Many recipes call for granulated sugar, but if you replace it with honey, you’ll notice more complex flavors. Honey that hasn’t been heated also has a stronger flavor.
Some supermarket own-label honey is adulterated by blending costly acacia honey with cheaper rape honey, as the color of rape honey closely resembles that of acacia. More detailed country-of-origin labeling would help consumers avoid this practice.
Wildflower Honey
As the name suggests, wildflower honey is made from nectar sourced from an assortment of wild flowers in nature. These blooms range from trees and bushes to grasses and herbs. The result is a versatile honey with a flavor profile that can vary significantly depending on the season.
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine suggests that eating local honey can relieve seasonal allergies. This theory stems from the belief that eating the sweet nectar of a variety of plants boosts your body’s antibody levels.
Similar to clover honey, wildflower honey offers a light consistency intertwined with fruity and floral notes. This makes it a great choice when baking delicate pastries or blending into recipes that call for a natural sweetness without overshadowing other ingredients. It also shines drizzled atop a cheese plate or as a marinade, where its mild taste balances out savory flavors. It’s also a staple in tea and coffee for a refreshing, uplifting drink.
Mesquite Honey
In March in Arizona, mesquite trees bloom and produce a honey that is sweet with a hint of smoke. It has a very high wax content that makes it very spreadable. This honey is good for seasonal allergies and is delicious in homemade granola.
Mesquite is a tree native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. It is drought and frost tolerant, grows in a variety of soil types, and fixes 30-40 kg N/ha (Jarrell et al. 1982). It is widely used in alley cropping and windbreaks. It also serves as a food source for livestock. The pods are sweet and contain a high percentage of protein and fat. They can be ground into flour or used to make tempe and tofu (Felger, 1977).
We combine mesquite with wildflower and desert blend for a honey that is rich, mild, and very flavorful. The result is a great tasting blend that compliments a wide variety of foods.
Clover Honey
Clover honey is one of the most popular varieties available. In fact, if you look at the label on any bottle of honey, it will most likely say clover in some way (although not necessarily specifically which type). Clover is a common flower that blooms all through summer and makes an abundant amount of nectar, so bees love it. It is a very light color, ranging from white to a light amber shade and has a mild, sweet flavor with hints of grass or hay.
Its antimicrobial properties make it a great choice for dressing diabetic foot wounds because of its ability to kill bacteria and prevent infections (9). Clover honey also may help protect the brain against aging, thanks to its phenolic acid content.
If you’re unsure which honey is which in your cupboard, try the water test — put a spoonful of honey in a glass of water and shake it. Real honey won’t foam or dissolve, and it will have a distinct aroma.
Manuka Honey
Manuka blend honey is often used to treat colds, coughs, and sore throats. It has also been found to help with the healing of wounds. It contains a substance called methylglyoxal (MG), which gives it its antibacterial properties. It is also known to have antioxidant properties.
Many studies have shown that manuka honey is more effective against bacteria than regular honey. It inhibits the growth of all bacterial pathogens tested and can disperse and destroy pre-formed biofilms.
It has been shown to downregulate some of the most potent genes of the bacteria MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. It has also been shown to be effective against VRE (Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus) and ESBL (extended spectrum b-lactamase).
It has also been shown to improve oral health by reducing the buildup of plaque, gingivitis, and other periodontal diseases. It has even been shown to reduce the amount of Helicobacter pylori bacteria, which is linked to gastric ulcers.