Why and How to Taste Honey: Every Jar Tells a Story
Honey is a direct reflection of the land and the flowers that the bees have visited. Honey is tasted much like wine or olive oil, revealing layers of complexity. Tasting involves all of the senses: sight (the color and appearance of the honey), memory association, aroma, and texture.
Taking the time to properly and fully taste honey helps both beekeepers and consumers savor the uniqueness of each varietal of honey. It’s not just about sweetness—real honey can have floral, fruity, nutty, or even herbal notes, and every jar tells a different story.
This variation is exactly what makes real honey so special. Unlike lower cost honey, which is often “cut” with syrup, raw honey is shaped by biodiversity—what the bees forage, the season, and even subtle environmental changes.
So, how do you properly taste honey? What should you be looking for? And why is it so important to recognize and celebrate these differences? In the featured article, you can explore the fascinating world of honey sensory analysis and how to train your palate to truly taste honey.
Trusting Your Local Beekeeper: The Key to Quality Honey
The quality and authenticity of honey are intrinsically tied to the health of the ecosystem. Mixed or blended honeys prioritizes volume over integrity, blending different sources for uniformity and diminishing the complexity of its origins. Real honey—honey with a true sense of place—reflects the biodiversity of the land and the stewardship of the beekeeper. This is fundamental to Love A Bee and why we came to be.
Beekeepers who follow natural bloom cycles can produce honey that is not only distinct but also traceable. As beekeeper Lee explains:
“Where I take the bees, there are certain times of the year where there’s only one type of flower blooming. And it’s so dominant, the bees will only make that type of honey. I harvest it as soon as those flowers are done, and that’s how I personally control the quality.”
This approach preserves the integrity of each varietal, allowing beekeepers to classify honey with confidence—whether it’s the deep, caramelized notes of sourwood or the bright, floral profile of tupelo. More importantly, it ensures that honey remains an ecological marker rather than just a commodity.
At Love A Bee, we support beekeepers who prioritize sustainability, biodiversity, and ethical honey production. Their work not only protects the health of pollinators but also safeguards the future of honey as a reflection of place and season.
To learn more about how honey’s unique “fingerprint” can be used to fight food fraud and preserve its purity, read the full article here: Honey “Fingerprinting” Could Fight Sweet Deception
Tasting Honey; Why?
Why should I take the time to taste honey?
Great question! The short answer is: if you want to taste the earth and sky of an area, then taste its honeys! You’ll be rewarded with a true taste of the diversity and goodness that the soil produces.
Why should I take the time to taste honey?
Great question! The short answer is: if you want to taste the earth and sky of an area, then taste its honeys! You’ll be rewarded with a true taste of the diversity and goodness that the soil produces.
OK, so the taste of honey is area based?
Area, seasons and crops are all major factors in the taste of honey and they’re all inter-related. It’s all based on what the bees think looks good and what they want to bring in. That’s why you can have variation in the taste of honey from one hive to the next, and why honey from this year’s crop might also taste quite differently from last year’s.
So what’s the best way to taste honey?
A tried and true way is to first hold your nose — let the honey spread across your tongue, then open your nose to get the full taste.
So we did that — how come my description of a particular honey is totally different from my friend’s description of the same honey?
Taste isn’t a simple matter. For starters, some of us actually have more tastebuds than others. If you want to find out if you are a born taster and you’re of a scientific disposition, there’s a straightforward process outlined here: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/super-tasting-science-find-out-if-youre-a-supertaster/
If you don’t want to read the article, trust us: because some of us have more taste buds than others, we can have very different responses to the exact same honey. As well, taste has many different components and you and your friend might respond to particular components differently. You might respond to texture or viscosity more than your friend does, for instance.
Another factor is that taste is often quite evocative and some tastes may even be linked to our earliest memories. For example, an acquaintance loves the Sourwood honey with comb that her grandfather would bring back from the North Carolina foothills. She says it was her first taste of honey and even today when she tastes it she immediately thinks of ‘home’ and she uses words such as ‘warm’, ‘sweet’, and ‘cedar’ to describe the taste. If you taste the same honey, you almost certainly won’t share her association of ‘home’ at all, and your description of the taste won’t be influenced in the same way.
A third factor is that our expectations hoodwink us into getting the taste wrong. For example if you sample Orange blossom honey, and you ‘know’ that this honey comes from orange trees and as the honey itself is orange in colour, ‘orange’ is what you taste.
If you take a bit more time, (or if you taste blindfolded) you are more likely to notice Jasmine or Honeysuckle. This is because the bees are bringing in nectar from the orange blossom, and it’s the flower’s nectar properties that determine the taste, not the fruit.
So as you can see, there’s a lot of complexity that influences what we taste. We might not all be super-tasters, but we can improve our enjoyment of the subtle and not so subtle differences in different raw honeys, if we use the ‘hold the nose’ technique and just allow the taste of the honey to come through, free of any memories or expectations.
Bee Pollen, "the perfect food"
Bee Pollen is frequently called "the perfect food" as it contains all of the essential amino acids and many vitamins and minerals. Bee Pollen is the food of the young bee and it is approximately 40% protein. It is considered one of nature's most completely nourishing foods. It contains nearly all the nutrients required by humans. About half of its protein is in the form of free amino acids that are ready to be used directly by the body. Such highly assailable protein can contribute significantly to one's protein needs.
Bee Pollen is frequently called "the perfect food" as it contains all of the essential amino acids and many vitamins and minerals. Bee Pollen is the food of the young bee and it is approximately 40% protein. It is considered one of nature's most completely nourishing foods. It contains nearly all the nutrients required by humans. About half of its protein is in the form of free amino acids that are ready to be used directly by the body. Such highly assailable protein can contribute significantly to one's protein needs.
Will eating local honey each day help reduce my allergies?
When I’m at farmer’s markets selling Love A Bee honey, I often get questions like this:
Customer: Is this local honey? It has to be from around here – I need local pollens because they help with my allergies.
Me: Firstly, I’m glad to hear that honey is helping with your allergies! Raw honey is a wonderful food but if you’re wondering how it helps, there’s no scientific evidence that says that eating local honey will reduce your allergies. Any benefit you’re getting is almost certainly the placebo effect — but if you’re getting a benefit, that’s all good! As for local honey, go ahead — try our raw Bodega Bay honey here – It’s delicious!
For a more detailed answer, try this article from Popular Science: https://www.popsci.com/local-honey-allergies.
When I’m at farmer’s markets selling Love A Bee honey, I often get questions like this:
Customer: Is this local honey? It has to be from around here – I need local pollens because they help with my allergies.
Me: Firstly, I’m glad to hear that honey is helping with your allergies! Raw honey is a wonderful food but if you’re wondering how it helps, there’s no scientific evidence that says that eating local honey will reduce your allergies. Any benefit you’re getting is almost certainly the placebo effect — but if you’re getting a benefit, that’s all good! As for local honey, go ahead — try our raw honeys here – They are delicious!
For a more detailed answer, try this article from Popular Science: https://www.popsci.com/local-honey-allergies.
The Super Bowl of Bees
Wait, the Superbowl of bees? Bees don’t play football? You’re right! But while you wont see a hive of bees in a pre-game huddle, you will see them preparing for their own big game, California’s almond pollination!
If bee’s had a super bowl, a time for them to show their fans what they were made of, and leave it all on the field, what would that look like? The annual almond pollination! That’s what.
The New Year Times notes that California is responsible for nearly 80% of the world’s supply of almonds. And you guessed it, the success of that bounty is dependent on bee pollination. Every February, local beekeepers are joined by out-of-staters, to take part in helping rows and rows of almond trees flourish. But almond growers aren’t the only party benefiting, beekeepers have been able to diversify their practices by taking part in seasonal pollination. The additional service allows them an income aside from honey production. The arrangement is a win-win.
However, as the almond market continues to grow (it’s estimated that by 2020 300,000 additional acres of almond trees will be blooming) we have to wonder, will the bee population be able to keep up? It’s no secret that the domestic bee population has been struggling over the last decade. While efforts, such as a task force formed by The White House, have brought the issue to light, beekeepers still feel that the decline isn’t being taken as seriously as it should be. “If cattlemen lost 50 percent of their cows, you know people would do something and react,” -Chris Hiatt, Vice President of the American Honey Producers Association.
Your preparation for Super Bowl Sunday probably looks like a lot like NFL apparel and appetizers galore, and beekeepers come together to pregame their big game as well. Every year, beekeepers taking part in the California almond pollination come together to discuss everything from honeybee disease prevention, to hive neighboring flora, to maintaining the perfect balance between the wild and domesticated honeybees. But all of these topics circle back to the ultimate goal, of nurturing the bee population. While the road to bee population recovery is a long and winded one, we think the first step to change is awareness. We hope you join in on the conversation!
To learn more about almond pollination, or dive into the details of the honeybee population, refer to this article by The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/15/magazine/the-super-bowl-of-beekeeping.html
The Palette of Nature's Architect; Light and here it comes
Have you ever wondered how bees know what flowers to visit? In short, the answer is light.
Have you ever wondered how bees know what flowers to visit?
"Every super hero has at least one side-kick and a bee’s pal is light. Light is defined as the electromagnetic energy we can see. Humans generally see in the 700 to 400 nanometer range of the spectrum, while bees can see from the 600 to 300 nm range. The 400 to 300 nm section of the spectrum includes ultraviolet light. Studies have shown that if deprived of ultraviolet light, bees lose interest in foraging and will remain in the hive until they are forced out by starvation and severe food shortages. UV light, which can penetrate cloud cover, is critical in a bee’s ability to find nectar. Bees don’t see the same flower color that we do. The UV patterns on the petals of a flower can be compared to the landing deck of an aircraft carrier. Those patterns guide the bee to land at the nectar source. It also explains how bees are able to select a particular species of flower from a field of white flowers. Bees aren’t just seeing white flowers. They’re seeing flowers with distinct UV markers. In fact, bees will head to the UV-absorbing area of a flower first. It is their bullseye. And, just because a flower is ugly to us, doesn’t mean that it’s ugly to a bee. Recent studies have shown that weeds are more successful than other plants because they’re more attractive to the pollinators. Beauty is in the eye of the “bee-holder.”
8 Benefits of Bee Pollen
Did you know that bee pollen contains almost all of the nutrients required by the human body to thrive? That’s why the German Federal Board of Health has officially recognized it as a medicine. Explore all the holistic benefits that bee pollen can deliver.
Did you know that bee pollen contains almost all of the nutrients required by the human body to thrive? That’s why the German Federal Board of Health has officially recognized it as a medicine.
Bee pollen is wonderful for natural allergy relief and is responsible for the many health benefits of raw honey. It’s rich in vitamins, minerals, proteins, lipids and fatty acids, enzymes, carotenoids and bioflavonoids — making it an antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral agent that strengthens the capillaries, reduces inflammation, stimulates the immune system and lowers cholesterol levels naturally.
In fact, bee pollen contains more protein than any animal source and more amino acids than equal weight of eggs or beef … and those are just some of the top bee pollen benefits.
Top 8 Benefits
SHOP Love A Bee Pollen
1. Reduces Inflammation
The anti-inflammatory activity of bee pollen has been compared to drugs, such as naproxen, analgin, phenylbutazone and indomethacin. Researchers suggest that it can be used in acute and chronic inflammatory conditions, initial degenerative conditions, and liver disease or toxicity. A 2010 study published in Pharmaceutical Biology found that honeybee pollen displayed significant anti-inflammatory activities when given to mice with acetaminophen-induced liver necrosis. (2)
Another study conducted in 2010 investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of bee pollen bulk, its water extract and its ethanol extract by a method of carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats. The results indicate the bulk mildly suppressed the paw edema while the water extract showed almost no inhibitory activity. The ethanol extract showed potent anti-inflammatory activity, and researchers suggest that it can used as a dietary supplement and as a functional food. (3)
2. Acts as an Antioxidant
Recent studies have revealed that enzymatic hydrolysates from bee pollen are beneficial for patients undergoing various diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and hypertension. The antioxidant properties were measured in a 2005 study, and researchers found that it has remarkable antioxidant activity. They witnessed high scavenging activities against active oxidative stress. Researchers even suggested that the inhibitory activities of bee pollen were similar to those found in fermented foods, such as natto, miso, cheese and vinegar. (4)
3. Protects Against Liver Toxicity
One 2013 study published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that chestnut bee pollen protects hepatocytes from the oxidative stress and promotes the healing of liver damage caused by toxicity. Rats with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage were separated into two groups — one group took two different concentrations of chestnut bee pollen orally (200–400 milligrams per kilogram a day), and one group was given silibinin, a medication that contains flavonoids.
The researchers detected that both treatments reversed the liver damage, but silibinin caused significant weight loss and death due to severe diarrhea when given to rats. These findings suggest that bee pollen is a safe alternative to the silibinin in the treatment of liver injuries and can be part of a liver cleanse. (5)
4. Boosts the Immune System
Bee pollen has antimicrobial and antiviral properties. A 2014 study published in Food and Chemical Toxicology evaluated the biological actives of eight commercial bee pollen purchased from the market. All of the samples exhibited antimicrobial activity. Staphylococcus aureus was the most sensitive to bee pollen, and candida glabrata was the most resistant. (6)
Bee pollen may also be a natural allergy fighter. A 2008 study conducted in Japan investigated the effect of bee pollen on mast cell activation, which plays a central role in various allergic diseases. The researchers performed in vivo and in vitro experiments and found that bee pollen does have anti-allergic action because of its ability to inhibit the activation of mast cells, which plays an important role in the early and late phases of allergic reactions. (7)
5. Serves as a Dietary Supplement
Animal studies suggest that bee pollen can be used as a valuable dietary supplement. Studies have proved that mice and rats fed with pollen showed a higher vitamin C and magnesium content in the thymus, heart muscle and skeletal muscles. They also had a higher hemoglobin content and greater number of red blood cells after pollen consumption. Bee pollen has actually lengthened the life span of experimental animals.
An interesting study published in the Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition evaluated the effects of bee pollen on 40 New Zealand white rabbits. The rabbits were equally divided among four groups that received the same commercial diet. Each group was given a water solution containing no bee pollen or 100, 200 or 300 milligrams of bee pollen per kilogram of body weight. The female rabbits were mated with non-treated male rabbits from October to February and May to September.
For each season, 80 weaned rabbits originated from the females of the control group, and they were divided into the same four groups to begin treatment. Bee pollen treatment for the female rabbits at 200 milligrams significantly increased body weight, conception rate, milk yield and litter size. It also improved biochemical profiles of blood. The same dose of bee pollen also significantly increased the growth of baby rabbits and their survival rate until weaning. Similar bee pollen benefits were displayed in a 1994 study that involved pregnant rats and fetal growth. (8, 9)
These animal studies suggest that bee pollen has a high nutritional value and works as a supplement for animals with nutritional deficiencies. Researchers suggest that it can be helpful when given to children who have a lack of appetite or experience a developmental delay. It may also help malnourished children and adults, especially before and after surgery, when recovering from an addiction to alcohol, or when they’re under physical or mental stress.
6. Relieves Menopausal Symptoms
A 2015 study conducted in Germany found that both honey and bee pollen honey improved menopausal complaints in breast cancer patients on antihormonal treatment. Over two-thirds of the patients who completed the study reported an improvement in their symptoms.
Researchers suggest that bee pollen and honey may be offered to women who have failed to respond to other alternatives to cope with postmenopausal symptoms. They also note that the flavonoids found in honey and pollen have been found to prevent breast cancer, supporting the use of these products in women with menopause symptoms and problems with or without a history of breast cancer. (10)
7. Helps Relieve Stress
Because of bee pollen’s nutritional and tonic properties, it improves blood supply to nervous tissue, boosting mental capacity and strengthening the nervous system that may be weakened by stress. That makes it one of the most effective natural stress relievers. It may be particularly useful for people with a lack of energy, especially the elderly. Even small doses of bee pollen over an extended period of time can improve mood and physical endurance, thereby strengthening one’s desire to live.
It also serves as a local analgesic, giving it the ability to relieve pain that can be brought on by stress or injury. (11)
8. Promotes Healing
Bee pollen can be used as a topical ointment to speed up the healing process, especially useful as a home remedy for burn relief. The pollen includes kaempferol, which inhibits the activity of enzymes after a burn and decreases inflammatory reactions and swelling.
Pollen helps improve blood circulation in the vessels, and it moistens the skin. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic action of flavonoids in bee pollen helps relieve pain and prevent platelet aggregation. Pollen also helps prevent infection because of its antimicrobial activity, allowing a wound or burn to heal quickly. (12, 13)
Because bee pollen is a great source of many vitamins and minerals, it can also help keep your skin looking younger and glowing. It stimulates blood supply to all skin cells, helps detoxify the body, reduces the appearance of wrinkles and speeds up the healing process.
Bee Pollen for Weight Loss?
Studies have shown that pollen helps in the recovery of muscle protein and energy metabolism in old rats exposed to severe food restriction, proving that it’s useful in the prevention or recovery of malnutrition. (14) But what about weight loss? Is bee pollen a metabolism booster?
Bee pollen helps regulate hormones, and it possesses metabolic activity — containing amino acids that help increase your metabolism by dissolving fat cells in the body. We also know thatpollen contains an enormous amount of essential vitamins and minerals, helping nourish the body of people with poor eating habits. It only takes a small amount to receive these nutrients, and an ounce of bee pollen is only about 90 calories.
Many manufacturers make bee pollen pills or supplements that claim to help you lose weight fast, but there is little scientific evidence proving this to be true. In fact, the FDA had to recall Zi Xiu Tang bee pollen capsules because they found it contained undeclared sibutramine and phenolphthalein, weight-loss drugs that are no longer used in the U.S. because they may increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. The FDA reported that it received more than 50 adverse event reports associated with the use of tainted bee pollen weight loss products from customers and health care providers. (15)
Without scientific evidence, it’s hard to label bee pollen as the “miracle weight-loss product.” But we do know that it can reduce inflammation, boost energy, and provide a range of important vitamins and minerals. It also has the power to support skin health and speed up the healing process, and for these reasons pollen is a useful supplement.
How to Find & Use Bee Pollen
Buy bee pollen from a reputable company or local beekeeper that you trust. Make sure that the pollen is free from pesticides and that the bee colonies are not treated with chemicals. You can find pollen in most health food stores and farmers’ markets, especially since it’s becoming more popular.
The most common way to use bee pollen is when it’s ground and mixed with foods. Ground pollen can be mixed with honey, cottage cheese or yogurt in a 1:1 to 1:4 ratio — this creates a mixed pollen solution that can be ingested throughout the day. If you’re trying to combat a nutrient deficiency, allergies, inflammation, stress or illness, take one teaspoon of mixed pollen three times a day.
Bee pollen granules are also available. They can be added to yogurt, cereal and baked goods. Granules can be blended to create ground pollen, which can be added to smoothies or sprinkled over salad. Because of bee pollen’s detoxifying properties, it makes a great addition to this Secret Detox Drink.
Pollen grains or granules can be added to warm water for two to three hours. They then crack and release their nutritional value. This can also be done with milk, fruit and vegetable juices. You then can drink the liquid or add it to a smoothie to get these awesome bee pollen benefits
Potential Side Effects of Bee Pollen
It’s safe for most people to take bee pollen by mouth for a 30- to 60-day period, depending on the dose. A lower dose can be consumed with a bee pollen mixture and is deemed safer.
The biggest safety concerns are allergic reactions, which may be an issue for people who are allergic to pollen. If you notice itching, swelling, shortness of breath or light-headedness after consuming bee pollen supplements, discontinue use until you’ve spoken to your health care provider.
There is some concern that bee pollen may stimulate the uterus and threaten pregnancy, which is why women who are pregnant should avoid using pollen or use it with the guidance of a health care provider.
Bee Pollen Takeaways
Bee pollen is rich in vitamins, minerals, proteins, lipids and fatty acids, enzymes, carotenoids and bioflavonoids.
It has powerful antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties that strengthen the capillaries, reduce inflammation, stimulate the immune system and lower cholesterol levels naturally.
Use bee pollen to boost your nutrient intake naturally. Studies have shown that it’s effective in preventing and reversing malnourishment and poor nutrition.
You can buy already ground bee pollen or granules. Add it is smoothies, yogurt, cottage cheese, cereal, baked goods and salads. Or let the nutrients infuse in warm water and drink it for a boost of vitamins and minerals.
To learn more and to see the full article, visit the following link to Dr. Axe's study here.
The Mountains of California by John Muir c. 1894
An excerpt from John Muir, who’s considered one of the country’s most influential naturalist’s. Embrace his poetic take on California, and the honey it produces.
"[...] The Great Central Plain of California, during the months of March, April, and May, was one smooth, continuous bed of honey-bloom, so marvelously rich that, in walking from one end of it to the other, a distance of more than 400 miles, your foot would press about a hundred flowers at every step. Mints, gilias, nemophilas, castilleias, and innumerable compositæ were so crowded together that, had ninety-nine per cent. of them been taken away, the plain would still have seemed to any but Californians extravagantly flowery. The radiant, honey-jul corollas, touching and overlapping, and rising above one another, glowed in the living light like a sunset sky--one sheet of purple and gold, with the bright Sacramento pouring through the midst of it from the north, the San Joaquin from the south, and their many tributaries sweeping in at right angles from the mountains, dividing the plain into sections fringed with trees."
[...] In short, notwithstanding the wide-spread deterioration and destruction of every kind already effected, California, with her incomparable climate and flora, is still, as far as I know, the best of all the bee-lands of the world."
Source: http://vault.sierraclub.org/john_muir_exhibit/writings/the_mountains_of_california/chapter_16.aspx
Bee Pollen is frequently called "the perfect food" as it contains all of the essential amino acids and many vitamins and minerals. Bee Pollen is the food of the young bee and it is approximately 40% protein. It is considered one of nature's most completely nourishing foods. It contains nearly all the nutrients required by humans. About half of its protein is in the form of free amino acids that are ready to be used directly by the body. Such highly assailable protein can contribute significantly to one's protein needs.