All About Honey

Honey is completely natural food. It is the only food that does not spoil. It is one of the ancient foods that remained unchanged in terms of production. Honey depends on bees for production.

What honey contains
Typically, honey is composed of natural sugars and minerals. It contains phosphates, calcium, iron, magnesium potassium, and sodium chloride. The percentages vary among the different varietals of honey. Some honey varieties have additional compounds, depending on what they were made of. On average, honey contains 80% natural sugars in the following forms:
Glucose: 31.3%
Fructose: 38.2%
Maltose: 7.1%
Sucrose: 1.3%
Higher sugars: 1.5%
Honey has high fructose content, in addition to the other forms of sugar. This is why honey is sweeter than refined sugars and other sweeteners. It also does have a higher calorie content.
Other components include: Ash: 0.2%
Water: 17.2%
Other/undetermined: 3.2%
Pollen, protein, minerals, and vitamins: 2%
Water content is desirably at less than 18%. Honey has better quality if there is less water in it.
Vitamins and other nutrient contents are mainly based on where the nectar came from. On average, honey contains riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, vitamin B6 and pantothenic acid. It also contains some amino acids. Mineral content includes iron, copper, calcium, phosphorus, manganese, magnesium, sodium, zinc, and potassium. A few experts measure the mineral content through the conductivity of the honey. Higher conductivities mean higher mineral contents. Manuka honey, for example, contains 4 times more minerals than most honey because it is 4 times higher than the average honey in terms of conductivity.
Honey is also slightly acidic, with a pH range of 3.2 to 4.5. This property is

responsible for the antibacterial action of honey. By promoting an acidic environment, honey can help in killing bacteria. It also contains antioxidants that help clear the body of toxins and free radicals.
Another good news is that honey is fat-free and cholesterol-free.

How honey is made
Honey is made by bees in their hives. The process starts with the collection of nectars from flowers by the worker bees. The collected nectars are placed in honeycombs. The bees fan it with their wings to evaporate most of the water in the nectar. They also add enzymes to aid in honey production. In the process, the natural sugars in the nectar are also broken down into simple forms. As the water evaporates, the remaining liquid turns thicker and the sugar becomes concentrated, turning it into a thick and sweet liquid. When about 17% of the water content is removed, the bees seal the honeycomb cells with beeswax. Over time, chemical reactions and more evaporation take place, turning the liquid into honey.
The color and flavor of the honey largely depend on the type of flower where the nectar came from. Honey blends occur naturally, as the bees collect honey from all kinds of flowers. This happens often when the beehive is close to an area with different types of flowers growing nearby. Specific flavors are obtained when the bees are limited to collecting nectar from particular flowers. For example, the beehive is located in the middle of a field of sunflowers, without any other kind of flower nearby. The bees would be producing sunflower honey, pure and unblended.

Honey Varieties
Honey flavors and colors vary, depending on the flower. For example, honey made from the nectar of Orange Blossom has a light amber color. Honey made from the nectar of wildflowers or avocado flowers has a deeper, darker amber color. In the United States alone, there are over 300 different and distinct honey flavors, made from the nectar of different flowers.
Amber is the most popular color of honey. However, the color ranges from colorless to dark brown. The flavors also vary from mild to bold. Generally, lighter honey colors have milder tastes and darker-colored ones have a much bolder flavor.
Some of the more common and popular honey varieties available include the following:

Acacia honey
This comes from the nectar of the acacia tree’s flowers. This honey has a very pale color. Pure acacia honey resembles the appearance of liquid glass. The flavor is floral, mild, and sweet. This is one of the popular honey flavors. This is because it does not give an overpowering flavor and sweetness when mixed with beverages or when used in cooking.

Alfalfa honey
The United States and Canada extensively produce alfalfa and honey. It comes from the nectar of the purple blooms of the alfalfa plant. Alfalfa honey has a light amber color. The aroma and flavor are pleasantly mild.
Avocado honey
This honey is produced from the blooms of California avocado. It has a dark amber color. The taste is rich and buttery.

Blueberry honey
This is derived from the blueberry bush. It has the typical light amber color. The flavor is full and well-rounded. This is commonly produced in Michigan and New England.

Buckwheat honey
This is made from buckwheat and produced in Wisconsin, Ohio, New York, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Eastern Canada. This honey variety has more antioxidants compared to some of the lighter-colored honey varieties. Buckwheat honey has a dark color with a full-bodied flavor.

Clover honey
This is one of the most abundant honey varieties in the United States. The nectar comes from the blossoms of the clover plant family such as Alsike clover, red clover, and sweet clovers (both white and yellow varieties). Clover honey has a pleasant and mild taste. The color varies, depending on where and what type of clover the nectar came from. It is available in colors ranging from water white, and light amber to amber.

Eucalyptus honey
Eucalyptus honey comes from the large Eucalyptus genera, which is composed of more than 500 unique species. Because of the vastness in diversity among the Eucalyptus family, the honey made from it is also wide-ranging. The colors and flavors widely differ. One thing common is that eucalyptus honey has a strong flavor, with a hint of a medicinal smell. Eucalyptus honey is largely produced in California.

Fireweed honey
The honey is made from the nectar of the fireweed plant. This plant is a perennial herb that grows in the open woods of Canada and the Pacific and Northern states. The plant grows up to 3-5 feet high and bears pink flowers. Fireweed honey has a light color.

Manuka honey
Manuka honey is one of the most preferred variations as a natural remedy. This is used internally and topically for various ailments. It is mainly produced in New Zealand, where the manuka plant is indigenous. Manuka honey is considered one of the most organic honey in the world because the plant grows in uncultivated areas in New Zealand, far away from pollution and chemical contaminants.

Orange Blossom honey
This honey is made from the combined nectars of the flowers of different citrus plants. It is mainly produced in some parts of Texas, Southern California, and Florida. Orange blossom honey has a light color and mild flavor. It has a fresh scent with a light and citrusy taste.

Sage honey
Sage honey is mainly produced in California. It has a light color and is heavy-bodied. The flavor is delightful and mild. Honey packers often blend sage honey with other honey because it slows down granulation.

Tupelo honey
This is a premium type of honey. Northwest Florida is the main production site for this type of honey. The fructose content is high, making granulation slow. Tupelo honey is heavy-bodied. The color is light golden amber and has a greenish cast. The taste is mild and distinctive.

Wildflower honey
This name is used collectively for honey made from undefined flowers.

Honey blends
These are combinations of different honey varieties, often creating consistent and unique colors and flavors.

Natural Benefits of Honey
Honey has long been used for its medicinal properties. Ancient civilizations such as the Greeks and the Egyptians had been using honey to treat various ailments and to improve health. One Egyptian tomb has even found a thousand-year-old jar containing honey.
The natural and healthy sweetness of honey also makes it a good healthy sweetener. It is packed with nutrients that help heal and preserve health.