**Acknowledgements and disclosure**

The authors acknowledge the Unique Manuka Factor Honey Association (UMFHA), Analytica Laboratories Limited, and Comvita New Zealand Limited for samples and general support of this work. Part of this work was supported by Comvita Claude Stratford doctoral scholarship from Comvita NZ Limited and various New Zealand government science funding grants. Jonathan Stephens and Gordana Prijic are employed by Comvita New Zealand Limited. Terry Braggins is the co‐founder of Analytica Laboratories Limited.
