While we tend to think of it as one product, it is easy to miss that there are several kinds of honey on the market. These tend to be classified as “different” because of the different types of flowers that nectar can be collected from by honeybees. This nectar is what helps them to secrete the honey when they are in the hive. Everything we enjoy about honey, including the texture, flavor, and medicinal properties in different types of honey, all largely come from the flowers that the bees pollinated. Learn about the many different types of honey by reading below.
Clover Honey
This type of honey is one of the most popular options in America. Interestingly, clover honey originally comes from Canada and New Zealand. Its flavor ranges from floral to sweet, along with a slightly sour aftertaste. While all types of honey significantly differ from one another, one type of honey can vary, especially if it is from different regions. This makes clover honey vary in flavor as it is harvested around many parts of the world. You might also notice differences of color. While some clover honey can appear amber, it can also appear the opposite, like water white. Use this honey while baking or in sauces and dressings. Clover honey also has high antioxidant properties, flavanols, and phenolic acids which are said to be good for your heart, lungs, and nervous system.
Buckwheat Honey
Buckwheat honey is often referred to as true American honey. It is produced in mostly northern states, with some of the biggest being New York and Ohio. Buckwheat honey tends to be a popular choice among many honey connoisseurs as it is full-bodied in flavor and dark brown in color, making it stand out from many other honeys. Buckwheat honey is also unique as it can be used in marinades to make meats more flavorful. It is also one of the best options for making the popular honey liquor known as mead. Some health benefits that come from this honey, aside from antioxidants, are its antibacterial properties. Other medicinal benefits include strength for treating sore throats, lowering cholesterol levels, and treating skin and wounds.
Acacia Honey
This honey has the common light amber color you expect when you think of traditional honey. Although its flavor is sweet with floral accents, it goes well in a tea or oatmeal as it compliments the taste rather than completely altering it. A major bonus of this honey is that its high in fructose and low in glucose. This makes it a great substitute for many unhealthy sugars as well as safe for people suffering from diabetes to enjoy. Acacia honey also carries high amounts of flavonoids, antioxidants, and ingredients that release hydrogen peroxide which is a strong antibacterial.
Manuka Honey
This is a very dark-colored honey that is rare, as it is only produced in New Zealand. The bees making this honey pollinate from the Tea Tree bush, which is native to that region, giving manuka honey its unique flavor and health properties. While its flavor is not cited as being one of the top reasons for its popularity, its medicinal qualities make it a highly sought-after product. Manuka honey has been shown to have abilities in treating wounds, burns, and different types of ulcers. It also works as an anti-inflammatory and can help treat irritable bowel syndrome, acne, and cystic fibrosis.
Wildflower Honey
This is one of the many different types of honey that is multi-floral, meaning it can be produced from nectar of several types of wildflowers. This also means that the flavor will commonly vary depending on the types of wildflowers and the region that they were pollinated in. “Light and fruity” is one of the frequent ways in which its flavor is described. Like many honeys, it contains antioxidants and cough- suppressant qualities. One of its most unique qualities is that it could benefit people who suffer from seasonal allergies, prompted from the same wildflowers the honey’s nectar comes from.
Tupelo Honey
Tupelo honey is said to be the sweetest of all types of honey. It is produced in the remote swamps of Florida and Georgia for a short season each year. This combined with the high labor and special equipment to produce it makes it one of the most expensive honeys in the world. You can recognize this by its light amber color mixed with hints of green. Tupelo honey has a high level of fructose, giving it not only its special sweetness, but also a longer shelf life before it starts to crystalize. Tupelo honey is used to make barbeque sauces as well as toppings for desserts like pies and ice cream.
Orange Blossom Honey
This honey is generally produced in warmer climates like southern California, Texas, and Florida. Originally produced in Spain and Mexico, orange blossom honey is light in tone, and carries a flavor with bursts of fruit and citrus. One issue with this product is the artificial additives that many untrustworthy manufacturers attempt to add to it. It’s best to only purchase this honey from a reliable producer that you would buy raw honey from on a regular basis. You also want to make sure to only get the most natural orange blossom honey as it is great for supporting your body’s immune system.
Linden Honey
Also known as lime honey in Europe where it is commonly produced, linden honey is known for its unique aroma that carries a hint of herbs. This honey is usually light-yellow in color, and light in texture. Unfortunately, linden honey is becoming harder to come by in recent years due to the high amount of harvesting of the tree in which it’s made from. If you are able to find this honey, save it for the next time you have a cold, as it has strong qualities that sooth bronchitis and detoxify your body. The calming effects from it have been known to help people fall sleep, making it a great choice of herbal tea to drink before going to bed.
