Best Raw Honey: Top 10 Options That Are Healthy and Delicious
If you are a "crunchy" person, and enjoy the finer things in life, like raw honey, then I am sure you have asked yourself, "what is the best raw honey?" You're not alone in this question. In today's world of instant gratification, there is hundreds of different raw honey brands all vying for your cupboard space. But how do you know you are buying the right raw honey for your needs and tastes? Well, that is where this article comes in. We have done the research for you and have even put it in a nice list for you to read.
The reason that there is a need for research is because there are quite a few brands that will include chemicals and not so natural stuff. This is the kind of stuff you definitely do not want in your mouth and belly. While the best raw honey will have ingredients that can greatly benefit your diet and moods. So here we go, the top 10 Best raw honey that you can buy.
Here is the Best Raw Honey for You to Choose From
In the chart below, you will find our top 10 rated best raw honey options. For a more in-depth review of each brand, please click on "Read Review."
Product Image | Product Name | Rating | Review |
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![]() | Nature Nate’s 100% Pure Raw & Unfiltered Honey | 4.4 out of 5 | |
![]() | Y.S. Eco Bee Farms Raw Honey | 4.6 out of 5 | |
![]() | Bee Harmony American Raw Clover Honey | 4.6 out of 5 | |
![]() | Honest Raw Honey, Pure Natural American Honey | 4.4 out of 5 | |
![]() | Organic Ohia Lehua Blossom Raw Hawaiian Honey | 4.3 out of 5 | |
![]() | Genuine Tasmanian Leatherwood Honey | 4.5 out of 5 | |
![]() | TJO Bees Raw and Unfiltered Honey | 4.5 out of 5 | |
![]() | Wedderspoon Raw Premium Manuka Honey | 4.5 out of 5 | |
![]() | Crockett Honey Raw and Unfiltered Arizona Desert Wildflower Honey | 4.5 out of 5 | |
![]() | Stakich Raw Honey | 4.4 out of 5 |
Top 10 Best Honey to Buy in 2018
- Nature Nate’s 100% Pure Raw & Unfiltered Honey
- Y.S. Eco Bee Farms Raw Honey
- Bee Harmony American Raw Clover Honey
- Honest Raw Honey, Pure Natural American Honey
- Organic Ohia Lehua Blossom Raw Hawaiian Honey
- Genuine Tasmanian Learherwood Honey
- TJO Bees Raw and Unfiltered Honey
- Wedderspoon Raw Premium Manuka Honey
- Crockett Honey Raw and Unfiltered Arizona Desert Wildflower Honey
- Stakich Raw Honey
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What Is Raw Honey?
Raw honey is the original and untreated sweet liquid that honeybees produce from the concentrated nectar of flowers. Collected straight from the honey extractor; it is totally unheated, unpasteurized, unprocessed honey. This type of honey contains ingredients similar to those found in fruits. Raw honey is alkaline (or basic, which is the opposite of an acid), and so it does not ferment in the stomach and is used to counteract acid indigestion. Raw foodies love raw honey for its exceptional nutritional value and its amylase (an enzyme concentrated in flower pollen which helps predigest starchy foods like breads).
Most of the honey found in the supermarket is not actually raw honey but "commercial" regular honey. Some of this honey is pasteurized (heated at 70 degrees Celsius or more, followed by rapid cooling) for easy filtering and bottling. This process causes the honey to look cleaner, smoother, and more appealing on the shelf. This process also makes it easier to handle and package.
Pasteurization is a concern in regards to honey because it kills the yeast cell in the honey and prevents its fermentation. While good in the fact that it prevents honey from spoiling in areas with a high moisture content while it is being stored. The heating process of honey also slows down the speed of crystallization in liquid honey. But unfortunately, the heating also impacts the overall taste of the honey. Heating also partially destroys the honeys natural yeasts and enzymes which are responsible for activating vitamins and minerals in the human body.
Why Do Different Brands of Raw Honey Look Different?
Currently there is no uniform code or guidelines for when to use the term "raw honey" when producing honey. There are no strict legal requirements for claiming and labelling honey as "raw". But keep in mind, suppliers who understand what raw honey really is ensure that their honey is only slightly warmed (not pasteurized). This warming allows or the honey to flow easier for bottling. Warming of honey can also retard granulation for a short period of time. Using as little heat as possible is a sign of careful handling by honey suppliers.
Benefits of Eating Honey
There are currently over 300 different types of honey, all with their own unique impact on your health. But in general, all honey has the same following traits:
1. Honey is antibacterial and antiseptic: Raw organic honey contains hydrogen peroxide, released when it comes into contact with moisture. Hydrogen peroxide is both antibacterial and fungicidal. Honey was originally used for therapeutic purposes, as it has antibacterial properties, but was replaced by antibiotics, such as penicillin and synthetic drugs in the 1940s and 1950s. Honey is also gyroscopic, which means that it naturally attracts moisture. Most bacteria breed in moist conditions and honey dries out wounds, preventing wounds becoming infected.
2. Honey as a sweetener: Raw honey doesn’t cause the blood sugar to spike. It allows a much healthier gradual increase in blood sugar levels. And we only a need a teaspoon to make a difference.
3. Dark honeys are high in antioxidants: The darker the honey, the more antioxidant which eliminate free radicals. Honey has a unique antioxidant: pinocembrin, an antioxidant associated with improved brain functioning.
4. Honey help you digest food better: Honey contains natural enzymes that assist the digestive process.
5. Honey is said to aid sleeping: The theory indicates that a spoonful of honey before sleep provides the body with enough glucose to ‘feed’ the brain during the night. This prevents or limits the early morning release of cortisol and adrenalin (stress hormones) which disturb sleep; stabilizes blood sugar levels; contributes to the release of melatonin, the hormone required for recovery and rebuilding of body tissues during rest. (According to a recent study in Hershey, Penn, USA.)
6. Honey is good for your skin: Because honey attracts moisture, it helps to nourish the skin – that is why it is often used in skin care products. Also, honey’s antioxidants compounds help to fight free radicals, which can damage skin. Some people find honey is very effective for conditions such as sunburn, acne and eczema.
Different Types of Raw Honey
Honey can differ in a variety of ways ranging from what the bees eat to how the honey is retrieved and processed. Some of the most popular American honey is produced by bees using the pollen of alfalfa, avocado, blueberry, and buckwheat to give a few examples. The retrieved honey can then be processed in the following fashion:
- Unpasteurized (which degrades the enzymes, minerals and vitamins).
- Not ultra filtered – which removes the pollen and its benefits.
- Not a blend of different honeys from different countries (which almost all supermarket honey is, even when it is organic).
- The bees aren’t given antibiotics.
- The bees are fed honey not sugar (many beekeepers feed their bees sugar in the winter).
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.
Advantages and Reasons for Buying Different Raw Honey
Following is a look at some of the most common U.S. honey floral varieties and their health benefits. To learn more about available types of honey in your area, contact a local beekeeper, beekeeping association or honey packer.
Honey Type | Health Benefit |
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Alfalfa |
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Avocado |
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Blueberry |
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Buckwheat |
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Eucalyptus |
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Firewood |
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Manuka |
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Neem |
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Orange Blossom |
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Sage |
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Clover |
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Common Features of Raw Honey
Usually raw, unfiltered raw honey can only be purchased directly from the bee farm. Characterized by fine textured crystals, it looks cloudier and contains particles and flecks made of bee pollen, honeycomb bits, propolis, and even broken bee wing fragments.
Raw and unfiltered honey has a high antioxidant level and will usually granulate and crystallize to a thick consistency after a few months. It is usually preferred as a spread on bread and waffles, or dissolved in hot coffee or tea. However, as most consumers are naturally attracted to buying and eating crystal clear and clean honey, unfiltered honey which looks cloudy and unappealing, and is not commercially available on supermarket shelves.
Conclusion
Raw honey is a necessity for anyone who really cares about the type of honey they are eating. Choosing the right honey is an important step regarding you overall health and wellbeing. Be sure to check out our individual reviews of our top 10 raw honey options in the next few days. For more information, check out the rest of what Green and Growing has to offer.