Honey produced in England comes in various forms, each with distinct textures, flavours, and characteristics that appeal to different tastes. The type of honey is largely influenced by the plants bees forage from, the way it’s processed, and the natural crystallisation process. Here’s an exploration of the main types of honey found in England:
1. Set Honey
Set honey is thick and spreadable, often creamy in texture. It crystallises naturally over time due to the higher concentration of glucose in the nectar. The crystallisation process gives it a smooth, dense consistency, making it perfect for spreading on toast or baking.
Why it is the way it is: Set honey crystallises because of the glucose content in the nectar. Honey from certain plants, like oilseed rape, has a high glucose-to-water ratio, causing the honey to set more quickly.
Appeal to taste: Set honey typically has a rich, intense flavour. It’s less runny than other types, making it ideal for those who prefer honey that’s easy to spread and less messy. The texture also gives it a unique mouthfeel that many people enjoy.
2. Clear (Runny) Honey
Clear honey is fluid and transparent. It is extracted by a process of gentle heating and filtering, which prevents it from crystallising too quickly. The filtering removes particles that might encourage crystallisation, like pollen.
Why it is the way it is: Clear honey stays runny for longer due to a lower glucose content or the extraction process. Wildflower honey, for instance, tends to crystallise slowly because of its natural composition.
Appeal to taste: This type of honey is versatile, making it popular for drizzling over foods like yogurt, fruit, or porridge. The light, often floral, flavor appeals to those who prefer honey in its most liquid form, perfect for sweetening teas or other drinks.
3. Creamed Honey
Creamed honey, often confused with set honey, is intentionally processed to control the crystallisation process. It’s churned to create uniformly small crystals, which gives it a smooth and creamy texture.
Why it is the way it is: The process of creaming breaks up larger crystals, resulting in a smoother product. This method prevents the gritty texture that can sometimes occur with natural crystallisation.
Appeal to taste: Creamed honey offers a texture that is somewhere between set and runny honey, with a smoothness that spreads easily on bread without dripping. It has a mild, buttery taste that appeals to those who enjoy honey as a spreadable treat.
4. Raw Honey
Raw honey is honey in its purest form. It is unpasteurised and unprocessed, meaning it contains bits of pollen, wax, and other natural elements from the hive. It can be runny or set, depending on the nectar source and season.
Why it is the way it is: Because raw honey isn’t heated or filtered, it retains all of its natural enzymes, pollen, and beneficial compounds. This makes it more nutritious and flavorful than other processed varieties.
Appeal to taste: Raw honey is often more flavourful, with a complex taste profile that can change with the seasons and the flowers the bees visited. It’s popular with health-conscious consumers who appreciate its unaltered, natural state.
5. Heather Honey
Heather honey is a unique type of honey that is often produced in the moorlands of England, particularly from ling heather. It is known for its thick, jelly-like texture and strong, aromatic flavour.
Why it is the way it is: Heather honey has a very high ratio of fructose to glucose, which gives it a distinct texture that doesn’t easily crystallise. The heather plants themselves contribute to the honey’s intense flavour.
Appeal to taste: The robust, slightly bitter taste of heather honey is an acquired taste but is loved by those who appreciate bold, complex flavours. Its thickness makes it excellent for pairing with strong cheeses or using as a glaze for meats.
6. Comb Honey
Comb honey is sold as a whole piece of honeycomb, allowing consumers to enjoy the honey in its rawest form, straight from the hive. The wax can be chewed or spat out.
Why it is the way it is: This honey comes directly from the hive with no processing, filtering, or extraction. It’s as close to nature as you can get, with a mix of honey and the beeswax comb in every bite.
Appeal to taste: Comb honey has an earthy, natural taste, and its chewable texture makes it a novelty for those who enjoy experiencing honey in its unprocessed state. The wax adds another layer of flavour and experience for the consumer.
Each type of honey has its own charm and appeal, offering something for everyone depending on texture and flavor preference. From the rich and spreadable set honey to the bold and complex heather honey, the diversity of English honey is a testament to the variety of flowers and landscapes found throughout the country. Whether you prefer honey that is runny, creamy, or straight from the comb, there’s a type of honey to suit every palate.
We produce our honey in the most natural way possible. Cold filtering our honey to deliver a raw wholesome product that delivers a taste and consistency the way the bees intended it. Each year and season delivers a subtly and sometimes uniquely different kind of honey from the last. This is heavily influenced by the particular dynamic of that production season, weather, humidity and the success of the different kinds of forage available to bees in that season. Our honey will have different colours, different flavours and tones continually – we like it that way, no uniformity, nothing ever the same. Like the universe itself, random and special each and everytime. Just like you!
Honey – Natural, Local, Fresh, Raw and Pure English Honey For Sale Online From Bee Marvellous Ltd Based in Worcestershire UK
Pure Local Cold Filtered Honey Produced in Worcestershire in the Heart of The English Countryside. Our Honey is Natural and Comes with Wonderful Floral Tones Drawn from the Broad Array of Flowers Available to our Bees who Forage from some of the Finest Pastures, Fields and Woodlands in the UK. Our Honey is not Heat […]