Types of Honey and Their Differences

Honey is a remarkable, natural product with a rich history and diverse uses. Join Gourmanity, curators of gourmet food products, to explore fascinating facts about honey, and learn about the different tastes, textures, and types of honey available. 

A Honey History

For thousands of years people have benefited from and enjoyed this liquid gold. The earliest records of organized beekeeping can be dated back to ancient Egypt. The Egyptians were the first to produce honey on a mass scale. They valued honey immensely, so much so that they used it as a form of payment. Records show that during that period, people invented extremely complex techniques to produce honey. Honey was used then, like it is now, as a natural sweetener and also as a healing device. Honey was the first and most commonly used sweetener worldwide. From being a sweet culinary delight to offering many health benefits and finding applications in many industries, honey remains a cherished and versatile gift from nature.

The Effect of The Pollination Process on Honey Types

To the untrained eye, all honeys - raw, organic and fake - look more or less the same. Interestingly enough, the pollination process will influence the unique flavor and color of the different kinds of honey. Long-tipped grains, for example, produce intense honey with a more complex flavor profile than short-tipped grains. The rosemary honey hosts a robust herbal flavor and aroma because bees collect pollen from the rosemary plant, and its appearance is lighter. In contrast, buckwheat’s appearance is darker and contains a distinctive smoky taste due to the type of pollen collected. Honey can have an assortment of flavors and aromas. The region you buy your honey in can also impact the taste and appearance.

Raw Honey vs Organic Honey

As a shopper, it may be dizzying to differentiate between the honey varieties. You may wonder, what is raw honey? How is it different to organic honey?

Raw honey: That jar labeled raw honey contains honey straight from the source. It comes directly from the honeycomb in the beehive without any filtering or pasteurization in the interim. It contains the most flavorful and nutritious pollen. This may be the best honey for you as it is honey in its purest form. While raw honey does crystalize faster than other kinds of honey of lesser quality, that does not mean it has gone bad and cannot be used again.

Organic honey: Although organic honey may sound like a very healthful option as well, it is hard to know for certain that it is actually as wholesome as it may seem. Organic honey means that the bees only pollinate organic flowers. It is quite difficult to ascertain this since it is nearly impossible to track the activities of every bee that contributes to the honey jar.  

Defining Different Kinds of Honey Using Your Senses

Just about anyone can appreciate each type of honey’s character. It is similar to becoming familiar with wines or cheeses. Here are some simple steps to help you familiarize yourself with the different honey varieties through your senses.

1. Observe the color of the honey. Try to use descriptions that the color reminds you of, such as “cocoa beans” or “a creamsicle”.
2.     Smell the honey. Does it smell a bit citrusy or like a bouquet of flowers? 
3.   Feel the texture. Is it light and runny or thick and creamy? Tropical honey is typically light and runny due to the raging humidity levels in their regions.  Desert wildflower honey though, is usually thicker and more difficult to extract.
4. Here’s the exciting part. Taste the honey. This is obviously the best way to become a true honey connoisseur. Take about half a teaspoon of honey and try it. Is it warm and super sweet? Or intense and acidic? Now you can mostly pick up on what you are eating. Lemon? Hazelnut? Caramel? Orange? Taste a few in a row in order to fully differentiate between the different types of honey.

A Sweet Selection of Honey Varieties

There are over 300 kinds of honey! Most of their names are derived from their nectar source. Let’s explore a few types of honey and acquire a bit of a taste and understanding for each.

Acacia Honey

Acacia Honey is derived from the nectar of the Robinia pseudoacacia flower, more commonly known as the black locust or false acacia tree. It is often much lighter in color, appearing almost transparent. It has a flower-like aroma and a sweet, delicate taste that can enhance a variety of dishes. It is rich in antioxidants which protect your cells from harmful free-radicals that contribute to disease. Flavonoids are the main antioxidant found in acacia honey and they reduce the risk of heart disease, chronic conditions and certain types of cancer. One test tube study even found that acacia honey effectively stopped the spread of lung cancer cells. It also may help wounds heal faster and prevent them from getting infected. Additionally, it can prevent and treat acne as it helps keep your skin free of bacteria. With the many acacia honey benefits, you may even find acacia honey as one of the ingredients in your premium skin creams and toners.

Lavender Honey

In recent years, Lavender Honey has become very popular in holistic healing due to its calming properties. Adding lavender honey to your nighttime tea or warm milk can help you relax and unwind from a long day. It serves as a natural remedy for anxiety and stress which we are all too familiar with in our fast-paced lives. Lavender honey has a light amber color and a floral, sweet scent. Its texture is smooth and it has a soft taste with hints of lavender. Think about the color lavender and what feelings it arouses. A sort of calming sensation, perhaps? A warm, relaxed state? Lavender honey can help you get into a peaceful frame of mind.

Manuka Honey

Renowned for its healing powers, Manuka Honey is not just the perfect sweetener; it has also become a form of antibiotics. It is made from tree tea which is a great healer due to its antiseptic properties. People traditionally use Manuka honey for wound healing, soothing sore throats, preventing tooth decay and improving digestive issues. Manuka honey typically has a richer, darker color. It still carries the delicate sweetness of the other types of honey mentioned but does have a bit more of an intensity; like a toffee, caramel flavor. Because of the high demand and low supply of this honey variety, ensure you are buying the real thing and not the many knock-offs out there.

Sage Honey

You may be familiar with Sage honey as it is a popular baking ingredient. It has a light color but is a bit denser. As mentioned earlier, raw honey tends to crystallize fast. Sage, however, takes longer to crystalize. It is often combined with other kinds of honey to prevent them from crystallizing too soon. Sage honey can be used to treat respiratory infections and is scientifically proven to help digestion. In the winter months, when many of us seek relief for our dry and chapped skin, sage honey can be used since it has proven to help with this issue as well.

Chestnut Honey

Chestnut Honey is dark and spicy with touches of smoke and leather. It varies in intensity of color and taste, depending on the kind of chestnut tree it comes from. Its aroma is strong and has a slightly more bitter taste than that of other honeys.  It is a source of protein and contains vitamins B and C. Its iron content is also much higher than other honey types. Chestnut honey is also used in cosmetics, thanks to its moisturizing elements. It is used as an ingredient in body lotions and better hair products.

Orange Blossom Honey

Twisting and turning at night? Try two tablespoons of Orange Blossom honey! Orange blossom honey helps promote sleep as it is a natural tranquilizer. When extracted, it is a light amber color although as it crystallizes, its color lightens until it is a yellowish-white. This honey is made from the nectar of citrus trees such as orange and lemon and is light, citrusy and sweet. It is a very aromatic and smooth honey. Orange blossom honey helps prevent colds and sore throats. After you finish an exercise routine, you may want to take a bit of this type of honey as it prevents and eases cramps.

Clover Honey

Clover honey, the most popular amongst these honey types, is sweet and has a mildly floral taste with a hint of cinnamon. It is thick and creamy made by honeybees that collect the nectar of clover plants. Clover honey is light in color compared to darker kinds of honey such as Manuka. The reason it is so popular is of course because it is so widely available. Clover plants are weather-hardy and a preferred nectar source for bees. Check out the bottle of your cough and cold medicine and you may find clover honey as one of the ingredients.  

Sweeten Your Day With Your Best Type of Honey  

When it comes to nature’s golden nectar, there’s more than meets the eye. While the honey aisle may have many different shaped jars there are even more different kinds of honey itself. Raw honey comes in many colors, textures and tastes and benefits us tremendously. This winter enjoy your cup of tea with whichever premium quality type of honey you choose. Check out Gourmanity’s hand-picked, best honey products that will certainly soothe, heal and prove to be delicious.

FAQ’s About Different Types of Honey:

Why should I choose premium quality raw honey over regular, pasteurized honey?

You might be surprised to learn that most of the kinds of honey you see in your local market are heat treated and processed. All the healthy enzymes, minerals and antioxidants are lost.  Raw honey, however, is pure, unadulterated and comes straight from the beehive to the jar.

Why does raw honey crystallize?

It may seem intuitive to assume crystallized honey to mean it has expired or gone bad but this is not the case. Crystallization happens over time to raw, pure honey and essentially helps preserve the honey’s nutrients and quality. Usually honey contains at least 70 percent carbohydrates and less than 20 percent water. This is more sugar than can naturally be dissolved. Therefore, crystals begin to form. The higher the percentage of glucose the honey contains the faster it crystallizes.

Does raw honey spoil?

Raw honey does not expire the same way other foods do. Thanks to its low moisture content and acidic pH, it has natural preservative properties that inhibit the growth of bacteria. When stored properly in a sealed container at room temperature, raw honey can remain stable indefinitely.

About the Author

Hannah is Gourmanity’s creative designer, crafting elegant visuals that reflect our commitment to quality. With a passion for storytelling and a sharp eye for detail, Hannah brings our brand to life through thoughtful design and fabulous blog writing.