Heather honey—you've probably heard of it, but what exactly is it? With all the different flavors and the different locations where honeys originate, it can be difficult to see the forest for the trees. Yet, every type of honey has unique properties, flavors, and textures. This is what makes honey such a special product, in our opinion. In this blog post, you'll read exactly what heather honey is, where it comes from, and what's special about it.
What is heather honey?
As the name suggests, heather honey comes from the heathland and its colorful heather plant. The heather plant is a stunning pink that can brighten entire meadows in spring with its beautiful flowers. Besides its vibrant colors, you can also recognize the heather plant by its floral fragrance. The plant can grow almost anywhere on the heathland, even in areas away from the sun. This makes it a favorite with beekeepers because it can be found in places where flowers are otherwise difficult to grow.
Where does heather honey come from?
Heather honey often comes from our own European region. At Honingwinkel.nl, we have heather honey from the Veluwe region, and the Mediterranean region is a good source of heather honey. We also have honey from Spain and Greece.
What makes heather honey special?
Heather honey, when removed from the hive by the beekeeper, is a very thick, gel-like honey. This makes it difficult to remove from the hive. Therefore, heather honey is cut from the hive. It then has to be liquefied. This is a considerable task for the beekeeper, and therefore heather honey is often slightly more expensive than other honeys. Heather honey is usually dark amber in color, no lighter than caramel, and often has a red or orange hue. The honey is further characterized by an intense aroma that combines fruit with woody notes. It has a robust, yet slightly sweet flavor and a spicy aftertaste.
Want to try heather honey yourself?
Discover the unique flavor of heather honey for yourself at Honingwinkel.nl. Browse our webshop to see the delicious honeys we offer. Curious about the benefits of heather honey? Read our blog post: Is heather honey healthy ?