Jarrah honey is a distinctive Australian honey known for its rich flavour, dark amber colour, and naturally high antibacterial activity. If you have looked at a jar of premium Jarrah honey, you may have noticed ratings such as TA30+, TA35+ or TA45+.
But what does TA, or Total Activity, actually mean? And how does it compare with the UMF™ and MGO ratings commonly found on New Zealand Manuka honey?
Understanding these rating systems can help you make a more informed choice when shopping for high-activity honey.
What Is Jarrah Honey?
Jarrah honey comes primarily from the nectar of the Jarrah tree (Eucalyptus marginata), a eucalyptus species native to Western Australia.
Jarrah trees grow naturally in the forests of southwestern Western Australia and typically flower only every couple of years. This limited flowering cycle, combined with seasonal conditions and honey production, contributes to Jarrah honey's relatively limited availability.
Jarrah honey generally has a smooth texture, deep amber colour and rich but not excessively sweet flavour.
What makes premium Jarrah honey particularly interesting, however, is its antibacterial activity.
What Does Total Activity (TA) Mean in Honey?
TA stands for Total Activity.
It is a laboratory measurement used to describe the overall antibacterial activity of a honey.
Honey can derive antibacterial activity from more than one mechanism. Two terms you may encounter are:
Peroxide activity (PA) — activity associated largely with hydrogen peroxide generated through natural enzymatic processes in honey.
Non-peroxide activity (NPA) — antibacterial activity that remains when peroxide-related activity is neutralized.
Total Activity considers the honey's overall antibacterial activity, including both peroxide and non-peroxide components.
This is why a TA rating should not simply be treated as another name for an MGO or UMF™ rating. They measure or represent different things.
What Does TA45+ Mean?
A Jarrah honey labelled TA45+ has been laboratory tested to demonstrate a high level of Total Activity according to the test method used for the product.
The higher the TA number, the greater the measured antibacterial activity in that laboratory test.
For example:
- TA10+ represents a lower measured Total Activity than TA30+.
- TA30+ represents substantial measured activity.
- TA45+ represents a particularly high Total Activity rating.
However, the TA number should not be interpreted as a dosage or as a guarantee that the honey will treat a particular medical condition.
It is primarily a quality and activity measurement.
Is TA45+ the Same as MGO 2610?
This is an important distinction.
No. TA45+ and MGO 2610 are not directly interchangeable measurements.
MGO measures the concentration of methylglyoxal in honey, expressed in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg). Methylglyoxal is particularly important in Manuka honey because it contributes substantially to Manuka honey's characteristic non-peroxide antibacterial activity.
TA, by contrast, measures overall antibacterial activity using a laboratory bioassay.
You may encounter conversion charts online attempting to translate a TA or NPA number directly into an MGO value. Such comparisons need to be treated carefully because the measurements are based on different testing approaches.
For that reason, when comparing honeys, it is better to use the rating actually verified for that particular honey rather than assuming that TA, NPA, MGO and UMF™ are interchangeable.
TA vs. MGO vs. UMF™ — What's the Difference?
| Rating | Commonly associated with | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| TA | Australian active honeys, including Jarrah | Total antibacterial activity |
| MGO | Manuka honey | Concentration of methylglyoxal |
| UMF™ | Certified New Zealand Manuka honey | A certification and grading system based on specified authenticity and quality markers |
This distinction is particularly useful when comparing Australian Jarrah honey with New Zealand Manuka honey.
A high TA Jarrah honey can demonstrate strong antibacterial activity, but that does not make it the same product as a high-MGO or high-UMF™ Manuka honey.
They come from different floral sources and are evaluated using different systems.
Jarrah Honey vs. Manuka Honey
Both Jarrah and Manuka are premium honeys, but there are several important differences.
Jarrah honey originates primarily from Western Australia and comes from Eucalyptus marginata. High-activity Jarrah honey is commonly marketed using a Total Activity (TA) rating.
Manuka honey originates principally from nectar collected from Leptospermum scoparium and related Manuka plants. New Zealand Manuka honey is commonly labelled using MGO and, for certified products, the UMF™ grading system.
Taste is also different. Jarrah tends to have its own distinctive eucalyptus-derived flavour profile, while Manuka typically has a stronger, more characteristic herbal and earthy flavour.
Neither rating system alone makes one honey universally "better." The better choice depends on the honey's authenticity, laboratory testing, floral source, strength and what you are looking for in a premium honey.
Why Is High-Activity Jarrah Honey Special?
High-TA Jarrah honey combines several qualities that make it unusual:
It comes from a geographically limited floral source, production depends on the flowering cycle of Jarrah forests, and premium batches can demonstrate remarkably high laboratory-measured activity.
Because activity can vary naturally from harvest to harvest, independent laboratory testing is particularly important when purchasing high-TA Jarrah honey.
Consumers should look for clearly stated activity ratings and information about the honey's origin and producer rather than relying simply on terms such as "active" or "antibacterial."
How to Choose Jarrah Honey
When comparing Jarrah honeys, look beyond the front label. Consider the country and region of origin, producer, floral source, tested TA rating, packaging information and traceability.
For a high-activity product, a clearly stated laboratory rating such as TA45+ provides considerably more useful information than a generic description such as "premium" or "active honey."
At Manuka Canada, we believe customers should be able to understand what the numbers on premium honey actually mean.
Explore Jarrah Honey
If you would like to experience one of the highest-activity Jarrah honeys in our collection, explore our Fewster's Farm Jarrah Honey TA45+ from Western Australia.