Honey is known by all today, there’s no denying that. Nature’s natural sweetener, honey is known to be the only food product which does not get spoiled. This is because of its low moisture content.
We all know where honey comes from, but do you know how many types of honey there is in the world? In this blog, we’re going to learn about the different types of honey and what makes them different from one another.
What is Honey? Honey vs Sugar: Replacing Sugar with Honey
Honey Nutrition
Honey as a natural food product is packed with tons of health and nutritional benefits. For instance, one tablespoon of honey contains about 60+ calories.
Honey is primarily composed of natural sugars such as glucose, fructose, and sucrose. These natural sugars, when taken in decent doses, are beneficial for the proper functioning of the body.
Honey is a powerhouse of health benefits, some of which are listed below:
- Amino acids
- Antioxidants
- Minerals
- Flavonoids
- Enzymes
The presence of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties in honey is beneficial as it helps reducing the number of free radicals in the body, thereby reducing the risk of chronic illnesses, and also regulating cardiovascular activities such as blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure.
Herbal honey or infusions
When it comes to amplifying the benefits of pure, raw honey, nothing comes close to herbal honey or honey infusions. One of the best ways to capitalize on honey benefits is to incorporate herbs and spices into your honey.
Herbal honeys or infusions are made from herbs and spices such as ginger, turmeric, and these infusions offer a wide range of benefits from treat common cold and cough improving overall immunity.
Types of Honey: How many are there?
When it comes to the source of nectar, honey is divided into two types— unifloral and multifloral honey. Unifloral honey is collected form single flower, whereas the latter is honey which is collected by bees from different flowers.
As for the different types of honey varieties out there, it is believed that there are over 300 varieties. Now we cannot possibly list down each and every variety on paper, here are 10 of the most popular honey varieties which are available throughout the world.
- Orange Blossom
- Manuka honey
- Alfalfa honey
- Acacia honey
- Buckwheat honey
- Clover honey
- Tupelo honey
- Eucalyptus honey
- Sage honey
- Wildflower honey
Now for the purpose of this blog we are going to talk about 5 of the main honey varieties and what makes them unique and different from one another.
Orange Blossom Honey
Orange Blossom honey is one of the many sought after honey varieties in the world. This particular honey comes from the nectar of orange trees hence the name orange blossom. It is relatively thick and has a more lighter shade of colour, almost amber like. Its flavour can be described as citrusy with a hint of fruitiness.
Although most honey varieties have their equal share of antioxidants, Orange blossom honey is known to have an edge over other honey varieties. This is good, as it lowers the risk of cell damage and reduces the chances of chronic illness.
Orange Blossom honey has high glucose content which makes it easily susceptible to crystallization.
Manuka Honey
Among the different types of honey available in the market, Manuka honey is known to be one of the most expensive honey varieties in the world. It is also considered to be very rare as it comes from the flower Leptospermum scoparium (also known as Manuka), which is a species only native to New Zealand. This honey is known to be more earthy, viscous, and richer than most honeys.
Manuka honey has been extensively used in the health and beauty industry as a result of its high antibacterial and antioxidant properties. It is also known to be extremely effective in treating wounds.
Alfalfa Honey
Alfalfa honey is a type of honey which is derived from the flowering plant of Medicago sativa, or Alfalfa. Although the United States is predominantly the leading producer of Alfalfa in the world, this perennial flowering plant is grown as a forage crop.
Alfalfa honey has a flavour which is not overpowering as compared to other honey varieties. It also has a somewhat grassy and vanilla hint to it too.
Alfalfa honey is also packed with antioxidants, but the unique aspect of this particular honey is the presence of the compound Fructooligosaccharide, which is known to be very beneficial in aiding gastrointestinal function.
Acacia Honey
Visually, if you were to look for most perfect looking jar of honey, then you’d definitely lock your eyes on a bottle of Acacia honey. This light amber honey has a very distinctive taste which does not feel overpowering at all.
This source of this honey is actually interesting as most people think it comes from the acacia trees, when in reality, it is derived from the black locust tree. The black locust tree is often described as “false acacia” tree, which comes from the same plant family.
Acacia honey is known to be high in flavonoids and antioxidants as with the different types of honey available in the market. It is also known to reduce blood pressure and increase hemoglobin levels in the body.
Wildflower Honey
Wildflower honey is considered to be multifloral in nature as it is made from the nectar of different flowering plants and trees. Depending on the nectar, the taste and colour of this honey varies accordingly. The unique aspect about this particular type of honey is the fact that it is actually pretty wild. Flowers that grow in the wild, without deliberate cultivation, are often the source of nectar for this honey.
As for its health benefits, wildflower honey also has its share of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It is very much useful in treating common cold and cough and proves to be as equally efficient in aiding digestion.
Would you like to know where Zizira’s Wildflower honey comes from?