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Honey: The Sweet Golden Liquid

Honey is a commonly known condiment in almost all households. The sweet golden liquid that we all enjoy dousing our croissants with and adding to our tea is one of the most popular sweeteners worldwide. Read on to learn more about honey and some of the most delicious recipes to use it in. 

History Of Honey

Honey was the first and the most commonly used sweetener ever known to man. Its use dates back to 2100 BC where it was mentioned in Babylonian, Sumerian, Indian, and Egyptian writings. 

In the olden days, honey wasn’t only used as a food ingredient but also used to make furniture polish, cement, and utilized for medicinal purposes. It was also at one time used as currency and as a religious offering given how rare and delicious it was. 

German peasants used to pay their feudal lords in beeswax and honey around the 11th century A.D. All of this goes to show just how important of a commodity honey was. 

Image Credit: PollyDot from Pixabay 

Types Of Honey

There are around 300 different types of honey-based on their texture, color, appearance, source, and processing methods. Let’s take a look at a few of them.

1.   White Honey

This type of honey is extremely sweet in taste. It has a pale yellow color and is made by bees who feed on cotton flowers. Another type of white honey called Kiawe honey comes from Kiawe trees in Hawaii.

2.   Manuka Honey

Manuka honey is called the king of honey. It has great therapeutic values. It is made by bees who suck nectar from the flowers of the Manuka bush in New Zealand. This honey also is great for stomach ulcers, indigestion, pimples, sore throat as it has antibacterial properties. 

3.   Eucalyptus Honey

Eucalyptus honey has a minty aftertaste. It is great for colds and headaches due to its high anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. 

Image Credit: fancycrave1 from Pixabay 

4.   Elvish Honey

Elvish honey is the world’s most expensive honey. It is extracted from a deep cave in the Saricayr valley in Turkey. It contains rare minerals and hence sells for around $6,800 for 1 kilogram. 

5.   Buckwheat Honey

Buckwheat honey is one of the strongest and darkest honey. It is obtained from white blossoms of the buckwheat grain. As it has a strong flavor it isn’t commonly used in cooking but used in barbecue sauces or other dishes that can stand up to the strong flavor of buckwheat blossoms. 

Health Benefits Of Honey

Honey is very good for the digestive system as it calms down acid reflux. It also helps in the digestion of food. Honey is rich in antioxidants and hence, is great in fighting infections and bacteria and relieves cold, sore throat, and cough. 

Culinary Benefits Of Honey

The most popular use of honey is to add juiciness and a sweet flavor to cereals and pancakes. And if you are looking for a nice breakfast recipe featuring honey, then you shouldn’t miss the delicious ricotta and honey oatmeal recipe.

Honey is also added to teas instead of sugar as it helps with a sore throat, cold, and cough. 

If you are looking for a refreshing drink, a honey lemon spritz with some orange blossom, lemons, gin, and sparkling water is a great choice. You can also add honey to your spiced or non-spiced nuts, cook it for 2 minutes, and voilà! Your yummy snack is ready!

If you want to elevate the flavor of vegetables, toss in some honey! Add some honey to your carrots, radishes, and turnips after roasting for a sweet and savory vibe. Honey takes a simple vegetable dish to the next level. 

An appetizer recipe that we would be delighted to share is the honey and cranberry baked brie, which brings together ooey-gooey brie, tangy cranberries, and sweet honey. Serve with a side of crostini for a hearty crunch. 

You can also add a fun honey dressing to your salad which is prepared with honey, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil to your crunchy kale, tomatoes, chicken, and avocados. 

Chicken and salmon can be glazed with a mixture of honey and spices such as smoked paprika, cumin, or cayenne to give the meat a sweet and spicy flavor. Check out this appetizing honey lemon salmon dish that we love!

If you have some leftover pizza dough you can easily prepare orange honey rolls with some fresh oranges, butter, orange rinds, and honey. It makes a great dessert for after your meals. 

Storage

Honey is one such condiment that doesn’t go bad. You can store it at room temperature either in a glass or a plastic bottle. It is recommended that you don’t refrigerate it.  

If you notice your honey getting crystallized, there is no need to worry. Simply just place the glass jar in a little warm water and you are good to go!

Feature Image: Piotr Eliasz from Pixabay 

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