Gourmet honey is a term that refers to honey of exceptional quality. When referring to a type of honey made from a specific flower source or one that is native to a specific region of the world, connoisseurs frequently use this description. Honey in gourmet versions is usually labeled as all-natural and pure. The term is also applied to a variety of honey products.
Honey is made by bees using nectar collected from flowers. The distinctiveness of the flowers used to make honey can determine its gourmet status, just as gourmet wine is associated with specific vintages that have unique qualities based on region of the world and time of year in which grapes are harvested. Monofloral honey, which comes from a single flower source, and wildflower honey, which is blended from multiple wildflower sources, are two of the many varieties available.
Due to the distinct flavor and color that the flower type gives the honey, monofloral honey is a popular type of gourmet honey. Manuka honey, for example, is found only in New Zealand and Australia. The Manuka bush, a native shrub of the area, provides food for the bees that produce this honey. The honey produced has a strong flavor that some users have described as smoky medicinal.
Chestnut honey is another monofloral honey. Bees gather nectar from chestnut trees to make this forest honey, which is only produced in Italy. Gourmet honey is described as having a deep amber color and a spicy nutty flavor that is less sweet than other honey varieties. Lavender honey is another monofloral option; the premium version is produced primarily in France by bees feeding on lavender fields. The honey that results is opaque in color and has a floral sweetness to it.
Polyfloral or wildflower honey is often regarded as a gourmet product, despite the fact that it is made from a variety of flower sources. The honey’s floral combination can give it a unique texture and flavor that can’t be duplicated by honey produced in another part of the world. Nectar from desert flowers like cactus and the Mesquite shrub, for example, could be found in a New Mexico wildflower honey. Due to the differences in smell, flavor, color, and texture that these honey blends can have, gourmet versions that represent flowers that bloom in different seasons, such as summer blends or spring blends, are also prized gourmet varieties.
Honey of superior quality is a pure product that has not been blended or altered with any other ingredients, such as corn syrup or molasses. Honey with a water content of less than 18 percent is also considered high-quality honey. Fermentation, which can spoil honey, is prevented by the lower water content. Gourmet honey, according to some honey connoisseurs, is honey that has been only lightly heated and strained, allowing the honey to retain the majority of its vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants without significantly affecting the flavor potency.
Gourmet honey products, on the other hand, may contain non-honey ingredients. Infused honey, a honey flavored with spices and herbs, is a common product of this type. Creamed honey is another gourmet product with a creamy texture and is whipped to spread like butter.
Honey is abundantly produced in almost every country. Grocery stores and supermarkets in the United States usually stock a variety of locally produced and commercially produced honeys. Gourmet stores and online shopping, on the other hand, usually have the most variety of more specialized gourmet types, such as those found only in specific regions of the world.