Buckwheat honey is a distinct type of honey that is generally considered as a byproduct of harvesting buckwheat seeds. These seeds are utilized like grains and can be ground for flour. Their bodies/husks (covering the seed is held in) are utilized as stuffing in hypoallergenic cushions and different items. 

Buckwheat honey is commonly utilized to make sauces, and as sugar, in France, it's an essential ingredient in gingerbread making. Usually darker in color, it tastes like molasses and comes with subdued sweetness. Having a woodsy aroma, buckwheat honey holds a strong flavor profile with musty & malty notes. The taste of this honey, however, varies depending solely on the species of buckwheat that are pollinated by the honey bees during the honey-making process. 

Where Does It Come From?

Buckwheat honey is mainly produced in the US states like Ohio, Minnesota, New York, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. Apart from this, it is also produced in Canada, Poland, Siberia, France, and Latvia. Buckwheat is commonly grown in temperate regions & has relatively short growing seasons. 

Process of Producing Buckwheat Honey by the Bees

Buckwheat honey is dominatingly delivered when raising and harvesting buckwheat for its seeds, and ordinarily, farmers will welcome beekeepers and apiaries to a position close to their buckwheat crop. 

They do this since honey bees assume an essential part in pollinating their harvest, and a side-effect of this is the creation of buckwheat honey. At the point when honey bees are not utilized as pollinators, seed yield is low – 2 to 3% of the yield regularly accomplished when honey bees are available. At the point when a bee state is situated near the field of blossoming buckwheat, they can assemble almost 300 lbs of nectar for every acre of land. 

When a honey bee gathers the buckwheat nectar, it is blended in with a chemical inside the honey bee's mouth. The actual catalyst is known as invertase or the "honey bee compound" which is discharged from the honey bee's organs. 

At the point when the honey bees get back to the hive, they will pass the buckwheat nectar they have gathered between themselves further blending the nectar in with the "honey bee chemical". This will lessen the water content changing over the nectar into honey. 

This nectar is further stored in wax cells, as the water content may be still high. To diminish the water content, the honey bees will then fan their wings over the wax cell, which will vanish a portion of the water. Once this process is completed, the water content will be roughly below 20%. 

Benefits of Buckwheat Honey

1. Heals wounds & burns
2. Provides relief in diarrhea symptoms
3. Prevents acid reflux
4. Fights-off infections
5. Relieves cough & cold symptoms
6. Extremely rich in antioxidants
7. Helps lower triglycerides level

Who Should Avoid Eating It?

If you are allergic to honey or buckwheat seeds, it is a must to consult your doctor before consuming them. It should never be given to a child under 1 year of age as this can cause infant botulism. Pregnant or lactating women should always consult their doctor before including this honey in their diet.    

According to Basem Barry, owner of Geohoney, almost all of the well-being benefits of buckwheat honey are dependent on using raw, unfiltered, & unprocessed products. When shopping for buckwheat honey, look for products that specify these terms to make a better & healthier choice for your body.