Exploring Varieties: A Guide to Different Types of Honey

Did you know there are more than 300 different types of honey around the globe? Surprising, isn’t it?

Honey, a beautiful collage of flavors, textures, and myriads of health benefits is found in many varieties where each gives a resounding testament to the diversity of nature and the industriousness of the bees.

The CEO of B A Barry Group and the founder of GEOHONEY, Mr. Basem Barry says

“Honey is not just a mere sweetener, instead it is the intermingling of nature’s richness and variety. With pure monofloral honey, you can really taste nature’s essence and marvel at the outstanding job the worker bees around the world do for us.”  

Each type of honey gets its taste, texture, and distinct hue from the specific floral nectar source. This detailed guide will discuss some of the most popular honey varieties and the unique features that set them apart from the rest so keep reading till the end.

Here is what we will be looking at during the course of this article

Main Types of Honey Labels

• Raw Honey
• Unfiltered Honey
• Organic/ GMO-Free Honey
• Pure/Genuine Honey
• Mono Floral Honey
• Multi or Poly Floral Honey

Exploring Varieties: Main Types of Mono Floral Honey

• Wildflower Honey
• Manuka Honey
• Clover Honey
• Orange Blossom Honey
• Sage Honey
• Acacia Honey
• Eucalyptus Honey
• Buckwheat Honey

Main Types of Honey Labels

• Raw Honey

This is unfiltered and unpasteurized honey with the highest flavor and nutritious pollen content.  

• Organic/GMO-Free Honey

This is more of a marketing term as we cannot say with certainty which flowers a honey bee collects the pollen from. However, it is used to describe honey that is only pollinated from organic flowers that have not been genetically modified.

• Pure/Genuine Honey

This type of honey doesn’t contain additional ingredients like corn syrup and sugars. A bottle that says pure/original honey is telling you the honey is 100% pure and without any adulteration.

• MonoFloral Honey

When honey is made from pollinating a single floral species, it is referred to as monofloral honey. 

• Multi or Polyfloral Honey

This type of honey is made from pollinating multiple floral species giving it a blend of flavors.

Exploring Varieties: Main Types of Monofloral Honey

Each type of honey gets its distinct features from the plant that was pollinated for making it.

Following are the most popular and common monofloral honey types that you see on grocery store shelves

1. Wildflower Honey

The wildflower honey is different from the monofloral honey that you see normally. It has several variations based on the type of wildflower and the region from where it comes from. From sweet and light to dark and robust, this honey comes in a variety of tastes. You can also find this honey in a medium golden color and a flavor that is a mix of both dark and light-colored honey. 

1. Manuka Honey

This type of honey is known for its darker color, slightly sweet taste, and underlying nutty flavor that gives it a kind of bitter aftertaste. This honey is made from the nectar of manuka bush or tea tree bush native to New Zealand and some regions of Australia.

1. Clover Honey

Made from the nectar of white clover plants found in North America, Canada, and New Zealand, this honey is characterized by the classic amber color and sweet floral undertones with a slightly sour aftertaste. This honey can prove to be a great addition to your pantry owing to its light color and mildly sweet taste that pairs well with most foods and drinks.

1. Orange Blossom Honey

This honey type is found in areas where citrus fruits like oranges can grow. Produced mostly in countries like the US, Mexico, France, Spain, and Italy, this type of honey has a light and sweet taste with a very subtle fruit undertone that blends well with desserts, biscuits, pancakes, and more.

1. Sage Honey

This honey comes from the Sage plants, mainly the Black Button Sage, Purple Sage, and White Sage. Found mostly in the sunny hills of California USA and Greece, this honey has a mild and sweet flavor. This honey is found in light golden or dark deep purple colors based on the Sage plants and it has several culinary uses and medicinal benefits.

1. Acacia Honey

Originating from the nectar of the black locust tree in North America and Europe, this type of honey is light and clear in appearance. It is also characterized by a mild floral taste with a hint of vanilla and a high resistance to crystallization. Acacia honey has surprising benefits for athletes and fitness-conscious people.

1. Eucalyptus Honey

The most popular choice of honey in the colder months, this honey is an effective remedy for sore throats and colds. Found in both Australia and the USA, the distinctive qualities of Eucalyptus honey result from the flowers of the Eucalyptus tree which gives it a medium amber or greenish tint and flavor that has a strong woody, earthy, and menthol profile.   

1. Buckwheat Honey

Made from the nectar of buckwheat flowers, this honey has a malty aroma and a robust and bitter taste. Found commonly in Japan, France, Canada, and the US, this honey features a deep amber color with a hint of maroon. Its slightly less sweet taste and earthy smell make it ideal for many cooking and baking recipes.  

Conclusion

The next time you see a jar of monofloral honey, just take a moment to look closely at the label to see what source the honey is made from. It will give you insights into the taste and texture of the honey you are about to buy.

Each type of honey tells a unique story about its true source and if you are attentive enough, you too can listen to it and enjoy this golden treat even more. Each of the above-mentioned honey types has a unique flavor profile and potential benefits for your health and well-being.

Geo Honey is the leading honey brand based in Dubai with over 130 farms equipped with the latest new-tech monofloral initiatives. Our 100% pure, raw, and natural monofloral honey is carefully prepared using single nectar sources which ensures both a high concentration of nutrients and enzymes.

Working with worldwide beekeepers from more than 53 countries Goehoney strives to produce monofloral honey that meets the highest global quality control standards while using environmentally sustainable resources and adhering to socially responsible policies.

Visit GEOHONEY today to order from our wide range of pure and raw monofloral honey products at very affordable rates.