Honey 

Buying honey online seems easy. But how do you know you’re getting real honey that comes straight from the apiary and isn’t processed in a factory? We can tell you more and share tips. Our honey always comes directly from beekeepers and is not processed or extremely filtered. Honey in supermarkets is often filtered to prevent crystallization. After all, when honey has crystallized, some people stop buying it because they think it’s no longer good. By filtering it heavily and removing all the tiny particles from the honey, such as pollen that are actually very healthy, the honey crystallizes more slowly and also keeps looking nice when it sits on supermarket shelves for a long time. We always source our honey directly from the beekeeper. That way you get real, fresh honey, often from small, sustainable apiaries and beekeeping operations. Want to read more? Then scroll down this page, or go ahead and buy one of our delicious honeys!

Showing 1 - 30 of 30 items
Showing 1 - 30 of 30 items

What types of honey are there?

Strictly speaking, there’s only one kind of honey, and that’s blossom honey. And yet that’s not entirely true. Keep reading and we’ll explain why. Blossom honey is often subdivided into many other varieties. A small selection of common types: acacia honey, rapeseed honey, mountain honey, Himalayan balsam honey, and clover honey. But there’s another small distinction. When people talk about forest honey or pine honey, this can be a honey gathered by bees from aphids. How does this work? Aphids excrete plant sap (honeydew), a sweet substance that bees lick or suck up from the aphids. They take it back to the colony and it eventually becomes honey. This is therefore not nectar from a flower collected by the honey bee itself, but honeydew from tree sap. And so it’s not actually blossom honey. It may still be called honey. Incidentally, Dutch organic honey is very hard to find, especially within the Netherlands. That’s because in the Netherlands there’s a lot of pollution from roads that run alongside nature reserves. There are rules that beehives must always be 5 km from the road. And that’s almost impossible in the Netherlands. The beekeeper must also use a different way of beekeeping. This makes it a bit more difficult, but it’s quite doable. A local beekeeper can tell you why they do or do not have organic honey.

Honey direct from the beekeeper!

Honey direct from the beekeeper is essentially fresh honey, also called raw honey. It is 100% natural. Sometimes people talk about cold‑extracted or warm‑extracted honey, but in practice honey is almost always cold‑extracted. That’s because honey straight from the hive is already a little warm from the bees themselves. After removing the combs from the hive, the honey is usually spun right away and, after extraction, stored in a tank briefly to settle. The jars are then filled. You can then say the honey is unprocessed. Naturally, the beekeeper may filter the honey once more, but that’s very different from filtering under high pressure and heating, as happens in a large processing plant. A beekeeper’s filters are comparatively coarse, so many beneficial traces remain in the honey. Looking at what’s in honey, we’re talking about vitamins, minerals, and natural sugars.

The crystallization of honey

Honey crystallizes naturally. This is a natural process and can be somewhat accelerated by tiny particles, such as pollen, present in the honey. These are very healthy to eat and contain various minerals, proteins, and vitamins. If the honey has crystallized, you can warm it to a maximum of 45°C. This ensures the honey doesn’t lose quality and retains all its properties. If you heat honey above 45°C, especially for a longer time, the quality deteriorates quickly. You can warm honey to 45°C by placing the jar in 45°C warm water or in an oven at 45°C for a short time. It will then become liquid again and easy to use. You can of course eat crystallized honey as well; it just tastes different due to its changed texture. Avoid using the microwave, to prevent the natural enzymes in honey from being destroyed.

Where can I buy honey?

Your best bet is to buy honey locally or from a specialist shop. Locally, you can often buy from a beekeeper with a sign at the door, or you can buy from us, at a store specialized in honey. Then you know you’re getting quality honey at a fair price. The taste of honey depends on the region it comes from. Every region has its own flavor. As long as the honey comes from Europe, you can still speak of ‘local,’ bearing in mind that many supermarkets source honey from South America or even China, where quality is sometimes lower because the honey has spent a long time in drums during transport and storage, sometimes even in the heat.

Health benefits of honey

Honey has been known for its unique health benefits for centuries. This natural sweetener, derived directly from the nectar of flowers and trees, is not only a delicious addition to our diet, but also offers numerous health benefits. Honey is an excellent source of natural energy. The unique combination of natural sugars such as glucose and fructose provides a quick energy boost. This makes honey an ideal snack for athletes or a quick pick‑me‑up during the day. Furthermore, honey is known for other properties, although I’m not giving scientific advice here due to claims. Below I’ll give an idea of what is said about honey and its supposed health properties.

 

Antioxidants: Raw honey is packed with important antioxidants, including organic acids and phenolic compounds such as flavonoids. Antioxidants help combat free radicals in the body, which can contribute to reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer.

Digestive support: Honey can promote digestion. It has prebiotic properties, meaning it stimulates the growth of good bacteria in the gut. This can help improve overall digestion and reduce issues such as bloating and constipation.

Natural cough suppressant: Honey is often used as a natural remedy for coughs. Its thicker consistency helps soothe the throat and reduce irritation. Studies have shown that honey can be as effective as some commercial cough suppressants. But we also sell propolis, another product from the beehive. This will work even better against coughs and is also available as a cough syrup.

Antibacterial and antifungal properties: Honey has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties. This is largely due to the presence of hydrogen peroxide and its high acidity. These properties make honey useful not only for wound healing, but also for fighting infections.

Skincare: Thanks to its anti‑inflammatory and antibacterial properties, honey is also a popular ingredient in natural skincare products. It can help with skin conditions such as acne and eczema and contributes to a healthy, radiant complexion.

Relief from seasonal allergies: Some people find relief from seasonal allergies by consuming local honey. The idea is that by consuming honey containing local pollen, the body can get used to these allergens, which may reduce hay fever symptoms. To achieve this there is another option as well: eat a tiny amount of pollen regularly. It’s best to start a few months before allergy season begins and symptoms appear.

It’s important to remember that while honey offers many health benefits, it’s still a sugar‑rich substance. Moderate consumption is therefore essential, especially for people who need to watch their sugar intake.

 

How should I store honey?

Store honey in a glass jar with a tight‑fitting lid. This prevents the honey from attracting moisture. Honey is hygroscopic, which means it absorbs moisture, and you don’t want that. It should stay as dry as possible to preserve its shelf life and to avoid absorbing off‑odors, for example from the kitchen. For the same reason, because it should not be heated, it also shouldn’t be kept warm; so preferably store honey cool in a cupboard, out of direct sunlight. But don’t put honey in the fridge, because it can crystallize faster. Honey does not spoil easily and can remain good for years, provided it is stored correctly. The taste and quality are best preserved if you follow these tips.


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