Honey Color and Flavor - It all depends on where the bees buzz
The color and flavor of honeys differ depending on the nectar source (the blossoms) visited by the honey bees. In fact, there are more than 300 unique types of honey available in the United States, each originating from a different floral source. Honey color ranges from nearly colorless to dark brown, and its flavor varies from delectably mild to distinctively bold, depending on where the honey bees buzzed. As a general rule, light-colored honey is milder in taste and dark-colored honey is stronger.
Honey is produced in every state, but depending on floral source location, certain types of honey are produced only in a few regions. Honey is also produced in most countries of the world.
Following is a look at some of the most common U.S. honey floral varieties. To learn more about available types of honey in your area, contact a local beekeeper, beekeeping association or honey packer. For help finding a honey packer or a specific floral source, visit the Honey Locator.
ALFALFA
Alfalfa honey, produced extensively throughout Canada and the United States from the purple blossoms, is light in color with a pleasingly mild flavor and aroma.
AVOCADO
Avocado honey is gathered from California avocado blossoms. Avocado honey is dark in color, with a rich, buttery taste.
BLUEBERRY
Taken from the tiny white flowers of the blueberry bush, the nectar makes a honey which is typically light amber in color and with a full, well-rounded flavor. Blueberry honey is produced in New England and in Michigan.
BUCKWHEAT
Buckwheat honey is dark and full-bodied. It is produced in Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin as well as in eastern Canada. Buckwheat honey has been found to contain more antioxidant compounds than some lighter honeys.
CLOVER
Clover honey has a pleasing, mild taste. Clovers contribute more to honey production in the United States than any other group of plants. Red clover, Alsike clover and the white and yellow sweet clovers are most important for honey production. Depending on the location and type of source clover, clover honey varies in color from water white to light amber to amber.
EUCALYPTUS
Eucalyptus honey comes from one of the larger plant genera, containing over 500 distinct species and many hybrids. As may be expected with a diverse group of plants, eucalyptus honey varies greatly in color and flavor but tends to be a stronger flavored honey with a slight medicinal scent. It is produced in California.
FIREWEED
Fireweed honey is light in color and comes from a perennial herb that creates wonderful bee pasture in the Northern and Pacific states and Canada. Fireweed grows in the open woods, reaching a height of three to five feet and spikes attractive pinkish flowers.
ORANGE BLOSSOM
Orange blossom honey, often a combination of citrus sources, is usually light in color and mild in flavor with a fresh scent and light citrus taste. Orange blossom honey is produced in Florida, Southern California and parts of Texas.
SAGE
Sage honey, primarily produced in California, is light in color, heavy bodied and has a mild but delightful flavor. It is extremely slow to granulate, making it a favorite among honey packers for blending with other honeys to slow down granulation.
TUPELO
Tupelo honey is a premium honey produced in northwest Florida. It is heavy bodied and is usually light golden amber with a greenish cast and has a mild, distinctive taste. Because of the high fructose content in Tupelo honey, it granulates very slowly.
WILDFLOWER
Wildflower honey is often used to describe honey from miscellaneous and undefined flower sources.
HONEY BLENDS
While different types of honey are available, most honey, especially honey supplied in bulk, is blended to create a unique and consistent taste and color.
FAQs
There is a relationship between the colour and the flavour of the honey. One rule of thumb is that pale and clear honeys have a soft, delicate taste, while honey with a dark colour tends to have a sharper, more pronounced taste.
Does honey color affect taste? ›
With the difference in color also comes a difference in taste. Lighter honeys are most common in grocery stores, but if you only eat from the light end of the spectrum, you're missing out. Darker honeys have a strong flavor, like molasses.
What is the relationship between the color of honey and its flavor? ›
Honey color ranges from nearly colorless to dark brown, and its flavor varies from delectably mild to distinctively bold, depending on where the honey bees buzzed. As a general rule, light-colored honey is milder in taste and dark-colored honey is stronger.
What is the color of honey? ›
Depending on which type of flower nectar the bees gathered, the honey can range anywhere from nearly colorless to dark brown. For example, buckwheat honey is dark and full, while orange blossom honey is lightly colored and sweet.
What is the flavor of honey? ›
“Most people just say 'sweet,' ” said Amina Harris, director of the Honey and Pollination Center at UC Davis' Robert Mondavi Institute for Food and Wine Science. “But honey is so much more.” Depending on its nectar source, honey can be floral, fruity, smoky, woody, spicy, nutty or earthy.
Why does my honey taste like orange? ›
Orange Blossom Honey:
This honey is often made from various citrus nectars, like lemons, oranges, grapefruits, and more. Visually, orange blossom honey is light amber to white, and the lighter the color, the milder the flavor according to Honey Traveler. This honey typically has light citrus flavors and is sweet.
What impacts the color of honey? ›
Pollen and nectar from different plants will produce different colors of honey. If you compare honey from hives in multiple regions (or climates), then you are likely to see a range of honey colors due to the pollen and nectar source differences in each region.
Is darker honey better? ›
What are the main differences between dark honey and light honey? Dark honey is usually richer in taste and texture, and often has higher concentrations of beneficial nutrients compared to light honey. It also tends to have a lower water content, making it more potent per ounce.
Does real honey change color? ›
If you are asking yourself, “What makes honey dark in color?”, it can either happen naturally because of the plants the bees foraged from. Or it can happen naturally as honey ages. Over time, honey will get darker. Even in a sealed, air tight honey jar.
Does honey change color over time? ›
Honey can stay edible for years, even decades, but honey is a natural product, which means it will change over time. For honey, those changes may include darkening color, thicker consistency, and different taste. Changes in honey are actually good signs (so long as they're not signs of fermentation).
Honey is classified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture into 7 color grades: water white, extra white, white, extra light amber, light amber, amber and dark amber.
How does honey get different flavors? ›
A beehive's foraging grounds also play a major role in why honeys have different tastes. Different kinds of plants provide different kinds of nectar. What the honey bees bring back to the hive will change the flavor of the end product.
What affects the taste of honey? ›
Where bees get their nectar and pollen depends on the season and the available blooming plants in the area. This all contributes to how the honey tastes, as well as to its color and texture.
What is the best flavor of honey? ›
Thick, rich, raw, and delicious.
- Vanilla Bean-Infused Honey. Pure Honey enthusiasts may be screaming blasphemy right now, but you are just going to have to trust me on Vanilla Bean-Infused Honey. ...
- Buckwheat Honey. ...
- Sage Honey. ...
- Smokin' Hot Honey. ...
- Acacia Honey. ...
- Manuka Honey. ...
- Tupelo Honey. ...
- Leatherwood Honey.
All of us subconsciously associate certain colours with distinct tastes and flavours. For most people, red is associated with sweetness, yellow and green with sourness, white with salt, and brown and black with bitterness.
Does dark honey taste better? ›
Dark honey is usually richer in taste and texture, and often has higher concentrations of beneficial nutrients compared to light honey. It also tends to have a lower water content, making it more potent per ounce.
What factors determine the taste of honey? ›
This is turn depends on pasturage. As bees feed on the nectar produced by the flowers.
