Editor’s note: Recent visit to the hamlet of Julian, east of
San Diego, found me in a shop that sold an endless variety of honey. Staff was too bee-zee to explain the
difference from sage or avocado honey so I found the nearest blog expert to
‘splain it to us.
GUEST BLOG/By Ruth Tan--Honey buffs like me are always eager
to discover new honey varieties and understand their characteristics and
nuances so as to be able to cleverly use and apply them for different food
combinations. With hundreds of distinct varietals in some countries,
discovering the different aromatic flavors of honey is an exciting never-ending
journey. I don't think I'm not an expert in tasting honey yet, nevertheless I
love to figure and differentiate the subtle flavors among the varietals. I've
experienced dozens and dozens of distinct floral varietals from the shops,
online stores, direct from the farms when I travel. Thanks to my friends, they
have also brought me honey samples back from countries they visit, such as
Bulgaria, Romanai, Sweden, Estonia, Uganda, etc. Many varieties are somehow
unavailable in this part of the world that I live in. Here's an account on some
of the varieties of honey that I have tasted and learned about (not in order of
my preference but in alphabetical order):
Sources:
http://www.benefits-of-honey.com/about-me.html
ACACIA
Acacia honey is made from nectar collected from Acacia tree blossoms,
which produce a honey that is remarkably clear and pure. It is one of the most
popular and sweetest honey varieties because of its mild delicate floral taste.
It can remain in a liquid state for a long period of time due to its high
concentration of fructose. Because of its low sucrose content, it is a great
choice for diabetics. Known for its therapeutic action, Acacia cleanses the
liver, regulates the intestine, and is anti-inflammatory for the respiratory
system. This honey is excellent for sweetening without altering the taste or
the aroma of beverages. Personally, I love to use this honey in my tea. It's so
mild that it doesn't affect the tea's aroma, which you would want to retain.
Also, kids love this honey. Its sweetness also perfectly balances the salty
tang of cheese.
ALFALFA
Alfalfa honey, produced extensively throughout Canada and
the United States from the purple or blue blossoms, is light in color with a
subtle spicy profile and mildly scented floral aroma. Its delicate nature
doesn't overpower other flavors, making it a favorite choice for chefs for
their baked foods and a fine table honey for tea lovers. Not as sweet as most
honey types, it is a preferred choice for combining with other ingredients or
enjoying straight from the jar.
ASTER
A distinctively sweet smelling, full bodied floral varietal,
Aster honey is abundant in the Mid-South United States. It is light in color
and prone to crystallize quickly. Relatively thick and smooth in consistency,
this aromatic honey is a favorite choice for eating straight like a candy. My
personal acquaintance with this varietal is through Really Raw Honey, which
supplies beautiful Aster honey.
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 has a fairly rich and buttery flavor. This honey
originated in Southern Mexico and is now 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 of the few exceptional honey
varieties that has a light color and yet strong biting flavour and a
distinctive lingering flavor. It's somewhat fresh, pleasant "woody"
scent is very good with teas like Earl Grey and works well for salad dressings
and marinades.
BEECHWOOD
Beechwood honey is sourced from New Zealand's South Island
and is a special varietal that comes from the sap produced from the beechwood
trees and collected by bees. An aromatic, dark amber honey, it is often mixed
into smoothies, sauces, and used as sweet drizzle for pancakes and fruits. This
honey is also a popular supplement for improving the body's immunity and
digestive system.
BLUEBERRY
Produced in New England and in Michigan, Blueberry honey is
taken from the tiny white flowers of the blueberry bush. It is typically light
amber in color, has a pleasant flavor, a slight tang, and a blueberry aftertaste.
A good 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 those who love the
Eucalyptus range of honey. Its subtle cool, minty undertone reminds me of the
blue bubble gum that kids love to chew.
BUCKWHEAT
Now unusual and hard to find, Buckwheat honey is produced in
Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin as well as in eastern
Canada. It is dark, full-bodied, 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 is perhaps the strongest and
darkest of honey varieties. Most experts recommend using a strong-tasting type
of honey, such as buckwheat for mead production, since the honey is diluted. I
have yet to be able to find this honey, but am so curious to check it out
because the sales people advised that even though it's a popular variety in
Europe, Asians generally do not accustom well to its strong spicy aroma and
hence many suppliers have stopped importing it due to poor demand.
CLOVER
Originating from Canada and New Zealand, Clover honey is one
of the most widely available and popular honey varieties. Depending on the
location and source, clover honey varies in color from water white to different
tones of amber. White clover in particular is grown as a widespread blooming
pasture crop and is a major nectar source in many parts of the world. A favorite
varietal of many honey lovers (including me), this classic honey has a
pleasingly mild, floral sweetness that is easily accepted. And the most distinctive
characteristic of this honey for me is its lingering hint of sour aftertaste. A
perfect ingredient for light sauces, salad dressings and baking!
DANDELION
Harvested from New Zealand's South Island, Dandelion honey
is a relatively strong honey blended with mild tangy notes. This yellow color
honey delivers a distinct floral aroma of dandelions, which are, traditionally
prized as a medicinal herb in China, Tibet and India for its broad spectrum of
powerful healing properties. Great tasting by itself, it is best eaten straight
from the spoon.
EUCALYPTUS
Eucalyptus honey comes from one of the larger plant genera,
containing over 500 distinct species and many hybrids. Its country of origin is
Australia but is also produced largely in California. Widely available, it
varies greatly in color and flavor but tends to have a special herbal flavor
carrying a hint of menthol that may not be most pleasing to children's palate.
This honey is traditionally by many people as a protection against colds and headaches.
As a tea lover, I would also recommend it as an ingredient to liven up your
morning or afternoon tea. Click here for a detailed account of Eucalyptus
honey.
FIREWEED
One of the most popular honeys, Fireweed comes from a tall
perennial herb grown in the open woods of North West US. Light in color, it has
its own way of being sweet and complex at the same time. It has an
extraordinary smooth, delicate, and buttery taste which 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 is fragrant and floral with a very
lingering aftertaste that is almost bitter. It is commonly served with ham,
chicken, lamb, seafood and cold dishes and goes well with strong, black coffee.
Prized since ancient times due to its medicinal properties, Heather honey is
extremely high in protein content.
IRON BARK
Iron bark is a highly favored, premium Eucalyptus floral
variety (Eucalyptus crebra) which blossoms throughout the year in eastern
Australia. Amber in colour and dense, this honey is a favorite flavor enhancer
in baking. Its slight nutty aroma makes a delicious addition to a smoothie and
a good glaze for barbecued meats.
LEATHERWOOD
Leatherwood honey comes from the leatherwood blossom -- a
native eucalypt found in the southwest of Tasmania, Australia and is the source
for 70% of the country's honey. Established worldwide as a distinct honey type
and a fine gourmet product, Leatherwood honey has a unique taste and strong
floral flavor. Its distinctive spicy flavor makes it an excellent spread on
wheat toast, and an ideal ingredient in recipes as it not only sweetens but
adds a fantastic aroma to cakes, muffins, coffee and tea. In fact, this is one
of my favorite honey varieties that I find it great-tasting even when it's just
mixed with water alone.
LINDEN
The small-leaved linden tree, which grows in moist, clay
soil and has clusters of small, yellow-white fragrant flowers hanging from
slender stems, is common throughout Denmark. It's planted in gardens, parks and
along roadsides, city streets and boulevards. Linden honey is one of those
honey varieties that will completely change the misconception of those who
think that honey is no more than just sugared water. It has a light yellow
color and a very distinctive yet delicate fresh woody scent. Because of its
sedative and antiseptic qualities, it's one of my favorite honey varieties
before bedtime. It is recommended in cases of anxiety and insomnia, whereby
honey can be combined with a bath of linden blossoms before sleep. Linden honey
is also used 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 today is also supplied from
the United States. This deeply colored honey variety possesses a distinctive,
complex aroma and a subtle nutty flavor that goes extremely well with fruit and
vegetable salads, ice-cream, toasts and herbal tea, and is a scrumptious
marinate 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 especially
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 due to the
difference in source. Personally I love its robust taste - the best is to eat
it direct straight from the spoon!
NEEM
Bitter-tasting Neem honey is produced from the nectar source
of Neem (also known as Margosa tree) flowers which are common in warm tropical
countries like India. Highly 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, often a combination of citrus sources,
is usually light in color and mild in flavor with a fresh fruity scent, and a
fragrant citrus taste. Orange blossom honey originated from Spain/ Mexico but
is produced in many countries including Florida, Southern California and Texas.
PUMPKIN BLOSSOM
From the natural nectars of the Pumpkin Blossoms and
harvested once a year in the early fall, Pumpkin Blossom honey is a dark
amber-colored liquid with a light floral fragrance. As a specialty gourmet
varietal, it is 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, yogurt and desserts, it also tastes great.
Contrary to what its name suggests, Pumpkin honey does not taste like Pumpkin
Pie at all. This honey is seasonal and limited as the bloom is short and does
not produce much nectar. It's hard to find it in my country, but whenever I
could lay my hands on it, I like to use it to replace sugar in my bread-making.
RAINFOREST
This honey variety has a full body and a light fresh, floral
aroma, but the 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 favourite floral
varieties among the children, it is often used as a breakfast jam or mixed into
a honey drink. It is popularly used in cooking and baking and hailed as an
excellent sauce ingredient.
RATA
Produced from the West coast of New Zealand's South Island,
Rata honey is a light color, buttery smooth varietal that has impressed many
serious honey enthusiasts. It has a mild, subtle taste and yet very memorable,
pleasantly sweet aroma. Rata honey has a relatively high glucose content. It crystallizes
quickly and thus is usually marketed as a creamed 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 of the darker premium varieties of honey. Having a relatively
higher level of antioxidants compared to the rest, red gum honey has a thick
constituency, a bold taste (like buckwheat honey) and a distinctive aroma which
I believe fans of strong honey varieties would find it appealing. It's 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.
It's one of the first floral varieties that I tried when I started exploring
honey. This classic dark red premium honey possesses a caramel-like and
slightly burnt flavor that makes it popular natural sweetener for hot drinks
and a spread. It is ideal for both sweet and savory dishes and is well-known
for use in oriental dishes.
PINE TREE
Pine Tree honey (sometimes also known as forest honey, fir
honey, honeydew or tea tree honey) consists of the majority of the total honey
production in Greece. It is not particularly sweet, tastes a little bitter, has
a strong aroma, and is relatively rich in minerals and proteins. It is rather
resistant to crystallization.
SOURWOOD
Contrary to its name, Sourwood honey is not sour, but sweet
like any honey. This light-colored, delicate, subtle honey has an almost
caramel or buttery flavor, and a pleasant, lingering aftertaste. With this
honey, you don't need any more butter on your biscuits or bread!
SAGE
Sage Honey, primarily produced in California, is light in color;
heavy bodied and has a mild but delightful flavor. It is extremely slow to
granulate, making it a favorite honey variety among honey packers for blending
with other 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.
So subtle and mild, it's a perfect chef choice for topping desserts such as
pancakes, waffles or ice-cream.
TUPELO
Clear yellow in color, with a characteristic greenish glow,
Tupelo honey is a premium honey produced in northwest Florida. It is heavy
bodied and is usually light golden amber with a greenish cast and has a mild,
distinctive taste. Because of the high fructose content, Tupelo honey is one of
the sweetest honey varieties and it hardly granulates.
WILDFLOWER
Also known as "multifloral" or "mixed
floral" honey, Wildflower is often used to describe honey varieties from
miscellaneous and undefined flower sources. Its color can vary from very light
to dark and flavor range from light and fruity to tangy and rich, depending on
the mix from the different 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 smooth texture,
heavy-bodied yet mild Eucalyptus blend also make it a popular choice for adding
to tea and coffee, baking and a perfect
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