to import manuka honey direct from down under. That is fraught with challenges, though. For a start, you'll need to go to battle with customs. Importing foodstuffs as a private individual can be troublesome. Manuka honey is not technically perishable, so you will not fall foul to any ban on that score in theory. If an overzealous official intercepts your package, however, your delivery could be subject to delays while this is determined.  

Even if your honey makes it overseas safely, think about the cost implications. If the package boasts a value over GBP£135 – which is quite possible with manuka honey, especially if you purchase it in larger quantities – you'll be forced to pay import duty before the package is relinquished.  

That's assuming you'll even find a New Zealand stockist that is willing to ship overseas. When researching where to buy manuka honey, be sure to check this. As the product is so rare and valuable, some suppliers will be keen to save themselves the headache of importing to far-flung locales. They'll have plenty of customers on home soil that are prepared to buy their manuka honey directly. 

So, does that mean that you cannot get access to this product in the UK? Not a bit of it. Google "where to buy manuka honey in the UK", and you'll find plenty of stockists, including health food shops and online purveyors. The question is, though, are you buying genuine manuka or something concocted in a lab?  

To err on the side of caution, always purchase manuka honey directly from a reputable, specialist seller. A business like Manuka Direct will provide a certificate of authenticity with its products, ensuring that your manuka can be traced back to the source. When wondering where to buy manuka honey, this should be your first port of call.