Different Types of Honey

Yes, Honey! No, not that type of honey, but there is a reason why we call people that way, to demonstrate a kind of sweetness that we feel towards them; but getting back on the subject did you know there are different types of honey? Real honey.

Honey is a kitchen staple and a universal food item that has numerous uses in the beauty and health industries as well. At least one type of honey is probably laying around at most people’s homes. Honey which is used to enhance the flavor of what you’re about to eat can be enjoyed by itself or in tons of other ways; as a great addition to numerous recipes. And it is also used in beauty products such as skin care treatments.

It has been around for thousands of years; for a long time, honey was mainly purchased for its fantastic sweet flavor but it’s been known that it also offers tons of health benefits. And what many don’t know is that there are a hundred different kinds, not just the one you use for your pancakes.

Get educated about them and get to know all the different types of honey and much more so you can get the best out of your honey needs at home.

Honey Nutritional Facts Chart

Honey has a slew of amazing benefits. It is known for holding antibacterial and anti-oxidizing properties, in addition, it is a natural source of energy.

Honey can help prevent acid reflux, alleviate allergies, and help reduce cough and throat irritation. It also possesses cancer-fighting properties and acts as an anti-inflammatory, furthermore, it helps boost memory.

Types Of Honey

You may be wondering how there can be so many types of honey since it is supposed to taste the same way, sweet! But actually, the main difference between types is due to the specific method of extraction and other variants.

Types of Honey By Processing Method

Pure Raw Honey

Raw honey offers a great taste regardless of how you decide to consume it; it is the one that is put on the market right after extracting it from the comb. In other words, it is not processed, making it the crudest type of honey. This means pure raw honey has no chemicals or any other preservatives reason why it is considered to have the highest medicinal value. Perhaps the only downside to raw honey is that since it is raw, people often find pollen or beeswax particles in their honey jar. So, if you are the organic type of person, this the ideal honey for you.

The taste of pure honey will differ, depending on the type of flowers the bees collected their nectar from.

Pasteurized Honey

Pasteurized honey means honey that has been processed or refined. It is warmed to easy extraction, most likely above 120 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition, it goes through a number of procedures to avoid bacteria. Compared to raw honey, pasteurized honey offers a lot fewer health benefits.

By Texture and Consistency

Comb Honey

This type of honey can be enjoyed in its natural form, it is marketed in its purest form instead of being extracted. It is sold as hexagonal-shaped beeswax cells which means that instead of using a spoon, you need to squeeze the honey out.

This type of honey is credited with helping lower bad cholesterol and its oxidation properties help strengthen the liver; that said excessive use is not encouraged.

Chunk Honey

Chunk honey is nothing more than the combination of combs of honey and honey in its liquid form put together in a jar.

Liquid Honey

This type of honey is the one you commonly found on the market shelves and the one most people consume. It is extracted from the honeycomb and later strained.

Creamed Honey 

This type of honey presents a semi-liquid form, this is the result of combining liquid honey and granulated honey. The blend is later stored at around 57 F until it reaches the desired consistency.

Giving its solid presentation, creamed honey is best enjoyed as a spreading and it’s also known as honey fondant, spoon honey and whipped or churned honey.

Granulated Honey

Granulated honey goes through a process called freeze-drying, in order to achieve a powdered consistency. Through this process, liquid honey is stripped from all water content. Though it may not be that common, it has tons of uses and can be added not only on teas or cakes but also in scrubs or hand creams.

By Nectar Source

Spring Honey

Spring honey is nothing more than honey that has been collected from fruits or fruits grown in this specific season, which includes; apples, pears, blueberries, tulips, lavenders, etc.

The result may vary, it can be honey with mild sweet flavor or tangy, or even citrusy it all depends on the origin. Since it has different variations, spring honey is ideal for desserts, herbal infusions, etc.

Meadow Honey

Meadow also presents different variations depending on the source of collection, it is the one harvested from natural beehives or bee farms -which offer different sources of vegetation giving place to the different tastes in meadow honey. It is said that farmers go to great lengths to ensure bees stay in one meadow.

Wildflower Honey

The flower source that is used to make this type of honey is not clearly defined, it is also called polyfloral honey which indicates that the honey collected derives from different sources that are found in the wild. This type of honey is found raw or pasteurized and is popular with people who are allergic to pollen. This type of honey offers a mild fruity taste which sometimes can be more intense.

Forest Honey

Also known as honeydew honey, this type, unlike the others, is not gathered or collected from flowers, instead, it comes from honeydew from the trees. Honeydew refers to the sap found in trees, which is then collected by bees and results in what is known as forest honey. This type of honey is produced in Mediterranean countries where it is shipped all over the world.

How to Keep Honey Fresh?

Honey shouldn’t be that big of a headache to keep in optimum shape since it only needs to be stored in your pantry at normal room temperature.

What you really don’t want to do is to expose it to heat and moisture, so it is suitable to look for a cool spot and obviously away from the kitchen stove.

In order to avoid moisture, make sure the container of your honey is tightly sealed at all times. Using a dry spoon to get some is recommendable.

How to Store Honey So It Stays Fresh For Longer

Honey is a no-brainer when it comes to keeping it in its optimum state. It doesn’t really need special storing other than finding a cool location and leaving it there.

Honey should be in a sealed container and away from sunlight. It is also suitable to keep honey in its original packaging though any plastic or glass jay, also works. Just stay clear from metal containers; these may oxidize.

Is not a requirement to refrigerate honey, although you can; however if you do, the chill climate will only make your honey solid and harder to manipulate.

This will only make it difficult for you to handle at the time you want to use it, you may even have to warm it up to get it back to its original form.

Can You Freeze All Types of Honey?

All types of honey may also be frozen, that said there’s really no need unless you want to end up with rock-solid honey in which case you’d have to warm it up to be able to use it properly.

If you must freeze your honey, then experts say it is a good idea to use glass jars or other glass containers.

What To Do With Honey Before It Goes Bad?

Honey has an impressive shelf life, it is said to be undefined thanks in part to the high sugar content. Producers suggest a date as far as two years on their labels.

That said, due to different manufacturing processes, you notice some changes in honey including a change in flavor, color and aroma and still, that is not to say that your honey has gone bad.

Check out below some of our favorite recipe ideas using honey. But one quick question, are there any other types of honey that you think we should have included?

Our Favorites And Easiest Honey Recipes

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