The Ultimate Guide To Buying Honey

Honey, also known as nature's liquid gold, created by bees regurgitating nectar, has captivated humanity for millennia. Revered not only for its delicious sweetness, and as a calorie-dense energy source, honey has also been cherished for its many remarkable health benefits. Whether drizzling it over toast, stirring it into tea, using it in baking, or incorporating it into a self-care routine for its soothing properties, honey offers unique versatility, flavor, and natural healing.

In fact, honey's significance dates back to ancient civilizations. Evidence of honey's time-tested value is found in the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs, where pots of honey were discovered sealed within burial chambers. Remarkably, some of these containers were perfectly preserved and safe to consume literally after thousands of years. This speaks not only to honey's enduring shelf life but to its revered status across cultures. Indeed, honey was seen as a sacred substance in India as well, associated with health, longevity, and used for divine offerings.

But with so many varieties of honey on the market today, how do you choose the right one for your needs? In this ultimate guide, we'll dive into the different aspects of buying honey, from understanding labels and identifying quality to exploring ethical sourcing practices. Additionally, we'll uncover the diverse uses of honey and provide you with insights to make informed choices based on your personal preferences and health goals. Whether you're a honey connoisseur or a newcomer, we're here to help you navigate the sweet world of honey.

When you walk down the honey aisle at your local grocer, you'll see an array of claims on the labels. These may seem like nothing more than marketing hype, but understanding what terms mean is crucial for selecting the right honey for your needs.

One of the most important distinctions is the difference between pasteurized and raw honey. While both types start as nectar collected by bees, the processing methods vary significantly. Raw honey is minimally filtered to remove debris, but otherwise, it's left in its natural state. This allows raw honey to retain much of its beneficial enzymes, antioxidants, and nutrients, making it a healthier choice. On the other hand, pasteurized honey is heated to high temperatures to kill yeast and prevent crystallization. While this process gives pasteurized honey a smoother texture and extended shelf life, it also destroys beneficial nutrients and enzymes, diminishing its potential health benefits.

As Matt Zirkle, a beekeeper in his fifth season with 50 hives in the Stevenson/Carson, WA, area, explains, "Enzymes in honey are of benefit to humans. The bees are responsible for adding the enzymes — they add them in the process of turning collected plant nectar into honey. If you consume pasteurized honey, you don't get any of the enzymes. During pasteurization, all the enzymes in the honey have been killed. If you buy raw honey, the enzymes in the honey should be intact."

In addition to the distinctions between raw and pasteurized honey, there are a few more terms to understand when navigating the honey market. "Filtered" means that the honey has undergone an additional filtration process to remove smaller particles such as fine bits of wax, bee parts, and pollen. This results in a clearer, smoother product that is more visually appealing to many consumers. While this process enhances the honey's appearance and texture, it can also strip away some of the beneficial pollen that raw honey retains. Many honey enthusiasts appreciate local pollen for its health benefits, including its anti-inflammatory properties and allergy support. While filtered honey has a longer shelf life, it may not offer the same health benefits as unfiltered, raw honey.

"Wildcrafted" refers to honey harvested from bees that collect nectar from wildflowers in natural, heterogenous landscapes rather than from agricultural crops. The bees' exposure to a broad variety of wild plants often results in honey with a unique flavor profile, which can vary significantly depending on the specific flowers, trees, and environmental conditions in the area. This honey may offer a more complex taste, with subtle notes that differ from honey made from cultivated monocrops. Wildcrafted honey is often sought after for its distinct flavor and connection to pristine natural environments, but is more difficult to find, and often carries a higher price tag due to its limited availability, and the challenges involved in sourcing it.

Understanding honey labeling, particularly regulated certifications like USDA Organic and Fair Trade, is essential for consumers seeking ethically produced and sustainably sourced products. USDA Organic certification ensures that the honey is produced without using synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Bees must forage on flowers from land free from chemicals for at least three years and the honey must be processed to avoid contaminants. This label assures consumers that the honey is environmentally friendly and that the bees' natural habitat is preserved.

On the other hand, Fair Trade certification focuses on the ethical side of honey production. It guarantees that the honey is sourced from producers who are paid fair wages, work under safe conditions, and have access to community development programs. Fair Trade ensures that small-scale farmers and cooperatives in developing countries receive a fair price for their honey, helping them to improve their livelihoods and invest in their communities.

By choosing honey with these certifications, consumers can support more sustainable agricultural practices, promote fair labor standards, and reduce their environmental impact. These labels provide transparency and help people make purchasing decisions that align with their values of health, sustainability, and social responsibility.

One of the biggest concerns when buying honey is ensuring to get pure, high-quality honey. Unfortunately, the market is flooded with diluted or adulterated honey, often mixed with additives to cut costs. As another beekeeper (who preferred to stay anonymous) we spoke to remarked, "I do find it interesting that much mass-produced honey is bought as commodities, mixed together based on price concerns, and frequently supplemented with sugar waters or syrups. If possible, getting an accurate understanding of the honey source is key. This is much like olive oils, mass purchased, mixed, and supplemented with other cheaper oils to be sold."

To get authentic honey, there are several factors to consider. First, price is often a good indicator. Pure honey is typically more expensive than its adulterated counterparts. While a high price doesn't always guarantee purity, an unusually low price should raise suspicion. Another clue lies in crystallization, as pure honey naturally crystallizes over time. This process occurs because honey is a supersaturated sugar solution. If your honey stays liquid for an extended period, it may have been diluted. A simple water test can also help: when adding a spoonful of honey to a glass of water, real honey will settle at the bottom, while diluted honey will dissolve. Lastly, taste and aroma play an important role. Genuine honey has a rich, floral aroma and a complex, layered taste. If it tastes overly sweet or lacks depth, it's likely been altered.

When purchasing honey, the saying "you get what you pay for" holds true. Pure, high-quality honey is labor-intensive to produce, which is why it often comes at a higher price tag than mass-produced alternatives. Several factors influence the cost of honey. For instance, specialty honey like Manuka or Acacia are typically more expensive due to their unique properties and the specialized methods used to source them.

Additionally, certified honey — such as those marked organic or Fair Trade — tend to carry a higher price tag due to the extra standards and regulations required for certification. As Zirkle explains, labeling honey as organic is "a tough one," since bees can travel up to three miles. Meaning, you'd need to ensure that all nectar sources within that radius were certified organic.

Packaging also plays a role in the price of honey. Premium honey is often sold in glass containers, which can add to the cost. Zirkle suggests paying extra for honey packaged in glass is worth it. He points out, "Glass is the best container for honey, as honey is acidic and can absorb particles from plastic or metal containers, potentially affecting its quality."

While paying more doesn't always guarantee the best honey, it's important to be cautious of exceptionally cheap honey that seems too good to be true. When in doubt, it's wise to choose reputable raw honey brands or local beekeepers who can offer transparency about their production processes.

It's important to consider the ethical and sustainability aspects of honey production before purchase. The commercial honey industry has come under scrutiny in recent years due to concerns over the treatment of bees, the environmental impact of large-scale beekeeping practices, and the methods used to maintain bee populations.

One significant challenge facing honeybees today is the Varroa mite, a parasitic mite that weakens bees by feeding on their bodily fluids and spreading diseases. As Zirkle notes, "Varroa mites are a huge problem to honeybees. All beekeepers should treat their bees to combat Varroa mites with organic solutions like formic acid, oxalic acid, or thymol instead of synthetic miticides. Beeswax will absorb the synthetic miticides but not the organic solutions." Sustainable beekeepers prioritize natural, organic treatments to protect bees and the honey they produce. By avoiding synthetic chemicals, they ensure that honey remains pure and that the bees' environment stays healthy.

Another issue in the commercial honey industry is the large-scale transportation of bees. Each February, 80-90% of the commercial honeybees in the U.S. are transported to California to pollinate the almond crops. As the beekeeper explains, "All those bees in one place, pesticides, etc doesn't seem sustainable to me." Transporting bees across long distances exposes them to environmental stress, pesticides, and the potential for disease transmission. This practice can negatively impact bee populations and raises concerns about the long-term sustainability of such intensive, centralized pollination efforts.

When choosing between local and international honey, there are distinct pros and cons. Local honey is often prized for its traceability. Since it's produced nearby, it supports local beekeepers and helps sustain regional ecosystems. Many people prefer local honey for its potential health benefits, including allergy relief, as it contains pollen from plants in the area, which can help build immunity to local allergens. Additionally, local honey typically undergoes less processing, preserving natural enzymes and nutrients. The downside of local honey, however, is that it may be less consistently available year-round, and its quality may fluctuate due to seasonal and regional factors.

On the other hand, international honey is typically consistently available year-round. It's often sourced from China, which has large-scale commercial beekeeping operations and can produce honey in larger quantities, and at a lower cost. This can make international honey more affordable and accessible in markets where local honey isn't available. The downside of international honey, however, is that it may be heavily processed, adulterated, and diluted to achieve a consistent product for the commodity market. 

Additionally, concerns about sustainability practices, such as the use of pesticides and unethical beekeeping methods, can arise with large-scale commercial production. Be mindful of the environmental impact of transporting honey across long distances. Ultimately, the choice depends on your priorities whether supporting local businesses and enjoying pure honey or opting for the affordability that international honey can offer.

Honey comes in a wide array of flavors, each influenced by the nectar the bees collect. The taste of honey can differ based on the flowers the bees visit, the region they're from, and even the time of year. A good rule of thumb is that the color of honey often correlates with its flavor. Lighter honeys, such as clover or meadowfoam, usually have a mild, delicate taste with subtle floral or fruity notes. These honey varieties are perfect when a gentler flavor is preferred.

Conversely, darker honey, like buckwheat or smokey chestnut honey, tend to have a richer, more robust flavor with earthy or malty undertones. The deeper color typically indicates a higher mineral content, which contributes to the stronger taste. While this rule isn't absolute, it's a helpful way to predict the flavor profile based on color.

Zirkle shares, "Personally, I like lighter honey with a milder taste. But darker honey contains more minerals. The minerals are what darken honey. So the really light and clear honey has a low mineral content." Lighter honey are more delicate in flavor, while darker varieties offer a deeper, more robust taste, often with higher mineral content. Choosing between light and dark honey ultimately depends on your taste preferences and how you plan to use it.

For tea, lighter honey like acacia or orange blossom are ideal, while stronger-flavored varieties are great for adding depth to baked goods.

As discussed, different types of honey are suited for various uses, each offering unique flavors and benefits depending on the application. For tea or beverages, lighter, milder honey like clover or acacia are ideal. These varieties blend seamlessly into hot drinks, providing a delicate sweetness without overpowering the flavor of the tea or coffee. However, it's important to note that heating raw honey destroys its enzymes, reducing its health benefits.

For baking, darker honey such as buckwheat or chestnut are often preferred, as their stronger flavors hold up well in recipes like bread, cakes, and marinades. While they contribute a rich depth of flavor, the heat involved in baking can also degrade the beneficial enzymes in raw honey, diminishing its nutritional value.

When it comes to health and medicinal uses, raw honey is the best choice due to its natural antimicrobial and healing properties. Raw honey has been used for centuries to treat wounds, burns, and skin infections, as its enzymes create hydrogen peroxide when in contact with moisture, aiding the healing process. However, raw honey may be more prone to crystallization over time, making it less convenient. In skincare, raw honey is highly valued for its hydrating and antibacterial properties, often found in face masks and lotions. While effective, raw honey can be messy and sticky to apply. Each type of honey has its pros and cons, so the best choice depends on the intended use and personal preferences.

By now, we hope you understand that selecting the right honey goes far beyond choosing the one with the sweetest taste or prettiest label. From understanding terminology and distinguishing pure honey from adulterated products to considering ethical sourcing and sustainability, every decision you make impacts not only your health but also the well-being of the bees that produce it. 

Whether you prefer raw honey for its health benefits, are seeking local honey for allergy relief, or want to support sustainable beekeeping practices, your choices can help shape a healthier future for both consumers and the environment. As the bee population faces mounting challenges, it's more important than ever to support responsible beekeepers who prioritize the health of their bees and the quality of their products.

Next time you buy honey (here are eight honeys we know and love), take a moment to reflect on its rich history and the vital role bees play in our ecosystem. Honey has long been regarded as a sacred food, revered for its sweetness, healing properties, and deep connection to nature. By choosing honey with mindfulness and intention, we honor the age-old tradition of respecting this natural gift. By being mindful of what you buy, you not only continue this time-honored tradition but also contribute to a more sustainable and ethical future for our pollinator friends, the bees.