Spring Honey Flavors and Varieties: A Guide
Spring is a time of renewal and rejuvenation. It’s also the time when bees start to collect nectar from the blossoming flowers, resulting in the sweet and flavorful honey that we all love. Which in our homeland of New Zealand is September through November. Let’s explore some of the different honey varieties and flavors that are perfect to enjoy during the spring months, wherever you live in the world!
Acacia Honey
Acacia honey is a popular variety that is produced from the nectar of acacia flowers, native to temperate and tropical areas in North America, Asia and Europe. It has a light, golden color and a delicate, floral flavor that is perfect for use in tea or as a topping for cheese. Acacia honey adds a subtle sweetness without overpowering other flavors.
Orange Blossom Honey
Orange blossom honey is produced from the nectar of orange blossoms, native to France, Mexico, Israel, Spain, Italy and certain parts of the United States. It has a light, citrusy flavor and is perfect for use in tea, as a sweetener for yogurt or oatmeal, adding a bright, fresh flavor to any dish.
Lavender Honey
Lavender honey is produced from the nectar of lavender flowers, mainly in France, Spain and Italy, and has a light color and a delicate, floral flavor. It is delicious in tea, as a topping for cheese or crackers, and a great ingredient for baking recipes.
Taylor Pass New Zealand Floral Honey Range
At Taylor Pass Honey, we offer a range of floral honey varieties, including Creamed Clover, Beech Tree Honeydew and Native Flower.
Creamed Clover
Harvested from White Clover, a pasture crop common throughout New Zealand, this crowd pleaser honey is deliciously creamy with a warm caramelized toffee sweetness, grassy notes and a lemony ripe fruit flavor. Creamed Clover honey adds delicate sweetness to apple pie, granola, breads and smoothies and is a great match for nutty cheeses like Emmental or Gruyere.
Beech Tree Honeydew
Collected from the bark of the Native Black Beech tree. Large stands of beech trees are found in remote areas of native forest in the South Island of New Zealand. Beech Tree Honeydew, though deliciously sweet, also offers an almost savory, meaty tang. Complex aromas and flavors give it a toasty character and an intensity that lingers. Pairs beautifully with cheese.
Native Flower
Harvested from the New Zealand Native Bush, Native Flower is a unique blend with intense classic honey aromas and a rich, velvety texture together with a slightly herbal flavor. Although sweet at first, this lovely honey finishes slightly drier than other styles. Perfect to serve with feta cheese and coriander, as a glaze for roasted parsnips and as an ingredient for bliss balls or in a vodka cocktail.
Mānuka Honey
Mānuka honey is a type of honey that is made from the nectar of the Mānuka tree, which is also native to New Zealand. This honey has a dark color and a robust, earthy flavor with notes of caramel and molasses. Mānuka honey is known for its antibacterial properties and is often used in natural remedies. It’s also a great sweetener for coffee or tea and can add a unique flavor to your favorite baked goods.
At Taylor Pass Honey, we offer a range of Mānuka honey products, including our Mānuka Honey UMF5+, Mānuka Honey UMF10+ and Manuka Honey UMF15+
Whether you're looking for a delicate floral honey or a robust Mānuka honey, there are plenty of options available. Our range of high-quality honey products is perfect for use in a variety of recipes from sweetening your morning tea to adding depth of flavor to your favorite barbecue sauce. Honey is a versatile and delicious ingredient that can brighten any dish this Spring.
