What is Forest Honey?

Honey, a delicacy provided by bees, is known both for its desirable flavour and the long list of health benefits it brings to the table.

Whether or not you’re a fan, you’ve likely heard about how honey can be useful outside of the kitchen.

You also likely know that honey can taste different depending on the kinds of flowers that bees collect the honey from.

But, have you heard of forest honey before?

It's still made by bees but they're not the only insects involved.

Forest honeys have the same standard health benefits but they also have some extras that up the ante. Each forest honey has a distinctive aroma and flavour. 

They're rare in North America but honey connoisseurs scramble whenever they become available because of their unique flavours and nutritional profiles.

How is forest honey made?

Forest honey is also known as honeydew honey.

Unlike regular honey, which is made from flower nectar, forest honey is produced when bees collect honeydew from trees.

Honeydew was once believed to fall from the stars, and some people still think it is excreted by trees. In reality, honeydew is produced by aphids. Aphids consume tree sap to extract amino acids and then excrete the excess sap back onto the tree, which becomes honeydew.

The trees and aphids involved in this process are commonly found in the Mediterranean, particularly in remote, sparsely populated areas. This isolation makes it possible to produce truly organic honey in these regions.

The bees' side of things

Whether collecting nectar or honeydew, bees use their long, tubelike tongues to gather it and transport it back to the hive.

The nectar is stored in the harvester bee's stomach during the flight home, where it mixes with proteins and enzymes. Upon returning to the hive, bees regurgitate the nectar into honeycombs made of wax. They repeat this process until the honeycomb is filled.

The bees then fan their wings to evaporate about 75% of the water from the honey, thickening it considerably. Once the honey reaches the desired consistency, the bees cap the honeycomb with wax. When harvested, the honey's colour, scent, taste, and properties vary depending on the variety, but the process remains the same.

Key differences between forest and flower honey

For one, forest honey is less vulnerable to crystallisation than regular honey. This is because it has lower glucose levels and a higher mineral content.

Forest honey also tends to be darker in colour and it isn’t as sweet as flower honey. Flower honeys have such mild flavours that they are easy to substitute for other sweeteners in coffee, tea or virtually any recipe or dish.

Forest honeys tend to have stronger, bolder, more distinctive flavours. You may still love them spread on toast, but you may find that they conflict with the other flavours in some of your recipes. Forest honeys are often prized by chefs because of how beautifully they pair with certain foods, especially meats and cheeses.

Benefits-of-Honey.com note that forest honey "contains a higher antioxidant, antibacterial activity level, mineral content and greater nutritional and therapeutic benefits than most regular flower honey.”

Health benefits of forest honey

Honey, in general, has a number of medicinal uses. It’s a natural source of energy and it helps to strengthen and support your immune system.

RealFoodForLife.com notes that: “Ancient Olympic athletes would eat honey and dried figs to enhance their performance. This has now been verified with modern studies, showing that it is superior in maintaining glycogen levels and improving recovery time than other sweeteners.”

As much as it keeps you energised during the day though, when the time comes, it can also help you sleep. Honey increases insulin in the body and releases serotonin, a hormone that converts to melatonin which is responsible for sleep regulation.

Honey is also useful for treating sore throats and coughs. Whether you take it right from the spoon, mix it with hot lemon water or use it in recipes for cough syrup or drops, honey has long been known for its usefulness against cold symptoms like these. Many scientific studies back up this particular piece of folk wisdom.

Honey is excellent for both skin and hair.  It helps to moisturise, but it also works to clear up skin conditions like rashes, breakouts and dandruff. It kills off bacteria that causes these issues and returns your skin to a comfortable, beautiful state.

Honey can also be used topically to treat wounds and burns. It is antimicrobial, so it disinfects the affected area and encourages healing. Again, this has been widely studied. Honey has even been found to be more effective than antibiotic ointments for treating minor burns.

These benefits can be found in any pure honey. Organic honey will typically be of higher quality and raw honey contains living probiotics and enzymes that have great benefits (stay tuned for our post on the benefits of raw honey over pasteurised honey, tomorrow).

Forest honeys have another level of nutrition, though, beyond what flower honey provides. This is partly why they are so sought after despite their relatively high cost.

The benefits of an individual forest honey will be specific to that variety. Some may be more beneficial for respiratory health, others, digestive health, and so on.

All forest honeys have high levels of antioxidants, probiotics, vitamins and minerals. They also have greater power against bacteria, viruses and fungi.

So, who is the winner?

You are! Whether you choose pure, raw flower honey or forest honey, you will enjoy incredible health benefits and a sweet treat. Flower honey is widely available, but forest honey can be harder to find.

However, you don't have to search far now. Activation Products is thrilled to bring you Panabee, a delicious line of seasonal honeys hand-harvested in Northern Greece. Grown in a pristine, biodiverse setting, Panabee honeys are completely raw and organic, offering both forest and flower varieties with distinctive flavours and plenty of health benefits for you and your family.

Panabee honey is a hybrid made from both the nectar of wild chestnut flowers and the honeydew of wild chestnut trees, boasting an antioxidant profile similar to other forest honeys. Since bee production varies, we can't guarantee yields from year to year. Don't miss the chance to experience this unique and nutritious honey!

Related Links:
http://www.benefits-of-honey.com/honeydew-honey.html
http://www.honeytraveler.com/single-flower-honey/honeydew-or-forest-honeys/
http://www.honeytraveler.com/types-of-honey/honeydew-forest-honey/
http://www.medicaldaily.com/liquid-gold-7-health-benefits-honey-could-heal-your-whole-body-325932
http://www.benefits-of-honey.com/how-do-bees-make-honey.html
http://www.realfoodforlife.com/health-benefits-of-honey/