Deliciously sweet and loaded with antioxidants, honey is a substance that bees produce after gathering nectar from flowers. Humans have been collecting honey for thousands of years, using the thick liquid as a versatile sweetener or an herbal treatment for coughs.
Honey sounds like a simple purchase at first, but you may be surprised by the countless varieties that exist and the many health benefits it offers. If you want a delicious honey that’s minimally processed and certified organic, Meluka Australia Premium Raw Honey is the top pick.
Honey has a long history of use in traditional medicine and home remedies. Although it’s still a calorie-rich sweetener that should be eaten in moderation, it has a number of benefits that have been verified by scientific studies.
Honey, particularly varieties that are dark in color, is naturally rich in antioxidants, molecules that fight off harmful free radicals that could lead to heart disease and certain cancers. Studies shared by the National Institutes of Health have shown that honey contains anti-inflammatory properties and have also confirmed its effectiveness as a natural cough suppressant.
Although they taste similar, no two varieties of honey are exactly alike. In the United States alone, there are over 300 varieties of honey available for purchase, each with their own unique taste and nutritional value. When shopping for honey, you’ll probably come across at least a few of the following varieties.
When shopping for honey, you’ll probably come across terms such as raw and unpasteurized. This typically means that the honey was taken straight from the hive to the jar, with very little processing involved. Pasteurization is the process of heating honey to slow crystallization and destroy any impurities, but it often reduces the health benefits in the process. Most raw honey is natural, unfiltered and unpasteurized, thereby retaining all of its nutritional value.
Most honey is sold in plastic or glass containers. Some purists avoid plastic because they think it could affect the taste of the honey. Plastic is also not an eco-friendly material. On the other hand, glass is naturally breakable and some plastic containers of honey can be squeezed to make pouring easier.
Clover honey is usually around $5-$15, while rarer varieties such as Manuka and tupelo can be $20 or more. In most cases, expect to spend around $0.20-$2 per ounce.
A. Adding boiling water to honey can definitely affect the benefits, so consider letting your beverage cool down a little before mixing honey into it.
A. While it always depends on the person, many people who follow a vegan lifestyle don’t eat honey because of the commercial farming of bees.
A. If it isn’t eaten quickly enough, honey eventually begins to crystallize. Honey never expires, however, so you can easily reverse the process by submerging the container in warm water until the crystals soften and dissolve.
Meluka Australia Premium Raw Honey
What you need to know: This popular Australian honey is unpasteurized and organic.
What you’ll love: Derived from the nectar of native Australian plants such as melaleuca, eucalyptus and jelly bush, this raw honey is delicious, rich and certified organic by the United States Department of Agriculture.
What you should consider: The honey is shipped from Australia, so crystallization has been known to occur in transit.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Nature Nate’s 100% Pure, Raw and Unfiltered Honey
What you need to know: This affordable raw honey comes in a large container that makes pouring easy.
What you’ll love: The raw honey is natural and unfiltered, and the convenient squeeze bottle prevents any mess when drizzling. The company has been around since 1972 and has won awards for its honey.
What you should consider: Although it’s marketed as raw, this honey is gently heated and may lose some of its health benefits through that process.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Mira Nova Wildflower Raw White Honey
What you need to know: If you’re looking for something a little different, natural white honey has a creamy consistency and a unique taste.
What you’ll love: This unique honey is unfiltered, unheated and sourced from a remote mountain region in Kyrgyzstan. White honey is naturally smooth, creamy and easy to spread with a lighter mouthfeel than traditional honey.
What you should consider: Some people simply don’t enjoy the taste and consistency of white honey.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Patrick Farmer writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
