In this article, we’ll delve into ten different ways to use honey – five as a delectable addition to food and five as a cherished medicinal remedy. Honey is an incredibly versatile ingredient that can enhance almost anything, including food, and is also renowned as one of the most beloved natural remedies across the globe.
What is Raw Honey?
There has been no “processing” of our raw honey. At the time of bottling, processed honey is often passed through a diatomaceous earth filtration system, which removes all pollen and enzymes from the honey. Our raw honey is honey in its purest, most natural form, it is as close to raising the bees and harvesting the honey as you can get! Raw honey, as opposed to processed honey, contains many natural components such as pollen, propolis, and wax. These natural components give raw honey a distinct flavor that distinguishes it from processed honey.
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Explore the first 10 ways to use honey below and start feeling better today!
5 Ways to Use Honey in Food
Honey has been used for thousands of years as a natural sweetener and a medicinal ingredient. It is a healthier alternative to refined sugar and adds a unique flavor profile to dishes. Below are five ways to use honey in food, including as a natural sweetener, salad dressings, baked goods, glazes and marinades, and beverages.
Honey in Baked Goods
Honey can add moisture and a subtle sweetness to baked goods, such as bread, muffins, and cookies. When using honey in baking, it is important to remember that it is a liquid sweetener, so you may need to adjust the liquid and dry ingredients in the recipe accordingly. You can also reduce the oven temperature by 25 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent over-browning. Our Orange Blossom honey replaces white sugar nicely. For a brown sugar substitute we suggest our Buckwheat honey and to swap for molasses our Avocado Blossom is perfection.
Honey as a Natural Sweetener
Honey is a versatile natural sweetener that can add a touch of sweetness to a wide range of dishes, such as oatmeal, yogurt, and smoothies, among others. What sets honey apart from traditional sweeteners like sugar is its lower glycemic index, which means it won’t cause a sudden spike in your blood sugar levels. This is because honey contains a mix of glucose and fructose, which are absorbed by the body at different rates, resulting in a slower and more sustained release of energy.
When using honey as a sweetener, it’s essential to use the right amount to achieve the desired level of sweetness. In most recipes, you can substitute honey for sugar in a 1:1 ratio, but remember that honey has a stronger flavor and denser texture than sugar, which can affect your dish’s overall taste and texture. For this reason, starting with a smaller amount of honey is recommended and adjusting to taste as needed.
Honey in Glazes and Marinades
Honey can be used in glazes and marinades to add a sweet and sticky coating to meat and poultry. A simple honey glaze can be made by combining honey, soy sauce, and ginger. For a honey mustard marinade, whisk together honey, Dijon mustard, garlic, olive oil, and lemon juice.
Pro Tip: For the honey mustard marinade, our Orange Blossom is great. For glazing, we have found our more robust honeys are best, their flavors hold up to the heat of cooking well. For this application, we suggest trying a couple different varieties to see what suits your palate best. Buckwheat is a great variety to start with, if you want milder try Alfalfa and if more robust is your preference, give Avocado Blossom a try.
Honey in Salad Dressings
One of the many ways to incorporate honey into your cooking is by using it as a natural sweetener in salad dressings. With its natural sweetness and unique tangy flavor, honey can take a basic salad to the next level by adding depth and complexity to the overall taste.
A simple and quick salad dressing recipe you can try at home is a homemade honey mustard dressing. This dressing recipe requires whisking together a few ingredients, such as honey, we suggest using our Orange Blossom honey for this recipe, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper, to create a delicious and tangy dressing that can complement any salad perfectly. The honey’s sweetness, combined with the mustard’s piquancy, creates a balanced flavor profile that is both satisfying and dimensional.
Another delightful option to consider is a honey balsamic vinaigrette. This dressing is an excellent option for those who love their food’s savory and sweet combination. The recipe typically consists of honey, we suggest using our Wild Blackberry honey which will add a pleasing fruity element to this recipe, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, garlic, and Dijon mustard. The honey in this dressing helps balance the acidity from the balsamic vinegar, and the mustard adds an extra layer of flavor, creating a well-rounded dressing that can be used on any salad.
Honey in Beverages
Honey can add sweetness and flavor to hot and cold beverages, such as tea and lemonade. To make a honey lemon tea, brew your favorite tea and stir in honey and fresh lemon juice to taste. When using honey in tea, be sure to let your boiling water cool for a few minutes before adding the honey. This limits the honey’s exposure to extreme heat and helps preserve all the “good stuff” in the honey that’s good for you. We like our Sage honey for this simple recipe. For a cold beverage, you can make honey-sweetened lemonade by combining fresh lemon juice, honey, and water in a pitcher.
Pro Tip: Make a simple syrup with honey and warm water before adding it to your lemon and water mixture. This makes dissolving the honey in your lemonade so much easier! Several of our honeys work well in lemonade. Our Clover honey has a nice mid level sweetness but a depth of flavor that can handle the pairing with lemons. Also our Orange Blossom honey can manage to be paired up with lemons quite nicely.
5 Ways to Use Honey as Medicine
Honey is one of the world’s most versatile and beloved natural remedies. For centuries, people have been using honey to treat various ailments, from common colds to wounds and burns. Not only is honey a natural and effective alternative to pharmaceuticals, but it’s also delicious. It can be easily incorporated into your diet. Below are five ways to use honey as medicine to improve your health and well-being.
Soothe a Sore Throat
Honey is an effective natural remedy for sore throats. It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that can help soothe a sore throat and reduce inflammation. To use honey for a sore throat, mix one tablespoon of honey with warm water or tea and drink it several times a day. You can also add a few drops of lemon juice to boost Vitamin C.
Pro Tip: We like combining a ½ cup of our Buckwheat honey with 1 tsp. Turmeric, 1 tsp. Ginger, and a few pinches of fresh ground black pepper. We eat a spoonful of that daily when we have a cough or scratchy throat. Bonus – it clears the sinuses! We also like Hot Toddies! Brew a cup of tea in a saucepan, add Cinnamon Sticks and Star Anise and let simmer for a few minutes. Strain spices as you pour into a cup, add whisky and a large helping (about 2 tablespoons) of Buckwheat honey. Sip and soothe your throat then off to bed for recuperative sleep!
Treat Wounds and Burns
Honey has been a natural remedy for wounds and burns for thousands of years. Its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce the risk of infection and speed up the healing process. To use honey for wounds and burns, apply a small amount of raw honey to the affected area and cover it with a bandage. Change the bandage every few hours, and repeat the process until the wound or burn has healed. Our Buckwheat honey is a wonderful choice for this type of treatment.
Boost Your Immune System
Honey is a natural immune system booster that can help protect your body against viruses and bacteria. It’s high in antioxidants and has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that can help strengthen your immune system. Add a tablespoon of raw honey to your tea or smoothie daily to boost your immune system. You can also eat a spoonful of honey straight from the jar. All of our honeys work well to boost your immune system thanks to their pure raw all natural status!
Relieve Allergies
Honey can help relieve allergy symptoms by reducing inflammation and soothing the throat. It’s also believed that consuming small amounts of local honey can help desensitize your body to local pollen and minimize allergy symptoms over time. To relieve allergies, mix a tablespoon of local raw honey into warm water or tea and drink it several times a day.
Pro Tip: We always suggest our Wildflower honey for this use. Wildflower honey has the distinct advantage because it carries nectar from the most flowers compared to other more “single varietal” honeys. An added bonus for wildflower honey as relates to geography, from California’s northern Central Coast all the way to the Mexico Border and 50-75 miles inland the chaparral is pretty much the same. This means there isn’t wide variation in the types of wild flowers that grow so our Wildflower honey will work well for those who live within that swath of California.
Improve Digestion
Honey has been shown to improve digestion by reducing inflammation and promoting the healthy growth of gut bacteria. It’s also a natural prebiotic, which helps feed the good bacteria in your digestive system. Add a teaspoon of raw honey daily to your tea or smoothie to improve digestion. You can also mix it with apple cider vinegar to boost digestive enzymes.
Pro Tip: In this case our choice of honey is more about what tastes good in each application as all honey will help in improving digestion. To pair with apple cider vinegar we like Orange Blossom because it is sweet enough to pair with the sour of the apple cider vinegar.
Bonus: Manuka Honey
Have you heard of Manuka Honey? Yes? Consider using our Buckwheat honey in place of the very expensive and often counterfeit Manuka. Buckwheat honey boasts similar or GREATER amounts of virus and bacteria fighting polyphenols! It is the superstar in our line-up for its medicinal healing powers.
Conclusion
You can enhance your health and well-being in a tasty and natural way by introducing honey into your diet and medicinal repertoire. For optimal medicinal advantages, opt for raw, unprocessed honey and consult your healthcare provider before using it as a medicinal remedy. Not only does honey add a natural sweetness and delectable flavor to your cooking and baking, but it also boasts numerous benefits, such as its antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Whether you use it as a sweetener in salad dressings, baked goods, glazes and marinades, or beverages, the possibilities for honey are endless. Get creative, explore the many ways to incorporate honey into your favorite recipes, and discover a world of delightful flavors and health benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What foods are good with honey?
Honey is a versatile sweetener that goes well with a wide range of foods, both sweet and savory. Here are a few ideas:
Yogurt: Drizzle honey over plain or Greek yogurt to add natural sweetness and flavor.
Fruit: Honey goes well with a wide variety of fruits, including apples, pears, bananas, berries, and citrus fruits. Use it to make a fruit salad by drizzling it over sliced fruit or mixing it with fresh fruit.
Cheese: Honey can help balance the salty or savory flavor of cheese. Serve with crackers or bread and drizzle honey over goat cheese, brie, or blue cheese.
Nuts: Honey can add a touch of sweetness to roasted nuts, turning them into a tasty snack. Try combining honey and nut butter to spread on toast or fruit.
Baked Goods: Honey can be used as a natural sweetener in baked goods like muffins, cakes, and bread. It’s also delicious drizzled on pancakes, waffles, or French toast.
Tea: A spoonful of honey can be used to sweeten black, green, or herbal tea.
Vegetables: Honey can be used to glaze roasted vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, and beets.
Meat: Honey can be used as a marinade or glaze for chicken, pork, or salmon.
Oatmeal: Honey can be drizzled over oatmeal to add natural sweetness.
Overall, the possibilities for pairing honey with food are limitless. Experiment with different combinations to find your favorites! We suggest trying our favorite honeys including Orange Blossom, Sage, and Buckwheat!
What can I make with too much honey?
If you have an excess of honey, here are some recipes to try:
Granola: Honey can be used as a natural sweetener in homemade granola. Combine rolled oats, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit in a mixing bowl, then drizzle with honey and bake in the oven.
Honey butter: To make a delicious spread for toast, muffins, or biscuits, combine softened butter and honey.
Salad dressing: To make a sweet and tangy salad dressing, whisk together honey, olive oil, and vinegar.
Marinade: To make a flavorful marinade for chicken or pork, combine honey, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger.
Energy balls: Combine dates, nuts, and honey to make a no-bake energy ball ideal for a quick snack.
BBQ Sauce: Honey is a natural sweetener that can be used in homemade barbecue sauce. Combine ketchup, vinegar, honey, and spices to make a delicious sauce for chicken, pork, or beef.
Overall, there are numerous ways to put extra honey to use in your kitchen. Try these recipes or get creative and create your own honey-based recipes!
