Table of Contents:
What is Heather Honey?
Heather honey is produced by honeybees that feed on heather flowers.
The heather plant is native to Europe. The flowers produce beautiful spikes of white, purple, and pink. Heather plants are incredible flowers for year-round color.(1)
But the best part about them?
The honey that comes from them.
Raw heather honey has a unique flavor that’s different from grocery store honey. It has a mild sweetness with smoky undertones. The sweetness isn’t overwhelming like other types of honey.
It tastes delicious on its own or added to other foods.
As for the texture?
It’s thick and creamy, allowing it to spread easily on warm toast or biscuits. It also melts nicely into hot tea or coffee.
More importantly:
Honey has its fair share of health benefits thanks to its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. But, these benefits only come from raw honey.
Raw heather honey hasn’t been heated or processed. It comes directly from the beehive and is kept natural when packaged.
Why is this important?
Because not all honey is real honey.
Some companies dilute their honey with sugars and overheat them during the pasteurization process. As a result, overheated honey loses many of its enzymes and antioxidants. This reduces the honey’s effectiveness in treating coughs, sore throats, and skin injuries.(2, 3)
This is why the FDA warns that overly processed honey is no longer considered authentic honey.(4)
But what about raw honey?
Raw heather honey is pure and untreated. It maintains all its health benefits because it hasn’t been diluted, heated, or filtered. It’s left precisely the way it was meant to be.
So our suggestion is this:
If you want both the incredible taste and health benefits of honey, raw heather honey is the way to go.
And as a rule of thumb?
Always pick honey that has labels or descriptions with “raw” in them. Skip the plastic bear containers with the processed stuff.
What Are the Benefits of Heather Honey?
Honey has been used for over 3,000 years in ancient Mayan and Egypt civilizations. It’s served many purposes, including everything from a natural sweetener, to a cement mixture, to a topical wound ointment.
But here’s the thing:
There are over 300 varieties of honey.
Common examples include wildflower honey and clover honey. We don’t have clinical research on every single honey variety because there are so many of them.
That said, raw honey as a whole is antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory. This gives it several health benefits.
Let’s discuss a few:
Benefit 1: Raw Honey is Full of Powerful Antioxidants
Raw honey contains flavonoids and phenolic acids, which are antioxidants that help prevent cell damage. Cell damage can cause problems such as premature aging, type 2 diabetes, and cardiac disease.(5)
Raw honey contains antioxidants that have anti-inflammatory effects and might be beneficial in preventing a variety of diseases linked with oxidative stress.(6)
Honey often includes pollen and bee propolis, which have been found to have various health benefits. Raw honey has been shown to have beneficial effects on the respiratory, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and nervous systems.(7)
Benefit 2: Raw Honey Has Been Clinically Used to Heal Wounds
Topical honey treatments offer significant benefits thanks to their antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties.(8)
Raw honey has been found to have antimicrobial effects in many studies. One study suggested that honey may have potential benefits for microbial inhibition and wound treatment.(9, 10)
A study of honey revealed that it aids in the healing of burns and sores that become infected following surgery.(11)
Honey may assist with diabetes-related foot ulcers. Diabetic ulcers are serious and can result in amputation.
Honey was shown to have a 43.3% success rate for diabetic foot ulcers in one study. Honey was also found to heal 97% of diabetes-related ulcers in another study.(12)
It has also successfully treated other skin conditions such as psoriasis and herpes.(13)
Benefit 3: Raw Honey May Lead to Better Heart Health
Raw honey has been linked to a decreased risk of heart disease in several studies.
A study of 4,500 people found that honey intake was associated with a lower risk of high blood pressure in women.(14)
One review says that honey may help improve blood fat levels, help regulate your heartbeat, and lower blood pressure. In turn, this improves your heart health as a whole.(15)
Honey was also discovered to protect the heart against oxidative stress in a rat study.(16)
Raw honey also contains propolis, a sticky resin that honeybees make from sap-producing trees. Propolis has cholesterol-lowering and triglyceride-lowering benefits.(17)
Benefit 4: Raw Honey is a Natural Remedy for Sore Throats
Coughing is a common concern for children with upper respiratory infections. This can affect the quality of sleep for both the child and the parents.
Raw honey may be an excellent alternative to common cough medications. There is evidence that it can be an effective treatment for coughs.(18)
One study found that honey is more effective than diphenhydramine (a cough medicine ingredient) for suppressing cough symptoms.(19)
What’s more, honey may help reduce the amount of time a person spends coughing.
A study showed that honey could be effective in treating upper respiratory infections.(20)
Another study found that honey may improve sleep quality among children and parents who have a cough.(21)
Honey does not have any side effects like some cough medicines do. However, honey should never be given to children younger than one year old because there is a risk of infant botulism.(22)
What Are the Risks of Heather Honey?
Honey is generally safe for most people. Both honey and honeycomb can be eaten with very low risk.
But are there any side effects of heather honey?
There are two things to consider:
Risk 1: Raw Honey Can Pose Issues for Babies under 12 Months
Because of the danger of infant botulism, honey should not be given to babies under one year.
Botulism is a severe but rare disease that develops from the Clostridium botulinum bacteria. Infant botulism can affect the nervous system and lead to paralysis or respiratory failure.
Honey can be a common cause of botulism in children under 12 months old. This is because they don’t have the immunological capacity to combat the bacteria.
Once the child is older than 12 months old, they can safely eat honey.
Risk 2: Raw Honey Can Cause Blood Sugar to Rise in Diabetics
You may have heard that honey is healthier than other sweeteners if you have diabetes.
While honey does have health benefits, it still should be consumed in moderation because it’s high in sugar and carbohydrates.
If you have diabetes, you need to monitor your carbohydrates. This is especially important when using insulin.
FAQs on Heather Honey
- What color is heather honey?
- How do you take heather honey?
- Is heather honey bitter?
- How do you store heather honey?
- Is heather honey vegan?
- Where can I buy heather honey?
- Is heather honey better than manuka honey?
- Is heather honey safe?
- What does heather honey taste like?
- Where does heather honey come from?
- Is heather honey tea good?
- Is heather honey for skin beneficial?
- Is heather honey made by bees?
What color is heather honey? Is heather honey clear?
Heather honey isn’t clear in color. Instead, heather honey is a medium gold color. It isn’t dark like buckwheat honey, and it isn’t light like acacia honey.
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How do you take heather honey?
You can take heather honey in various ways. The most common way is to simply eat it off the spoon. You can also add it to tea or coffee or use it as a natural sweetener in baking recipes.
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More to Explore:
- The Brutally Honest Truth About Sour Honey
- Buckwheat Honey: Uses, Benefits, & Risks
- Can You Eat Honeycombs?
Is heather honey bitter?
Heather honey can have subtle bitter undertones that aren’t overpowering. The honey has a medium sweetness with hints of smokiness to it.
It’s not as sweet as other kinds of honey, but it’s not outright bitter. Heather honey isn’t an acquired taste. It’s delicious honey that pairs well with many foods.
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How do you store heather honey?
You should store heather honey in a cabinet at room temperature. This will keep the honey in liquid form for longer.
Honey crystallizes in the refrigerator because the temperatures are too cold. However, crystallized honey isn’t bad honey, it’s simply honey that’s gone from a liquid to a solid. You can heat the honey to liquefy it again.
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- The Top 3 Best Manuka Honey Brands
- Orange Blossom Honey: Uses, Benefits, & Risks
- Sourwood Honey: Uses, Benefits, & Risks
Is heather honey vegan?
No, heather honey isn’t vegan. Heather honey is made by honeybees. Vegans don’t consume animal products or products made by living creatures like bees. As such, no type of honey is considered vegan.
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Where can I buy heather honey?
The easiest way to buy heather honey is by purchasing it online. Just make sure you’re buying raw heather honey instead of processed honey. Raw honey is unheated, unpasteurized, and unprocessed. It’s the most natural honey you can buy.
If you live in Europe where heather honey is harvested, you may be able to purchase raw heather honey from your local beekeeper.
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Is heather honey better than manuka honey? Is heather honey as good as manuka?
It’s hard to say whether heather honey is better than manuka honey. This is because no scientific tests have been performed comparing the antioxidants and enzymes between them.
With that in mind, both types of honey have their fair share of health benefits. They’re both rich in nutrients, antioxidants, and enzymes. Manuka honey is typically more expensive, but that doesn’t mean it’s better.
Choosing between the two usually comes down to your budget and taste preferences.
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Is heather honey safe?
Yes, heather honey is safe for most people over the age of 12 months old.
People often ask:
What is heather honey good for? What are the heather honey benefits?
Heather honey is packed full of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Some research suggests that consuming raw honey can promote heart health by reducing bad cholesterol levels and high blood pressure.
Additionally, honey has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties that can help fight off infections. This is why raw honey is used as a natural remedy for sore throats, coughs, and wounds like burns or cuts. Raw honey has also been used for skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
So, is heather honey good for you?
Yes, heather honey has many benefits that make it good for you. Just remember to consume it in moderation as part of a healthy diet.
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What does heather honey taste like?
People frequently ask:
What is heather honey like? What’s the heather honey flavor?
Heather honey has a distinct taste that’s different from other types of honey. Heather honey is less sweet than other jars of honey, with subtle smoky undertones. The honey typically has a medium gold color and a thick, spreadable texture.
If you’re looking for honey that isn’t too sweet, then heather honey is a good option. It pairs well with both sweet and savory foods.
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Where does heather honey come from?
Heather honey is made by bees that pollinate heather flowers. Heather honey is produced in Europe. For example, Scottish heather honey is very popular.
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Is heather honey tea good?
Heather honey tea is a popular way to consume heather honey.
All you need to do is add a tablespoon of heather honey to a cup of hot tea. You can also add a squeeze of lemon for flavor. This makes for a soothing and delicious drink that’s easy to create.
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Is heather honey for skin beneficial?
Heather honey is excellent for the skin. It’s a natural humectant, which means it helps lock in moisture. This makes heather honey good for dry skin.
Additionally, heather honey contains antioxidants and antibacterial properties that can help fight off bacteria. Many people use honey as a face mask to reduce irritation or inflammation because honey is anti-inflammatory.
Raw honey has also been shown to be effective at treating certain skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. If you have sensitive skin, heather honey may be a good option.
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- Honey for Skin Benefits: Directions, Uses, & Risks
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Is heather honey made by bees?
Yes, heather honey is made by bees that pollinate heather flowers.
The honeybees start by collecting nectar from the flowers, and then they carry it back to their hive. From there, the bees fan their wings to evaporate the water from the nectar. Once the water has evaporated, the nectar turns into honey and is ready to be capped by beeswax.
Honeybees rely on honey during the winter months when there aren’t as many flowers blooming. This is why beekeepers need to leave some honey for the bees when they harvest it. The honeybees need it during the winter.
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