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What Is Black Honey?
Black honey is simply regular honey that has a dark color.
You see, raw honey gets its color from the plants the bees pollinate. Buckwheat flowers, for example, allow honey bees to produce dark honey with an earthy, mild taste. This is known as buckwheat honey.
On the other hand?
Clover honey has a light golden color with a sweet taste. It comes from honey bees that pollinate clover flowers.
With that in mind, people often ask, “What is the difference between honey and black honey?”
The answer?
Black honey is a type of “regular” honey.
It’s just darker than the typical honey we’re used to seeing on grocery store shelves. In fact, the term “black honey” doesn’t actually refer to a specific type of honey. It simply refers to the color.
Specific examples of black honey include:
So when someone asks, “What does black honey taste like?” the answer is, “Which one?”
For example, avocado honey and jarrah honey are both black in color. However, they have different flavors because they don’t come from the same plant.
Keep in mind:
There are over 300 varieties of honey.
For simplicity, honey is usually categorized by which plants the bees collect nectar from. For instance, avocado honey comes from honey bees that pollinate avocado flowers. Meanwhile, buckwheat honey comes from honey bees that pollinate buckwheat flowers.
And blueberry honey comes from, you guessed it, blueberry flowers.
You see, honey bees turn nectar into honey. Nectar is the sweet liquid many plants produce to attract insects like bees, butterflies, and moths. In turn, these insects help pollinate the flower so it can make seeds to reproduce with.
But not all insects produce honey.
In fact, most insects don’t produce honey. Honey bees are actually the only insect that produces enough honey for human consumption.
Honey ants (Myrmecocystus mimicus) are an example of this. Honey ants produce honey, but only in small amounts.
What Is Black Honey Used For?
Like all types of honey, black honey is used by honey bees for food during the winter.
Humans can also use black honey for food. It can be eaten directly off the spoon, mixed with food, or drizzled into beverages.
Black honey can also be used for:
- Salad dressings
- Marinades
- Glazes
- Baked goods
- Cheese pairings
But remember:
Black honey only refers to the color. It doesn’t refer to a specific type of honey.
Buckwheat honey, avocado honey, and jarrah honey are all types of black honey. While they may look similar, they come from different plants and have unique flavor profiles. This means you may have to try several types of black honey before you find one you like.
More importantly?
No matter which type of black honey you choose, picking raw honey over the processed stuff is crucial.
Raw honey has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties. People commonly eat raw honey to treat coughs and sore throats. Additionally, it’s useful for healing cuts, scrapes, and minor wounds on the skin.
But as for processed honey?
Not so much.
Processed honey gets heated and filtered during the pasteurization process. From there, manufacturers often dilute it with other sweeteners to cut costs. Unfortunately, overly processed honey loses its antioxidant benefits.
As such, the FDA warns that overly processed honey is no longer considered real honey.(1)
So we suggest looking for honey labels that say “raw” and “unfiltered.”
Does Black Honey Taste Different?
Black honey tends to have an earthy, intense taste compared to light honey.
For instance, buckwheat honey is a type of black honey that has a rich, molasses-like flavor. People also describe it as “malty” and “nutty.” It’s not nearly as sweet as other types of honey.
In comparison, tupelo honey is a light golden honey known for its sweet flavor. It has delicious notes of fruit and floral.
So why do people eat black honey?
People who like dark honey tend to appreciate that it’s not overly sweet. It’s not going to overwhelm your palette with a sugary taste. It also has a unique earthy taste that most lighter kinds of honey don’t have.
With that said, black honey can be an acquired taste.
Some people describe it as too “pungent” and “strong” for their liking. It’s not necessarily the type of honey you’d use to sweeten baked goods or tea, for example.
FAQs on “What Is Black Honey?”
- Is black honey edible?
- Is molasses black honey?
- What type of bees make black honey?
- Is there a real black honey?
- What is black honey made of?
- Where is black honey found?
- Does black honey taste like regular honey?
- Is black honey rare?
- Is black bee honey good for you?
- Why is black honey sold out?
- Does black honey expire?
- What is black honey good for?
Is black honey edible?
Black honey is edible, but it may not be appealing to everyone. Black honey has a strong, earthy flavor often described as “pungent” and “rich.”
However, because of its antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory benefits, many people use raw black honey for its health benefits. Some research has uncovered that darker honey contains less water and more nutrients than its lighter counterparts.
But, more studies are needed to confirm.
For now, we know that choosing “raw” honey is the most crucial factor for finding honey that contains health benefits.
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- What Is Dark Honey?
- Honey for Skin Benefits: Directions, Uses, & Risks
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Is molasses black honey?
Molasses is not a type of black honey. Honey bees do not make molasses, nor is it made from the nectar of flowers.
Molasses is made from sugar cane and is a byproduct of the refining process. It has a thick, dark syrup-like consistency and an intense flavor.
Like honey, molasses contains minerals and vitamins, including iron, calcium, potassium, and B. Molasses boasts more antioxidants than honey, which already includes an abundance of vitamins A and E. Furthermore, it has fewer calories than honey, making molasses a better option for people who monitor their calories.
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What type of bees make black honey?
Honey bees make black honey.
Other types of bees, like bumble bees, also produce honey. However, they don’t produce enough honey for human consumption.
Honey bees produce buckwheat honey, jarrah honey, beechwood honey, and other types of black honey. Honey bees can be found on every continent except Antarctica.
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Is there a real black honey?
Yes, black honey is a type of real honey. However, the term “black honey” only describes the color of the honey. Many types of honey can be black in color.
A common type of black honey includes raw buckwheat honey. Buckwheat honey is produced by honey bees who collect nectar from buckwheat flowers. It has a deep color and an earthy, intense taste compared to light honey.
Honey is made from the nectar of flowers, and then it’s collected and packed into honeycombs by honey bees.
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What is black honey made of? What causes black honey?
Black honey is made from the nectar of flowers. Honey bees collect the nectar and transport it back to the hive. The honey is mixed with enzymes in the bee’s saliva, which turns the nectar into honey.
The color of black honey depends on its flower source; buckwheat flowers are one of the primary sources of dark honey. Other flowers, like chestnut flowers, can produce dark brown honey to almost black.
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Where is black honey found?
Black honey can be found all over the world. In the United States, buckwheat honey is one of the most popular types of black honey. It’s primarily produced in Ohio, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
In other countries dark honey can be found in the Mediterranean, South Africa, and Europe. Thanks to the internet, many types of black honey can be shipped worldwide.
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Does black honey taste like regular honey?
Black honey typically has a richer, more pungent taste than other kinds of honey you may be used to. It’s not nearly as sweet as some different types of honey.
The flavor of black honey is often described as earthy and robust, with hints of molasses. It can also have slightly nutty undertones.
Many people use black honey for its health benefits due to its antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory benefits. So, even if you don’t think it tastes good on its own, it can still be beneficial if added to your favorite dishes.
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Is black honey rare?
Black honey is less common than lighter honey but not necessarily rare. For example, buckwheat honey is a type of black honey that’s pretty easy to get your hands on.
Buckwheat honey is produced in Ohio, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Depending on where you live, you can find it online or at local farmers’ markets.
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Is black bee honey good for you?
Black honey is good for you if you choose raw honey over processed honey. Raw honey is unprocessed and contains minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants that processed honey doesn’t have.
Look for labels that state the honey is “raw” and “unfiltered” before buying it. This helps ensure that you’re getting raw honey that has health benefits.
Processed honey is often stripped of the enzymes and antioxidants that make it healthy. It can also be diluted with other ingredients to cut costs.
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Why is black honey sold out?
Black honey may be sold out depending on the type of honey you’re buying. Buckwheat honey, however, is a type of black honey that’s pretty accessible to most people. You can find it online with a quick search.
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Does black honey expire?
Raw black honey should never expire if it’s stored correctly. Ensure it’s in an air-tight container, and use only clean utensils when dipping into it. It’s best to keep honey at room temperature inside the cabinet.
There is no need to refrigerate honey, as this will only speed up the crystallization process. Crystallized honey is still perfectly edible. However, you may need to heat it to return it to its liquid form.
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What is black honey good for? What is black honey used for?
Both humans and honey bees use black honey for food. Honey bees rely on honey during the cold months when it’s too chilly to leave the nest. Additionally, flower sources are scarce in the winter.
Humans use black honey for culinary purposes and its many health benefits. It’s believed to be a natural remedy for digestive issues, sore throats, and colds. Black honey is also used to treat minor wounds due to its antibacterial properties.
