How much grayanotoxin is in mad honey?
Published measurements vary enormously, which is the single most important fact about this product. The one certificate published by a brand in our comparison reports grayanotoxin I at 35,038 µg/kg (about 35 mg per kg) and grayanotoxin III at 13,520 µg/kg by LC-MS/MS. Because concentration depends on the harvest, two jars of genuine mad honey can differ several-fold in strength — so dose is set by the jar, not by the category.
What the measured figures look like
Grayanotoxin content in honey is reported in micrograms per kilogram (µg/kg) or milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg). 1,000 µg/kg = 1 mg/kg. The published certificate we transcribed reports:
- Grayanotoxin I: 35,038 µg/kg, i.e. roughly 35 mg per kilogram of honey
- Grayanotoxin III: 13,520 µg/kg (stated as an estimated value)
At a cautious half-teaspoon serving of about 3 g, that works out at roughly 0.1 mg of grayanotoxin I per serving. We are stating the arithmetic, not a safe dose — individual sensitivity varies, and so does every other jar on the market.
Read the full certificate breakdown in how to read a mad honey lab report.
Why concentration varies so much
- Which rhododendron the bees worked. Species differ in grayanotoxin content, and a hive rarely forages one plant exclusively.
- Harvest timing. Spring and autumn harvests differ; so does the position of a comb within a nest.
- Altitude and season. Both shift which plants are in bloom during the foraging window.
- Post-harvest handling. Blending across nests or with ordinary honey dilutes the result — sometimes deliberately, sometimes not.
This is why a brand that tests once a year is telling you less than a brand that tests each harvest, and why an untested jar is a genuine unknown in both directions.
Stronger is not a feature
Sellers market potency as a benefit. It is more accurate to call it a variable that needs measuring. Grayanotoxin effects are dose-dependent and act on the cardiovascular system: the same mechanism that produces warmth and mild relaxation at a small dose produces nausea, sweating, low blood pressure and a slowed heart rate at a larger one. A jar that is twice as strong as you expect is not twice as good.
This is why we weight lab evidence at 25%
Without a measured figure, “half a teaspoon” means something different in every jar. With one, it means something consistent. See the dosage and safety guide before your first serving, and note the contraindications — 18+, and not alongside blood-pressure or heart-rate medication.
How to compare two jars honestly
Compare like for like: the same analyte (grayanotoxin I is the one most consistently reported), the same units, and a certificate dated to a batch you can identify. A brand quoting “high potency” against another brand’s measured figure is not a comparison — it is an assertion beside a fact.
Frequently asked questions
How many micrograms of grayanotoxin are in a teaspoon of mad honey?
For the one published certificate we have transcribed — 35,038 µg/kg of grayanotoxin I — a 3 g half-teaspoon works out at roughly 105 µg. Other jars will differ, potentially by several times.
Is a higher grayanotoxin number better?
No. It means stronger, which means a smaller serving. What matters is that the number exists so you can dose consistently.
What is the difference between grayanotoxin I and III?
They are related diterpene compounds found in rhododendron nectar with differing potencies. Both are commonly reported on certificates; grayanotoxin III is often given as an estimated value.
Can grayanotoxin be removed from honey?
Not by ordinary processing — the compounds are relatively heat-stable. Diluting with ordinary honey lowers concentration, which is the most common form of adulteration in this market.