Kiva Raw Manuka Honey Certified UMF 20+, MGO 850+ 100% Pure New Zealand Honey - Non-GMO, Traceable, Non-Glyphosate (8.8 oz)

To explain how happy I ultimately am with Kiva Mānuka Honey, I have to explain the unpleasant journey I had to take with two other Mānuka honey companies before arriving here.A wound care specialist recommended that I try medical grade Mānuka honey for my surgical incisions to help them heal more efficiently (one was not healing well at all). My research revealed that ratings of or above 20+ UMF (Unique Mānuka Factor) were considered best for dermatological use/wound care (or ANY medicinal use).All this being said, I had never tried Mānuka honey before, so I had no idea if it would be noticeably different than the raw honey I purchase locally (aside from slight aromatic differences due to the climate and pollen).What I found out on my journey is that the buyer has to be exceptionally aware of every detail that is advertised on these honey listings. The first one (and I will not use names), advertised boldly a 20+ and a GMO of 829+ The 20+ was pictured on the listing ON THE BOTTLE in the same orange hexagonal box where reputable companies always display their UMF stamp rating, but upon close inspection (after purchase, of course) I noticed the letters “UMF” were not there! In fact, on the physical bottle I received, the “20+” wasn’t even there! Complete misrepresentation! I had to call Amazon customer service to explain in order to get a refund—even though the bottle was still in its plastic wrap—fully sealed. The automated system would not accept the return of a consumable.Second attempt: another company. This time I was VERRRY careful to make sure I was getting 20+ UMF from New Zealand—traceable. When I opened the bottle, the smell about knocked me out! This stuff smelled NOTHING like honey—I do mean NOTHING sweet about it at all. My husband described the smell as a cross between Band-aids and cough syrup—dreadful! The company’s customer service was nice enough about it and sent me a second bottle, figuring the first had simply gone bad—from the same batch number. Equally as horrible. I was nice about it, and respectfully requested a refund, which they politely granted.With great trepidation, I hoped the old adage, “Third time’s a charm” would hold true for me, and for hours I searched again for 20+ UMF Mānuka honey, and ultimately found Kiva. I ordered yesterday. My jar arrived today while both my 83 y/o mom and my husband were present. They’d both just been walked through the entire honey saga, so they anxiously awaited the expression on my face when I opened this jar. The aroma is so blissfully sweet—so unmistakably honey-like, and I could not have been happier! With the purchase from the other company, I hadn’t been sure if maybe the 20+ UMF honey NORMALLY smelled different—smelled bad—because of the increased UMF. Thanks to Kiva, I now know this is not the case. The UMF does not change the smell to something awful! The other company’s honey was definitely rancid; it’s too bad their customer service team didn’t listen to me to pull a test from that batch to try it. They’re going to lose money.Kiva’s 20+ Mānuka honey is absolutely delightful! It is aromatically slightly different from local honey, but not in any earth-shattering way, and definitely not in a bad way; the difference is subtle and very pleasant. The taste is sweet, but it has a strong, sort of earthy taste—not bad, by any means—just a bit different from the locally-sourced type. It’s still wonderfully sweet and honey-like (imagine that!) I licked the entire inside peel-off lid clean! I couldn’t help myself!Kiva takes safety seriously. The outer box has a circular tape safety seal. Then the jar has a black label seal (tape) that is easily recognized as broken when it is. Then there is the usual plastic ring seal to twist open the top of the jar. And once the jar is open, there is a peel-off lid (which also prevents spillage during shipping) covering the mouth of the jar. Everything was in tact, and surprisingly, through whatever arrangement they have with Amazon, it was here in less than 24 hours.My last comment here is regarding the cost. Yes, Mānuka honey is expensive, but everything is relative; it really depends on your intent for it. If you are planning to use this as a food source, then it is probably not worth the cost, but since I am using it for wound treatment, I have to tell you that this scarcely compares to cost of some of the other treatments out there. A friend just picked up a prescription today for wound care that was $200 for a tiny tube! A specialist recommended to her that she discuss medical Mānuka with her doctor; I hope she listens before the next refill.My faith in Mānuka honey is restored. NOW I finally know it is not some horrible, disgusting-smelling and repulsive-tasting substance (no thanks to company nbr. 2). When you find the right company, like Kiva, you’re going to get a top-notched product! I will have to update once I get it working on the incisions.

This bottle of Manuka Honey UMF 20+ has cured my sinus staph infection in the past. It was pretty incredible, since modern medicine was unable to help me at the time. Because doctors kept urging me to take antibiotics, I've become immune to them now. I've turned to natural remedies for solutions that help fight the baddies while healing my mind and body.During my staph infection, I'd been in really bad shape for many weeks before I began using this honey. My nose was completely congested, with nasty mucus and blood, headache and sinus pressure. I had to use Afrin every day which is really not good, but I couldn't breathe otherwise. I began using this bottle of UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) 20+ because I knew I needed the more potent strength for my infection. I ate a small spoonful every day (I spread it on toast, put some in tea), and when I got to the end of the bottle, I was still experiencing issues but I knew it was starting to get better.I took a gamble because of the cost, and purchased a second bottle, this time choosing the UMF 15+. By the time I got to the end of that bottle, my severe sinus staph infection had just cowered into the darkness, and I was triumphant. It was pretty miraculous. If I'd simply skipped the doctors, ENT specialist, co-pays and meds that hurt my body, this would have been a much healthier, cheaper, more effective way to go.For skin infections, you can apply manuka honey to the area, and many people choose to blend it with manuka essential oil. The oil smells pretty horrible, but if you've got problems, it's worth it. For everyday maintenance and prevention, UMF 10+ or lower works well. For an infection, I'd use at least UMF 15+.The taste of this manuka honey is amazing and wonderful. I've tried other manuka honeys and none have matched the sweet, rich taste of Kiva's. I did notice a difference in the taste between the two UMFs. The UMF 20+ tastes stronger, slightly more medicinal, but it's still delicious. I found the UMF 15+ to have a slightly gentler, sweeter taste that I prefer. But since I'm dealing with a sinus infection now, I'm using the UMF 20+ jar.The rim around the plastic jar gets very sticky and it gets difficult to screw the top on straight. Be really careful not to spill the honey there, or make sure to lick or clean it up if you do. This will really help you later!Manuka Honey is one of the best medicines nature has to offer us. Please don't waste your money on the cheap bulk kind without any UMF rating! If you're serious about your health and about healing naturally, this product is probably one of the most effective weapons to put in your arsenal. I am a customer for life.Stay well. ♡