Exploring Honey Varieties

"Half knowledge is worse than ignorance" , to get best out of a something you should know all about it. let us start with THE LIQUID GOLD, honey is the best food men ever tasted. Depends on region and floral source, there are hundreds varieties of honey across the world. Each variety has its own texture, taste, color and flavor. Honey can be classified on the basis of country, region, processing, treatment, certification, filtration, healing properties, color, taste, flavor etc. Australian, New Zealand, American, British, Indian and Hungarian are famous for the land they came from, here is some of most famous honey that everyone should have a taste.

ACACIA

Acacia, a light amber textured honey made of nectar sourced from Robinia pseudo acacia, that is usually referred to as Black Locust, native to southeastern united states. it's one of the most widespread and sweetest honey varieties owing to its mild delicate floral taste. It can stay in a liquid state for an extended period of time thanks to its high concentration of fructose. because of its low sucrose content, it's a good alternative for diabetics. best-known for its therapeutic action, Acacia cleanses the liver, regulates the intestine, and is anti-inflammatory for the respiratory system. This honey is great for sweetening without neutering the taste or the aroma of beverages.

ALFALFA

Alfalfa honey, made extensively throughout Canada and the united states from the purple or blue blossoms, is light in color with a delicate spicy profile and gently scented floral aroma. Its delicate nature does not overpower other flavors, making it a favorite choice for chefs for baked foods and a fine table honey for tea lovers. Not as sweet as most honey sorts, it's a most popular choice for combining with different ingredients or enjoying straight from the jar.

ASTER

A distinctively sweet smelling, full bodied floral varietal, Aster honey is copious in the Mid-South united states. it's light in color and prone to crystallize quickly. comparatively thick and sleek in consistency, this aromatic honey is a favorite choice for eating straight sort of a candy.

AVOCADO

Its name is a misnomer. Avocado honey tastes nothing like the fruit, avocado. Collected from the California avocado blossoms, avocado honey is dark in color and contains a fairly made and buttery flavor. This honey originated in Southern Mexico and is currently a common crop in Central America, Australia and other tropical regions.

BASSWOOD

Produced from the cream-colored Basswood blossoms found throughout North America, Basswood honey is one among the few exceptional honey varieties that features a light color and yet robust biting flavor and a distinctive lingering flavor. It's somewhat fresh, pleasant "woody" scent is incredibly sensible with teas like earl grey and works well for salad dressings and marinades.

BEECHWOOD

Beechwood honey, also popularly referred to as honeydew honey, is sourced from New Zealand's South Island. it's a unprecedented varietal that comes from the sap made by aphids on the bark of beechwood trees and picked up by bees. an aromatic, dark amber honey, it's usually mixed into smoothies, sauces, and used as sweet drizzle for pancakes and fruits. This honey is also a preferred supplement for improving the body's immunity and digestive system.

BLUEBERRY

Produced in new England and in Michigan, Blueberry honey is taken from the small white flowers of the blueberry bush. it's usually light amber in color, features a pleasant flavor, a slight tang, and a blueberry aftertaste. a decent table honey.

BLUE GUM

Blue Gum, a Eucalyptus honey specie, grows in South Australia and Tasmania. It honey is amber in color and dense in texture. Delicious on toast and wafers, this varietal is popularly used as a breakfast or ice-cream drizzle. blue gum honey is a must-try for people who love the Eucalyptus range of honey. Its delicate cool, minty undertone reminds the blue chewing gum that children love to chew.

BUCKWHEAT

Buckwheat honey is made in minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin as well as in eastern Canada. It is dark, rich, and rich in iron -- a key reason that it's popular with honey lovers. Buckwheat honey has been found to contain more antioxidant compounds than some lighter honeys. it's perhaps the strongest and darkest of honey varieties. Most experts recommend using a strong-tasting variety of honey, like buckwheat for mead production. while it's a very well-liked variety in Europe, not all Asians habituate well to its strong aroma and thus several suppliers don't seem to be too fond to import it.

CLOVER

Originating from Canada and New zealand, clover honey is one among the most widely available and well-liked honey varieties. counting on the location and supply, clover honey varies in color from water white to totally different tones of amber. white clover in particular is grown as a widespread blooming pasture crop and is a major nectar supply in several parts of the globe. a favorite varietal of many honey lovers, this classic honey includes a pleasingly delicate, floral sweetness that's simply accepted and the most distinctive characteristic of this honey is its lingering hint of sour aftertaste. an ideal ingredient for light sauces, salad dressings and baking!

DANDELION

Harvested from New Zealand's south island, dandelion honey is a comparatively strong honey mixed with mild tangy notes. This dark amber honey delivers a distinct floral aroma of dandelions which are is traditionally prized as a medicinal herb in China, Tibet and India for its broad spectrum of powerful healing properties. great tasting by itself, it's best consumed straight from the spoon.

EUCALYPTUS

Eucalyptus honey comes from one among the larger plant genera, containing over five hundred distinct species and lots of hybrids. Its country of origin is Australia however is also produced largely in California. widely available, it varies greatly in color and flavor but tends to possess a special herbal flavor carrying a touch of menthol that may not be most pleasing to children's palate. This honey is traditionally used by many people as a protection against colds and headaches.

FIREWEED

One of the most standard honeys, Fireweed comes from a tall perennial herb grown in the open woods of North West United States. light in color, it's its own means of being sweet and complex at the same time. it's a unprecedented smooth, delicate, and buttery taste that is great for gourmet cooking, baking, glazing, BBQ grilling, meat & fish smoking.

HEATHER

Thick, amber in color, Heather honey has one of the strongest and most pungent flavors. it's aromatic and floral with a very lingering aftertaste that's nearly bitter. it's normally served with ham, chicken, lamb, seafood and cold dishes and goes well with strong, black coffee. Prized since ancient times because of its medicinal properties, Heather honey is extremely high in protein content.

IRON BARK

Iron bark is a extremely favored, premium Eucalyptus floral variety (Eucalyptus crebra) which blossoms throughout the year in eastern Australia. Amber in color and dense, this honey is a favorite flavor enhancer in baking. Its slight nutty aroma makes a delicious addition to a smoothie and a decent glaze for barbecued meats.

JARRAH

Jarrah honey (Eucalyptus Marginata) is exclusive to western australia. it's dark amber in color andfeatures a distinct and bolder Eucalyptus honey taste which is typically delineated as the caramelaftertaste. Jarrah honey has been much scientifically researched and found to have a better share of activity level than regular honey, making it a well known alternative for treating wounds, burns and skin infections. it's been rumored that some Manuka honey from New zealand cannot even match the high activity levels of Jarrah honey.

LEATHERWOOD

Leatherwood honey comes from the leatherwood blossom -- a native eucalypt found in the south-west of Tasmania, Australia and is the source for 70th of the country's honey. Established worldwide as a distinct honey kind and a fine gourmet product, Leatherwood honey features a unique style and robust floral flavor. Its distinctive spicy flavor makes it a wonderful spread on wheat toast, and a perfect ingredient in recipes as it not only sweetens but adds an amazing aroma to cakes, muffins, coffee and tea.

LINDEN

The small-leaved linden tree which grows in moist, clay soil and has clusters of little, yellow-white musky flowers hanging from slender stems, is common throughout Denmark. It's planted in gardens, parks and along road sides, city streets and boulevards. Linden honey is one among those honey varieties that may utterly change the misconception of those who think that honey is just sugary water. it's a light yellow color and a very distinctive yet delicate fresh woody scent. due to its sedative and antiseptic qualities. it's recommended in cases of anxiety and insomnia, whereby honey are often combined with a bath of linden blossoms before sleep. Linden honey is also employed in the treatment of colds, cough and bronchitis.

MACADAMIA

Sourced from the floral nectar of the macadamia nut tree, macadamia Honey first originated in Australia and these days is also provided from the united states. This deeply colored honey variety possesses particular, complex aroma and a refined nutty flavor that goes very well with fruit and vegetable salads, ice-cream, toasts and herbal tea, and is a delicious infuse or glaze for grilled chicken wings as well.

MANUKA

Found only in New Zealand's costal areas, Manuka honey is collected from the flower of the Tea Tree bush. The Unique Manuka factor (UMF) found in some Manuka honey is an antibacterial property which is particularly effective for healing of stomach ulcer, sore throats, colds, indigestion, acne and pimples. Some people find Manuka honey too "medicinal" in taste but as mentioned, the intensity can vary from brand to brand because of the difference in source. the best is to eat it direct straight from the spoon! 

NEEM

Bitter-tasting neem honey is made from the nectar source of neem (also referred to as margosa Tree) flowers which are common in warm tropical countries like India. extremely valued in Ayurveda for its medicinal properties, neem honey is known to be effective in lowering high blood pressure, treating diabetes, skin problems, dental diseases, infected throat, and allergies.

ORANGE BLOSSOM

Orange blossom honey, usually a mix of citrus sources, is usually light in color and mild in flavor with afresh fruity scent, and a fragrant citrus taste. Orange blossom honey originated from Spain/ Mexico, however this honey is made in several countries including Florida, Southern California and Texas.

PUMPKIN BLOSSOM

From the natural nectars of the Pumpkin Blossoms and harvested once a year within the early fall, Pumpkin Blossom honey is a dark amber-colored liquid with a light floral fragrance. As a specialty gourmet varietal, it's an incredibly suitable topping for dishes and desserts and works well when paired with savory or spicy ingredients, like a barbeque sauce. when drizzled on sweet potatoes, food and desserts, it also tastes great. Contrary to what its name suggests, Pumpkin honey doesn't taste like pumpkin pie at all. This honey is seasonal and limited because the bloom is short and doesn't produce abundant nectar.

RAINFOREST

This honey variety features a full body and a light fresh, floral aroma, but  its taste can vary a great deal depending on the source of nectar - for instance it could originate from the rainforest trees of Brazil, Australia, Tasmania, Thailand, the US, etc. one of the most favorite floral varieties among the kids, it's usually used as a breakfast jam or mixed into a honey drink. it's popularly employed in cooking and baking and hailed as a wonderful sauce ingredient.

RATA

Produced from the west coast of new Zealand's south island, Rata honey is a light color, buttery sleek varietal that has impressed several serious honey enthusiasts. it's a mild, delicate taste and yet very memorable, pleasantly sweet aroma. Rata honey features a comparatively high glucose content. It crystallizes quickly and thus is typically processed into a cream honey. when mixed with water, it makes an absolutely delicious, soothing tonic with a fruity hint.

RED GUM

Red Gum is a common eucalypt found in Australia that produces one among the darker premium varieties of honey. Having a comparatively higher level of antioxidants compared to the rest, red gum honey features a thick constituency, a bold taste (like buckwheat honey) and a distinctive aroma. it is also a favorite ingredient in bread baking and meat marinades.

REWAREWA

Full bodied and malty, Rewarewa honey comes from a bright red needle-like flowers grown in the bushy hills and valleys of new Zealand. This classic dark red premium honey possesses a caramel-like and slightly burnt flavor that makes it well-liked natural sweetener for warm drinks and a spread. it's ideal for both sweet and savory dishes and is well-known for use in oriental dishes.

PINE TREE

Pine Tree honey (sometimes also referred to as forest honey, fir honey, honeydew or tea tree honey) consists of the bulk of the total honey production in Greece. it's not significantly sweet, tastes a bit bitter, features a strong aroma, and is comparatively rich in minerals and proteins. it's rather resistant to crystallization.

SOURWOOD

Contrary to its name, sourwood honey isn't sour, but sweet like any honey. This pastel, delicate, subtle honey has an nearly caramel or buttery flavor, and a pleasant, lingering aftertaste. With this honey, you do not need any more butter on your biscuits or bread!

SAGE

Sage Honey, primarily made in California, is light in color, heavy bodied and has a delicate but pleasant flavor. it's very slow to granulate, making it a favorite honey variety among honey packers for blending with different honeys to slow down granulation.

TAWARI

Originating from the creamy white flowers of new Zealand's Tawari trees, this honey has a golden color and a creamy butterscotch flavor. thus subtle and delicate, it is a perfect chef choice for topping desserts such as pancakes, waffles or ice-cream.

TUPELO

Named as the "champagne of honeys", "Queen of honey", "Southern Gold", Tupelo honey is a premium honey produced in the Southeastern U.S. swamps. it's usually light golden amber with a faint greenish glow, and features a mild, distinctive taste. thanks to its high fructose content, Tupelo honey is one of the sweetest honey varieties and it hardly granulates.

WILDFLOWER

Also referred to as "multifloral" or "mixed floral" honey, wildflower is usually used to describe honey varieties from miscellaneous and undefined flower sources. Its color can vary from very to dark and flavor range from light and fruity to tangy and rich, depending on the mix from the various seasonal wildflowers.

YELLOW BOX

Yet another eucalyptus bush variety (Eucalyptus melliodora) native to Australia, yellow box honey is one of the most highly regarded honey in the country (in terms of taste). Its sleek texture, heavy-bodied yet delicate Eucalyptus mix also make it a well-liked alternative for adding to tea and coffee, baking and an ideal drizzle for puffs, cakes and bread. This honey is slow to granulate.