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Honey Varieties & Use
WHAT IS IT? Honey is a thick, sweet liquid made by bees from flower nectar. There are more than 300 kinds of honey available in the U.S. such as clover, sage, buckwheat, orange blossom and alfalfa, to name just a few.
A RULE OF THUMB: the darker the color of honey, the stronger its flavor. Bear this in mind when cooking with honey.
HONEY COMES IN THREE DIFFERENT FORMS:
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Comb Honey
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The liquid is still in the honeycomb
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Chunk-style Honey
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Includes chunks of honeycomb
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Liquid Honey
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Does not include the honeycomb and may have been pasteurized
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USE: Honey is used as a sweetener in baked goods, with teas, and in some main dish glazes.
STORAGE:Store honey in a cool, dry place. Liquid honey will keep for up to a year; comb and chunk honey stays good for six months. If you refrigerate honey, it will crystallize, but can be re-liquefied by heating it in a microwave or on a stovetop in a pan of shallow water.
FOR MORE INFO:To learn more about honey available in your area, contact a local beekeeper, honey packer, distributor or the National Honey Board.
A GUIDE TO SOME COMMON HONEYS:
Alfalfa:
Light in color; mild flavor and aroma
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Basswood:
Water white color; strong, "biting" flavor
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Buckwheat:
Dark brown, full-bodied
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Clover:
Varies in color from water white to amber; mild taste
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Eucalyptus:
Comes from a large group of plants, so it has a wide variety of colors; usually strong-flavored; Australia's main source of honey
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Orange Blossom:
Usually light in color; mild flavor and light, often citrus-like taste
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Tulip Poplar:
Dark amber color with a lighter flavor than the color suggests
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Tupelo:
Light in color, heavy-bodied, mild taste
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Wildflower:
Comes from miscellaneous or undefined flower sources
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