The miraculous honey from Romania, stronger than some antibiotics. It outperforms many world-famous products

A type of honey produced in the mountainous areas of Romania has extraordinary properties, managing to match and even surpass the famous manuka honey. In addition, it is proven to be more effective than some antibiotics. Its qualities have been proven by scientific studies.

Researchers have studied the properties of manna honey PHOTO Cosmin Zamfirache

In the forests of Romania there is a true miracle of nature, a beekeeping product with miraculous powers. It is about manna honey or forest honey. Romanian researchers discovered that this honey is even stronger than the famous manuka honey, although much cheaper. Studies indicate that this “forest honey” found especially in the mountainous areas of Bucovina succeeds in neutralizing pathogens, including staphylococcus aureus. The authors of the study, representatives of the Faculty of Food Engineering from “Ștefan cel Mare” University in Suceava, explained to “Adevărul” the research conclusions and the reasons why manna honey is a real miracle of nature.

Forest honey with unique properties

Manna honey or “forest honey” is a unique bee product. Unlike floral honey produced from plant sap collected by bees, manna honey is the result of collecting the secretion of trees, especially when a plant injury occurs and leads to the removal of the sap to the outside.

At the same time, manna honey is produced by bees from the sweet substances secreted by insects called aphids that feed on tree sap. Bees collect this sugary secretion (“manna”) from the leaves and branches, turning it into a mineral-rich, antioxidant-rich honey with a less sweet forest-specific taste and therapeutic properties superior to floral honey. Manna honey is produced mainly in the forested areas of Romania, but especially in the mountainous ones. In Bucovina there is a special tradition of collecting manna honey. Manna honey is different in terms of taste and color compared to other types of honey. It has a distinctive aroma and a brick-brown color, quite liquid.

Mountain peasant honey stronger than the most popular luxury honey

Considering this tradition of manna honey in the Bucovina area, researchers from the Faculty of Food Engineering of the “Ștefan cel Mare” University in Suceava conducted a study in which they wanted to compare manna honey with the world-famous honey, manuka honey. The study lasted two years and was carried out with the involvement of biologist Liliana Luca and engineers Daniela Pauliuc and Florin Ursachi, under the coordination of university professor Mircea Oroian.

The results were amazing. Manna honey is stronger than manuka honey, having a greater bactericidal effect. Especially compared to manuka honey MGO 100, 200 and 550 (the main active element in this honey is methylglyoxal, abbreviated MGO). “In the study we carried out, we used 55 samples of honey from domestic producers. We bought manna honey, manuka honey and compared mountain polyflora honey and manna honey to manuka honey. The results showed that manna honey is even better than manuka honey for some of the bacteria it was tested on, and on others it had similar results”says engineer Daniela Pauliuc.

Basically, manna honey was able to have a great bactericidal effect on some pathogens dangerous to humans, especially for those with a deficient immune system. These are Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

“We also made a section in the study where we compared the action of honey samples against these pathogens with antibiotics. Classic antibiotics such as gentamicin, tetracycline. We noticed that some manna honey samples had better activity than some antibiotics”adds Daniela Pauliuc. The results of this study appeared in prestigious worldwide scientific publications such as Nature or Scientific Reports.

The “medicines” of Romanian mountain meadows and forests

Manna honey is produced by bees in forested areas. “Manna” can be harvested by insects both in lowland and hilly areas, from deciduous forests, but also in mountainous areas, from coniferous forests. Specialists say that both types of biome offer a manna honey with special properties. However, the best manna honey and the most powerful in terms of benefits is that produced by bees from the “manna” of coniferous forests, in mountainous areas.

University professor Mircea Oroian and engineer Dr. Daniela Pauliuc PHOTO Cosmin Zamfirache

“In the case of manna, which is a secretion of trees, that secretion in turn contains beneficial substances for our body. Later they are transformed by the bee and we find them in this bee product. Manna honey can also be from the area of deciduous forests as well as conifers. All studies show that conifer honey is better. The color is more intense, a brown to brick. Over time it will crystallize and take on a lighter shade. The aroma is more intense compared to a floral honey, acacia honey, for example”states Mircea Oroian.

At the same time, in the mountain area there is another type of honey with extraordinary properties for the health of the human body. It is about mountain honey. “In the case of the mountain polyflora, during the collection, the bee goes to many medicinal plants and takes from there active principles that are later found in the honey”adds university professor Mircea Oroian.

Incredible health benefits at affordable prices

Manna honey is special especially due to its nutritional composition and special benefits for the health of the human body, experts say. It is famous for the fact that it helps the health of the digestive tract, the respiratory system, but also helps the health and beauty of the skin. It was used by peasants from the mountains or around the forests to calm coughs and sore throats, but also against stomach aches. These beneficial effects are due to the large amounts of minerals in its composition, such as calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, zinc, manganese or phosphorus. Last but not least, manna honey is rich in polyphenols and prebiotics.

At the same time, the antioxidants in manna honey help prevent the occurrence of mutations at the cellular level and implicitly the occurrence of serious diseases. Manuka honey, the one included in the comparison in the study, is well-known worldwide, being probably the most popular honey in the world for its miraculous health effects. Manuka honey is produced by bees collecting nectar from the flowers of the Manuka bush, a plant that grows naturally in New Zealand and only partially in Australia.

Bees can collect nectar in just a few weeks a year, as long as the plant's flowering period lasts. The nectar is processed in a complex way by the bees in the hive resulting in an aromatic and dense honey. Manuka honey has a darker color than the known floral honey but also a more intense taste. What makes manuka honey special is a compound with a strong antibacterial effect called methylglyoxal. This honey has high concentrations of this substance, which makes it unique in the world. It is used both for respiratory infections but also for digestive problems or immune deficiencies. As studies show, manna honey is as strong or even stronger than manuka honey in its antibacterial effect. They are even similar in color. Not to mention the fact that manna honey is much cheaper, around 60-70 lei per kilogram.