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With its sweet flavor and array of health benefits, it’s no wonder honey has been a household staple for millennia. And that’s no exaggeration–scientists have found jars of honey in ancient tombs in Georgia that date back over 5,500 years. Whether drizzled on toast, stirred into coffee or tea, mixed into a marinade, or licked straight off the spoon Winnie-the-Pooh style, honey is extremely versatile and a well-worthy addition to your pantry, if it’s not there already.
The sheer amount of different honeys on the market can be overwhelming to parse through, especially if you don’t know what you’re looking for. We’ve done the heavy lifting for you and picked out 8 delectable honeys you can buy online, including a favorite of a James Beard award winning chef. But, before we dive into the picks here’s a bit of what we learned to help you navigate the figurative honey aisle.
Reading the Fine Print
Understanding food labels is somewhat of an art. It’s hard to know what terms matter and what terms are simply marketing jargon. Below, find some common terms you’ll see when strolling through the honey aisle, and what they mean, to help you make more educated purchases.
- Raw: Raw honey is not heated or processed, so it retains all of the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that make it such a superfood.
- Filtered: The honey has been filtered to remove impurities. This process creates a clear, smooth texture and improves the shelf life of the product by delaying the crystallization process, but tends to strip the honey of nutrients. If maximum health benefits are what you’re after, look for an unfiltered option.
- Pure: Some honeys on the market contain other ingredients like corn syrup to keep costs down. Pure honey means it’s just that–100% honey, nothing else added.
- Single-Origin: Single-origin, also sometimes referred to as single-source, honey means the bees are collecting nectar from one single source. This often creates honeys with distinct flavor profiles and provides more traceability for the consumer.
- Organic: Certified organic honey has met strict standards regarding what the bees forage, what their hives are like, and how the honey is processed. While an organic label is certainly a sign of a high-quality honey, the lack of this label is not necessarily a negative. Since bees can fly up to five miles to find pollen it can be nearly impossible for beekeepers to confirm that the bees have had no exposure to chemicals, not to mention getting the certification is costly.
Now, onto our picks for the best liquid gold you can find online.
Flamingo Estate makes home and pantry essentials that are anything but ordinary. Think ethically made, small batch, artisanal products that make even life’s simple moments feel indulgent. The Mountain Wildflower Honey is a 100% raw and unfiltered honey harvested in Southern California from bees that have foraged on a variety of native plants such as Sage, California Buckwheat, and Golden Currant. The result? A floral, herbaceous flavor that’s as unique and luscious as the socal verdure.
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When it comes to hot honey, Mike’s Hot Honey is the gold standard. While studying abroad in Brazil, founder Mike Kurtz was introduced to, and quickly fell in love with, chili-infused honey. He spent years tinkering with his own recipe which has grown from being served to family and friends in small batches to being stocked on grocery shelves nationwide. The recipe includes just three simple ingredients–100% pure honey, real chili peppers, vinegar–but packs an insane flavor punch. While this probably won’t be your everyday, go-to honey it is a great condiment to keep in your repertoire. It’s the perfect balance of sweet and spicy, and brings a complex flavor to already delicious dishes like fried chicken, avocado toast, and most popularly, pepperoni pizza. If you want to increase the heat, there’s an extra hot version too.
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If you’re looking for a honey that can be used for anything and everything, you might not want to splurge on the artisanal, small-batch stuff–or at least save that for special occasions where the flavors can shine. Nature Nate’s is a great option for the everyday. Shoppers love the brand for its affordable price point that doesn’t sacrifice on quality or taste. 16 ounces of the 100% raw, unfiltered honey goes for $8, and you can pay a bit more for the organic option too. The mild, versatile flavor works well to sweeten up any foods that need some extra sugar.
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Since honey is such a kitchen staple, I was curious what product a chef would choose as their favorite for cooking. Luckily, Art Smith, two-time James Beard Award-winning chef gave us his go-to: Basic Honey. "I've enjoyed this delicious honey gathered by the century-old beekeeper family, the Skippers, from my hometown for many years. The honey's beautiful, clean, floral taste and aroma are delicious when served with Flax Seed Sourdough Bread (Gallberry Honey was perfect for this!), classic Cornbread, and homemade cheese. My favorite creation has to be a Basque Cheesecake, where I drizzled Basic Honey on top and swirled it in with a toothpick for the most delightful, sweet finish,” he shares. What makes Basic Honey most special, according to Art, is the brand's commitment to making a product of exceptional quality while respecting the land and traditional beekeeping practices. This can be seen, and tasted, in every varietal of the raw, single-source honey.
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Manuka honey is revered for its antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. These benefits are thanks to Methylglyoxal, or MGO, a naturally-occurring compound that is abundant in manuka honey. Unlike other honeys, manuka honey is made exclusively from bees that pollinate New Zealand’s manuka bushes, which bloom for just a few weeks every year–making this stuff particularly rare. The honey also has a thicker texture and more subtle sweetness than most other options.
Manuka Health is a trustworthy, New Zealand-based brand that works with researchers and doctors around the world to understand, scientifically, the magic of manuka honey. While the brand offers many different products, the Manuka Honey Daily is a great pick for those new to manuka honey or those looking to incorporate the product into their daily routine. The 400+ MGO rating is said to balance the gut microbiome, boost skin radiance, and promote overall health. The brand recommends taking a spoonful like supplement, but it would also be delicious and effective as topping to sweeten up oatmeal, yogurt.
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If you haven’t tried whipped honey yet, you’re in for a treat. Just as whipping cream creates an almost entirely new product, so does whipping honey. The process, which incorporates air into the viscous stuff you know and love, leaves you with a luxuriously creamy consistency. Slather Savannah Bee Company’s Whipped Honey on toast or drizzle it on homemade baked goods in place of your traditional glaze. While you can’t go wrong with the original the brand also offers chocolate, cinnamon and lemon options.
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Beekeeper’s Naturals Propolis Spray always has a place in my medicine cabinet; I reach for it as a natural remedy when I feel a sore throat coming on. While it may be the hero product that put the brand on the map, this certified B-Corp has so many natural remedies to offer, like the Superfood Honey. Each jar contains a mix of raw honey, royal jelly, bee pollen, and bee propolis. Think of it like a supercharged honey loaded with immune-supporting and cognitive function-boosting benefits. You only need a teaspoon a day to reap the healing rewards.
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I was once told that eating local honey is a great way to prevent seasonal allergies, as the pollen in the honey could help your body build immunity to that same pollen in the air. While medical experts and studies aren’t convinced this is true, there is really no downside to making sure your honey of choice is a local one. If it works for you, great. If not, you’re just sweetening up your favorite food and beverages. And when it comes to buying local honey online, you need to check out Local Hive. Honey blends are easy to find, but it's not always easy to find exactly where the honey comes from. Local Hive sources honey from beekeepers all across America and makes regional blends influenced by the distinct flavors of each locale’s vegetation. Every varietal is 100% raw, unfiltered U.S. Honey and bottled in Colorado.
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Ready to sweeten up your pantry?
