Jarrah Honey for Immunity: What the Science Says
Jarrah honey may support immune function through two distinct mechanisms: its dual antimicrobial system (both hydrogen peroxide activity and non-peroxide activity) and its influence on the gut microbiome, where around 70% of immune tissue resides. Research by Irish et al (2011) and Manning (2011) WA DPIRD confirmed significant antimicrobial activity in Western Australian Jarrah honey.
Key Points
- Jarrah honey has dual antimicrobial activity — peroxide activity (PA) plus non-peroxide activity (NPA). Manuka has NPA only.
- Irish et al (2011) published in PLOS ONE confirmed strong antibacterial activity in WA bioactive honeys
- The TA (Total Activity) rating measures combined antimicrobial strength — Jarrah Platinum TA50+ equals MGO 4000+ equivalent
- The gut-immunity axis means supporting microbiome health with Jarrah honey's prebiotic compounds may also support immune resilience
Cold and flu season has a way of making people reach for anything that might help. Most reach for vitamin C or zinc. Some reach for a phone to call the GP. A growing number, though, are rediscovering something that's been in WA pantries for over a century: a spoonful of raw Jarrah honey.
The instinct isn't wrong. It's backed by peer-reviewed research from multiple independent sources. And it's supported by a mechanism that makes genuine scientific sense — once you understand how the TA system works, and how the gut and immune system are intertwined.
Here's what the science actually says.
What Is the TA Rating System?
TA stands for Total Activity — a measure of the overall antimicrobial strength of honey. It captures both types of antimicrobial activity that honey can possess:
Hydrogen Peroxide Activity (PA): Produced when the enzyme glucose oxidase, naturally present in honey, reacts with glucose and oxygen to generate small amounts of hydrogen peroxide. This is an antimicrobial mechanism found in many honeys.
Non-Peroxide Activity (NPA): Antimicrobial activity that persists even when hydrogen peroxide is neutralised. In Manuka honey, this comes primarily from methylglyoxal (MGO). In Jarrah honey, it comes from different bioactive compounds — and Jarrah has both.
This distinction is important: Jarrah honey is one of the very few honeys with both PA and NPA. Manuka honey — the category it's most often compared to — relies primarily on NPA only. A TA50+ rating, as found in Jarrah Platinum, equates to MGO 4000+ equivalent — placing it at the very top end of bioactive honey internationally.
The Irish et al (2011) Study
In 2011, researchers published a landmark paper in PLOS ONE examining the antibacterial activity of Western Australian honey, including Jarrah (Irish, Blair & Carter, 2011).
The study tested WA honeys against a range of bacterial strains — including common pathogens — and confirmed that bioactive WA honeys demonstrated significant antibacterial activity. The research established the scientific basis for the TA rating system as applied to WA honeys and provided the peer-reviewed foundation for the antimicrobial claims that now underpin the premium WA honey category.
This was independent research, conducted at university level, and published in a rigorously peer-reviewed journal. It's the kind of evidence that separates genuine bioactive honey from marketing claims.
WA DPIRD Research: Manning (2011)
Dr Rob Manning's research through the Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (Manning, 2011) further confirmed the antibacterial properties of WA honey — including Jarrah — and helped establish the TA rating methodology that is now standard across the WA premium honey industry.
Manning's work is particularly significant because it was conducted by the WA government's own agricultural research body. This isn't industry-funded research — it's independent government science that validated the properties of WA bioactive honey.
Hossain & Locher (2023): WA Honey vs Manuka
A more recent comparison study by Hossain & Locher (2023), published in Applied Sciences, found that Western Australian honeys "at times exceeded New Zealand Manuka honey" in both antibacterial and antioxidant activity (Hossain & Locher, 2023).
This is a significant finding for Australians who have been paying premium prices for imported Manuka honey under the assumption that it's in a category of its own. The evidence is increasingly suggesting that WA Jarrah honey — produced right here in Australia, in bee populations free from the Varroa mite — is at least comparable, and in some measures superior.
🍯 Jarrah Platinum TA50+ — Dual Antimicrobial, Five-Lab Validated — Our most potent expression of Jarrah honey. TA50+ equals MGO 4000+ equivalent.
🍯 Jarrah TA35+ Sachets — Daily Dose, Ready to Go — Perfect for cold and flu season. Keep one in your bag, desk drawer, or medicine cabinet.
The Gut-Immunity Axis
There's a second, less obvious way that Jarrah honey may support immunity: through the gut.
Approximately 70% of the immune system is housed in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) — the immune structures that line the digestive tract. This means that the health and diversity of your gut microbiome has a direct bearing on immune function. A more diverse microbiome, supported by prebiotic compounds, may help maintain the conditions in which immune responses are well-regulated.
Jarrah honey contains prebiotic oligosaccharides that research suggests may feed beneficial gut bacteria. This is explored in depth in our cornerstone post Jarrah Honey for Gut Health: Prebiotics, Microbiome & Daily Habits. The short version: honey that supports microbiome diversity may, by extension, support the immune tissue that lives alongside it.
Cold and Flu Season: The Practical Guide
During cold and flu season, many people naturally reach for throat lozenges, cough syrups, and over-the-counter remedies. The evidence for some of these products is surprisingly thin. The evidence for honey, by contrast, is increasingly robust.
Research referenced by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) found that honey was preferred over over-the-counter cough medications for children aged 12 months and over with upper respiratory tract infections — and a landmark UK Oxford study reached similar conclusions.
How to use Jarrah honey during cold season:
- Daily maintenance dose: 1 teaspoon of Jarrah Platinum TA50+ in warm water first thing in the morning — a habit that supports the antimicrobial and prebiotic activity year-round.
- At the first sign of a sore throat: 1 teaspoon neat (not dissolved), allowing it to coat the throat slowly. The viscosity of raw Jarrah honey creates a physical soothing layer.
- In hot lemon water: A classic combination — the honey provides antimicrobial activity, the lemon provides vitamin C, and the warmth soothes irritated airways. Keep the water warm, not boiling, to preserve bioactive compounds.
- Sachets for on-the-go: Jarrah TA35+ Sachets are ideal for keeping in your bag or desk. A single sachet is a measured daily dose without needing a jar and spoon.
- With ginger: Fresh grated ginger with Jarrah honey and hot water is a traditional throat remedy with complementary anti-inflammatory properties.
A note on children: Honey is not suitable for children under 12 months. For children aged 12 months and over, the RACGP guidance is supportive of honey for soothing cold symptoms — always at age-appropriate doses and always with parental supervision.
Why Independent Testing Matters for Immunity Claims
Here's an important caveat about the premium honey market: not all honey labelled "bioactive" or given a high TA/MGO rating has been independently verified. Some products are self-rated or tested by a single internal laboratory.
Forest Fresh Honey validates every batch through five independent laboratories — not one. The Jarrah Factor™ is a proprietary standard that goes beyond a single TA test to validate the complete bioactive profile: antimicrobial activity (both PA and NPA), antioxidant levels, and prebiotic markers.
When you're choosing a Jarrah honey specifically because of its bioactive properties, that level of validation matters. It's the difference between a product that claims a health benefit and one that demonstrates it, batch by batch, with independent laboratory evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does Jarrah honey actually boost the immune system? A: We're careful with the word "boost" — the immune system is complex and not simply "boosted" by any single food. Research suggests Jarrah honey may support conditions associated with healthy immune function: antimicrobial activity (Irish et al 2011), gut microbiome diversity (Schell et al 2022), and antioxidant activity. These are legitimate and meaningful contributions, even if they're not the same as a pharmaceutical immune intervention.
Q: What is dual antimicrobial activity and why does it matter? A: Honey can possess two types of antimicrobial activity — hydrogen peroxide activity (PA) and non-peroxide activity (NPA). Jarrah honey has both; Manuka honey has primarily NPA only. Having both types means Jarrah's antimicrobial activity operates through two distinct pathways, which is part of why it achieves such high TA ratings.
Q: What does TA50+ mean for immunity purposes? A: TA50+ means the honey has a Total Activity rating of 50 or above — equivalent to MGO 4000+ in Manuka terms. This reflects extremely high dual antimicrobial activity. Forest Fresh Jarrah Platinum is independently validated at this level across five separate laboratories per batch.
Q: How should I take Jarrah honey during a cold? A: Many people take 1 teaspoon neat (directly from the spoon) to allow maximum coating of the throat, or dissolved in warm water with lemon. Avoid mixing with boiling water as this can degrade enzymes. Jarrah TA35+ Sachets are convenient for a measured dose when you're feeling unwell and don't want to handle a jar.
Q: Is Jarrah honey safe to take every day? A: As a food product, Jarrah honey is suitable for daily consumption by healthy individuals aged 12 months and over. It does contain natural sugars, so those managing blood sugar conditions should consult their healthcare professional. Jarrah's low GI profile (due to its high fructose, low glucose ratio) makes it a better option than regular honey or sugar — but always check with your doctor.
Q: Can Jarrah honey replace my flu vaccine or prescribed medications? A: No. Jarrah honey is a food product, not a medicine. It should not be used as a substitute for prescribed medications, vaccines, or medical treatment. If you have a health condition or are taking medications, consult your healthcare professional before making any changes to your health regimen.
The information in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. Please consult your healthcare professional before using honey as part of a health or medical regimen. Forest Fresh Honey products are food products, not medicines. Not suitable for children under 12 months. These statements are based on traditional use and emerging scientific research.
Written by Matt Fewster, 5th generation of the Fewster family and co-founder of Forest Fresh Honey.
Sources: - Irish, Blair & Carter (2011), PLOS ONE — Antibacterial activity of WA honey: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0018229 - Manning, Dr Rob (2011), WA DPIRD — WA honey antibacterial properties: https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/pubns/39/ - Hossain & Locher (2023), Applied Sciences — WA honey vs Manuka: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/13/7440 - Schell et al (2022), Frontiers in Nutrition — Jarrah honey prebiotic activity: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9367972/ - RACGP (2014) — Honey and cough in children with URTI: https://www.racgp.org.au/clinical-resources/clinical-guidelines/handi/conditions/children/honey-and-cough-in-children-with-urti
