Much more than just a sweetener, honey is a delicious natural food—the product of a particular place and time.
Honey is found world-wide; from Finland to Auckland and China to Patagonia. For the traveler, the search for honey often leads to discoveries of meaningful and enjoyable aspects of the country and its people. This includes side-trips to road-side stands, farm shops, local markets, restaurants, fairs, festivals, honey competitions, honey tastings, parks, hiking, farm stays, tours, on-farm classes, museums, and more.
All the while enjoying unique, delicious honeys, and learning about other bee products, the flora, natural history, climate, and geology, as well as the traditions and the wonderful local people that produce it.
(Left – a road-side honey bee shop near Puerto Varas in southern Chile, called, “La Picá de la Abeja” – The ‘bite’ of the bee – featuring a mural of their hives across Llanquihue Lake from Osorno Volcano)
Featured Honeys
Heather Honey: Produced for centuries in Germany and in the British moorlands, this is considered the “King of Honeys” in their localities.
Sourwood Honey: Becoming world famous for its quality and produced only in the Appalachian highlands of SE USA.
Pitcairn Island Honey: Honey from the most remote, populated tropical island in the world and home to the descendants of the original mutineers of the Bounty.
Hi Bev:
Thank you for your kind words Bev! There is something magical about honey isn’t there? I encourage interested honey lovers to visit Bev’s website, honeyfanatic.com for her unique perspective on the world of honey.
Great info, thanks.
Do you have any info on Bee-bee Tree honey (Korean Evodia). Crystallization rate? Taste? How much nectar they produce?
I am also looking for the same info for Gobe Thistle, either Ritro or Blue Blow (Echinops Ritro or Echinops bannaticus)
Also, I am looking for the same info for Blue Thistle aslo called Sea Holly (Eryngium Alpinum or Eryngium Planum)
If you can not help, do you know where I can find this type of info?
Thanks
Are you a bee keeper?
Hi Sam:
I am impressed that you were able to decide which one was the best LOL! Whenever we have a honey tasting party I invariably change my mind about my favorite one.
The Brooklyn honey sounds very interesting though. I can understand how it might be unique, although some think that city honey might be tainted with pollution etc., I have heard it is quite good, with city beekeeping becoming quite popular and accepted. Did you buy it from a market? Or directly from the bee-keeper?
…Scott
where can i buy sour wood honey in Pikeville Kentucky?
Hi, Love your website/blog?/ I am a new beekeeper and newer to blog-world, so how do I subscribe to your blog so i can get it automatically in my email inbox?/ thnsk TAryn
Hi Taryn:
You may subscribe via the “subscribe” button on the left below the main navigation. Thanks for your interest!
Thanks,
Scott
I bought Ys raw honey online it has USDA organic seal on front of jar & on back it says OCIA international certified very confusing to me, also from canada & brazil so now looking for “real” raw honey I can get online. I like the taste of tupelo I had in florida,but don’t know where to get it & if raw tupelo is in liquid form? Shouldn’t I see specks of pollen in it if raw? Also wondering if asian countries laudered any tupelo? Geez Just want some raw tupelo from reputable farm,company etc. Can you list a company? Thank You
Hi Linda:
It can be daunting to try to evaluate the honeys on the shelf. To really know if the honey is pure and unprocessed is almost impossible. I try to buy from the beekeepers themselves, large and small. I have found that they are pretty open about whether they heat the honey and their processing methods. More and more are actually selling a “raw” version for a premium as this is becoming more popular. The good news about tupelo is that most of it comes from Florida, and Florida is one of the leading states when it comes to honey regulations: Standard of Identity as adopted in Florida. I mention a couple of places to buy in the Tupelo article.
…Scott
My son has folliculitis and antibiotic can only help so far. Sometimes when his hair is cut he breaks out. A few years ago african palm oil helped to control this condition but he only uses it irritically nowadays and it is no longer helping. I would like to order the Berringa honey and failing that the Manuka honey. I tried to order the Manuka honey via the web site you gave but all i get is pictures of bee keepers. HELP!
Hi Franceine:
The company I refer to has a new website, that, I’m afraid is more suitable to winning a artistic design award then being a good place to shop.
Here is their store URL. I have complete faith in them and have bought honey from them in the past. https://www.nzartisanhoney.co.nz/shop.php
…Scott
Hi,
I write to you from Madagascar
Which forms of collaboration could we do so that we could introduce to you and associations the Madagascar honeys; our country is rich in flora; we would be glad to let you know about beekeepers group over here;
Kind regards, and looking forwards reaction from you,
VALIHA
Antananarivo
+261 32 02 108 86
hi sir have you tried the honey in the philippines?
Hi Valiha:
You may send an email to [email protected].
I would be delighted to make your acquaintance! I will be in Africa next year near Madagascar. Perhaps we could meet?
…Scott
Hi Hannah:
I have not, but would love to! Do you have any recommendations?
…Scott
Scott,
I just came across your blog — very cool!
I have just discovered mead and will be attempting to make my own. In your honey travels, do you have any insights into the best to use to make mead?
also
Any thoughts on New Zealand (south island) honey?
Thanks!
Billy
Hi Scott,
I recently made a batch of creamed honey. In the process of heating it to the recommended temp I got distracted by a phone call and the honey boiled. I don’t think it boiled very long, a minute or two, long enough to make a HUGE mess. I went ahead with the seeding and cool temp storage, but my creamed honey is harder than usual and dark colored. The flavor is not great. Is there any hope for this batch or have I ruined 12lbs of expensive honey?
Thanks for any advice you can offer!
Hi Betty:
What a disaster! I’m not certain whether you can recover the honey. You need advice from someone more experienced than me. Try the folks over at the Beekeeper’s forum http://www.beekeepingforums.com
Good Luck!
…Scott
Hi Billy:
I love the idea of mead, one of the oldest beverages known to man! I haven’t had the opportunity to really investigate them though. The ones I’ve tried were too sweet for my taste. I have been told that a dry mead can be produced. Like wine, the mead takes on the flavor quality of the honey. Try visiting the mead-making forums you’ll learn a lot. https://www.gotmead.com/forum/
South Island honey from New Zealand is home to some of the best honey in the world. New Zealand is committed to their honey market and support their beekeepers. See this post.
…Scott
Hello!
I just found your wonderful site. I live in N. Texas, near Denton, about an hour north of Dallas/Ft. Worth. I’m looking for local honey that’s never been heated. I do wonder about our extreme heat here. Since we don’t want honey heated above 95 degrees, is that a problem when outside temps are 106 and up? Do you know of suppliers of unheated honey in my area?
Thansk so much!
RLK
Have you tried honey from the island of Kalymnos in Greece. The flavour is so pure and unique , let me know what you think.
Hello
Of childhood
I’m very interested in beekeeping , honey production and honey
I tasted different kinds honey
I have some experience
for example,
Best Honey
In terms of color , taste , nutrients And …
Honeyed that naturally there in the mountains
Of course , in mountains temperate
And not too humid mountains
And another points
Eating honey
Eat honey with bees’ wax
Feel the genuine taste of honey
And also
Natural Honey
Never burns
And not frozen
And
Hundreds of other points about honey bees and beekeeping
If I had free time writing
A few days ago I wrote a message on this site
About
designed a device
That can
Natural honey production
Mr. Scott or anyone that it read
I wanted to know
What is your opinion about it
Do you have ideas to make it better
If you believe are a good idea
You can
It Design record
to name
Me and yourself
Patent To name me and yourself
In the country where I live
to honey production and beekeeping do not care
If there is mistake in the text
I’m sorry
I am waiting for your answer
[email protected]
I just read your article on mint honey. I live in Baltimore, Maryland. We have a dozen hives and have been extracting honey. Mostly, we have black locust and have already extracted that; but this year we have had a huge sumac bloom. The honey we are now extracting is delicious, sweet, and has a mint after taste. Your mouth feels fresh (really). There is plenty of mint growing in the area, but it had not yet blossomed. Could it be the wild sumac growing in our woods? (Most of it is staghorn sumac; I don’t think there is any poison sumac around.)
Hi Judith:
That is very interesting! Basswood has a minty smell or taste and blossoms a month or so after black locust. Could that be the source of the taste? The sumac honey I have tried has not had a minty taste.
…Scott
Hi there, here’s a short video on my bees–preparing for winter here in Denver! Enjoy!
Helen Hastings
The blitz brigade hack is crafted in a method that it will not be evident to
game regulators to exclude or penalize your product or service.
Our blitz brigade hack is fairly uncomplicated to use.
Hi Scott,
What a great site! Thank you for all your dedication! I am business developer in Saratoga Springs, NY. I am in the process of opening my second speciality food store and I would like to offer honey tasting of different varietals from around the country and perhaps the world. Do you have any suggestions of different apiaries that could supply good bulk quantity in the US? I am thinking of tupelo, basswood, blackberry, orange blossom wild flower and raspberry. Do you have any other suggestions? Also, have you heard of anyone that is doing honey infusions on larger scale? Like cinnamon honey or jalapeño honey? It’s a lot of questions. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated and I would be happy to pass along a wonderful bottle of EVOO from my business, Saratoga Olive Oil Co.! Thanks – Clint
Scott,
Mycologist, Paul Stamets, gave a recent talk at the Bioneers conference explaining why bees need access to rotting wood:
Paul Stamets – How Mushrooms Can Save Bees & Our Food Supply : Bioneers
It sounds like he figured out a major piece of the puzzle in terms of preventing colony collapse disorder and increasing honey production. Amazing talk!
I think a lot of bee keepers frequenting this site would appreciate hearing it.
Hi Dave:
Thanks Dave! I have been following Paul for many years now after seeing him speak at our Mycological society in Chicago. I am amazed to learn that two of my interests, honey and mushrooms, are linked so importantly. Paul has been educating people about the importance of fungus and mushrooms in our environment for years, so I am not surprised that mushrooms play such an important role with insects and bees in particular.
…Scott
Hi Scott!
My name is Anton Yarosh. I am business owner from Ukraine. I would like to offer you a long term cooperation in the wholesale supply of honey to US from Ukraine. It could be very high quality honey (wild flower, sunflower, buckwheat, acacia, linden) without impurities, straight from the beekeepers.
Price per kilogram with delivery will be approximately $ 2.85 (CIF terms).
I would very much appreciate your help. Since I see that you are a professional in this field. If you were so kind and gave his email – it would be very useful for me and maybe I could make you some interesting offers
Kindly ask you for the response and hope for a successful cooperation.
Best regards
Hi Scott,
Our company is called as GT Ion Druta. Our company owns several directions including a honey, we have a possibility to sell a large volume of high-quality honey which we within a month will be ready to export.
Iam from Moldova,can you propose some serios importers of high quality natural honey in US.
Best regards.
I am looking forward to hear from you.
Hi Viktor:
I am not in the business of imports/exports, but hopefully a reader will respond.
…Scott
Hi Scott,
hope you can come to my place some time,and have a taste of the Linden honey.really. so far its my favorite honey.I like the very special smell.
thank you for sharing all things about honey.
Maggie
Hi Scott I would like to know your oppinion on Mexican honey, specifically honey from the Yucatan peninsula, in both farm and wiled, thanks for your time and for all the grate work that you do here for so many of us looking for answers about honey, THANKS.
Hi Maggie:
I love Linden honey too! It is amazing how much honey a single Linden tree can produce.
…Scott
Hi Jesus:
I have been intrigued by the Yucatan Peninsula honey too, but little is exported. I will have to travel there to learn more. Does anyone have experience with honey from the Yucatan Peninsula?
…Scott
Hi Scott,
Does Suriname have its own honey?
Thanks,
Jerry
Hi Jerry:
Indeed it does! I recently purchased a delicious mangrove honey and a forest honey from one of the five major honey producers in Suriname, SuriBij. Watch for a post in the coming weeks with details.
…Scott
Hi Thelma:
Thanks! I will post your request here in hopes that someone of interest will respond.
…Scott
Hi Scott,
very interesting and useful information that you have gathered. Have you heard of tualang honey?
Hi Nirwana:
I have mentioned Tualang honey in the Health Properties of Honey section of the website. A study by Dr. Nik Soriani Yaacob (Malaysia), Associate Professor in the School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia showed anti cancer properties among other benefits. Have there been further studies or trials? I would be interested to learn more.
…Scott
Hi Scott,
Have you heard anything about mountain honey from Sierra Nevada (South of Spain Granada)? We could not find a lot of info about it , a friend brought some for us and told us that due to the type of plants and the water this could be as good as the Manuka honey? It surely was delicious we´re just not sure its been tested?
Thanks!!
Hi Alex:
As much as I love Manuka, it wouldn’t surprise me if other honeys show similar properties. I don’t know of any testing that has been done on the Spanish honey though. Nevertheless, if it is delicious, then it is certainly worth mentioning.
…Scott
Its very great to know about you and hope our trip to honey hunting place will be wonderful. This is the traditional honey hunting in Nepal and the honey is really amazing……
Excellenjt post. I was checking constantly this weblog and
I am inspired! Extremely hslpful information specially the
last part 🙂 I deal with such info much. I used to be looking ffor this certain info for a long time.
Thank you annd good luck.
Thanks!
Hi Scott,
I began collecting honey about three years ago. Didn’t think too many other people were interested in it. Wherever I go now, I try to find a local source for honey. I tried to find other collectors, but when you Google “honey collecting” all you get are beekeeping techniques. So glad I found your site. I got interested when I gave my local beekeeping club a presentation about pollen in honey and nectar sources. I’m training myself to to pollen analysis on honey. It’s very interesting. Keep up the good work.
Hello Scott,
For such a wonderful part of human culture in all places and times, there isn’t that much info out there bringing it all together about Honey! Until I found your site of course!
We are a small raw honey producer located on Chiloe Island off the coast of Patagonia in Chile.
My question is if you know of any world wide Honey Trade Fairs that exist where one can meet people who love honey and strike up commercial relationships.
(Our honey is export certified raw Tiaca creamed honey from the native forest).
It is so hard to try to reach out to people / companies on a one to one basis- if there are fairs that would be great to know about.
Thanks again!
Britt Lewis
Hi Britt:
I was fortunate to have visited Chiloe Island a few years ago for a day and enjoyed a Curanto feast, but would love to come back and see more of it. Especially try the honey there.
The biggest international honey show is Apimondia, this year in Montreal:
https://www.apimondia2019.com/
…Scott
I have reached big amount of honey resources from different locations of africa. But i dont know how to move it in international market. Basically how can i start this business.
Hello!
I’m help run a local beekeeping organization up in Manitoba, Canada that focuses on education of both the public on honey and beekeeping practices. Some of your honey articles and observations are truly excellent, and I’d like to use some of the material in our programing. Basically as reference to open discussions, and post links to some of your articles. All credit and sources would be given to the author or photographer.
Thank you for all of the time invested in this lovely repertoire of information!
warm regards,
John Russell
President, RRAA
Hi John:
As long as attributes are displayed for both honey traveler and others associated with the article please feel free to use them in your programs. Feel free to link as long as the link text is related to the material.
Best,
Scott
Hi Scott
this is Maurizio speaking from Sardinia Italy. I recently started a community of organic beekeepers in Sardinia with strong rules concerning the ethics behind production: we never feed our bees nor use any chemicals, only organic and far away from polluted areas. I follow your site and I was wondering if you could help us with a back link to help us to become more reliable on the web. If you want we can send you some of our honeys (including our straberry tree one) or you can even come to visit us in Sardinia to see our production facilities.
Thansk in advance
Maurizio
Hi Maurizio:
I cannot attest to the quality of your honey without visiting, and I would love to! However I can see that your principles are very good and I fully support your efforts.Sardinia Honey
…Scott
Hey Scott! I buy my snowberry from Washington from Mt Adams. It’s very good!
Thanks for all the information on here. A very fun read, and a lot of useful succinct information.
Fascinating read! I recently came across mad honey from nepal, known for its unique intoxicating properties. It’s intriguing how different honeys from around the world offer not only diverse flavors but also unique experiences. Has anyone here tried mad honey, and if so, what was your experience like?