Organic Honey: What It Is and Why It Rocks
by W&S Sustainability, Nature & Climate Editor
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Learn about what organic honey is, why it rocks, and the best brands to invest in based on where you live.
What is Organic Honey?
Organic honey in the US differs from your standard honey as it’s produced from the pollen of organically grown plants free of chemicals and antibiotics. Therefore, investing in organic honey means you’re practically free from coming in contact with pesticides from the plants bees visit during the pollination process.
However, it’s crucial to note bees sometimes fly up to two miles away from their hive to look for flowers. Although organic honey farmers try to consider this, there is technically no absolute guarantee that bees will never come in contact with non-organic plants.
Moreover, as discussed in our previous post about organic hair products, the FDA organic label only technically refers to agricultural products, of which honey isn’t included.
Instead, the FDA organic label on honey tells you it meets the FDA's livestock production standards but says nothing about the finished product. It’s probably better understood as an indicator that the apiary from which your organic honey product is sourced takes care to ensure the bees are staying close to the hive and its organic plants.
For those not in the US, look at the appropriate regulatory authority responsible for creating and enforcing directives surrounding domestic organic products to understand what organic means where you reside.
Organic Honey vs. Pure Honey vs. Raw Honey
People often assume that organic, raw, pure and unfiltered honey is all the same. However, each has distinct, albeit related, meanings. Understanding the differences is critical when deciding which honey is the most conscious for you.
Pure Honey: Pure honey is honey that is entirely raw and only contains one ingredient: honey. Many people aren’t aware that standard honey is commonly mixed with corn syrup in the US.
Raw Honey: Raw honey is honey that’s also pure but also hasn’t been processed with heat past 118°. The draw of raw honey is that it retains all its antioxidants and nutrients. This type of honey will appear crystallized in its packaging.
The Benefits of Organic Honey
Antioxidant properties:
Antioxidants are molecules that fight free radicals, which are oxygen-containing molecules whose overabundance wreaks havoc on your health.
Honey has been shown to balance the overproduction of these molecules through its high concentrations of things such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, glucose oxidase, catalase, ascorbic acid, carotenoid derivatives, organic acids, and amino acids
These ingredients have been proven effective in preventing cardiovascular disease, inflammatory disorders, neurological degeneration, wound healing, infectious diseases and early-onset aging.
Antibacterial and Antifungal Properties:
As discussed in our post exploring natural antibiotics, organic honey is one of the most well-known natural antibiotics.
Organic honey contains hydrogen peroxide, a mild antiseptic commonly used on the skin to manage minor cuts, burns, and scrapes. It also has a high sugar content, which has been shown to discourage bacterial growth.
Moreover, organic honey benefits from having a low pH, making it very acidic. This acidic pH is suitable for removing moisture from the skin, which is vital for mitigating bacterial growth.
Natural Sugar Alternative:
We at W&S are by no means anti-sugar: we stand firm in the belief that one can indulge in small amounts of sugar and still have a healthy diet. However, added sugar isn’t something your body needs, and it’s, therefore, essential to be mindful of its intake.
Organic honey, which doesn’t contain added fructose, is an excellent alternative to table sugar for this very reason. Although it is higher in calories, it’s also higher in nutrients and health benefits.
Organic honey has a lower glycemic index than table sugar and is exponentially easier to digest. This means honey is less likely to leave you with that “crash” feeling or stomach ache that’s commonplace with sugar intake.
Where to get Organic Honey (based on your location!)
United States
100% Certified Organic Raw Honey Y.S. Organic Bee Farms
Y.S. Eco Bee Farms' 100% Certified Organic Honey is harvested with extreme care. This raw product is natural, unheated, unfiltered and fresh from healthy beehives. The results produce a superior, energy-packed honey with the highest possible levels of live enzymes, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. This certified kosher product is processed without the various chemicals used in conventional beekeeping.
Beeresponsible Eucalyptus Raw Organic Honey
Brazilian eucalyptus trees provide the source for this USDA-certified organic honey, produced without the use of pesticides and antibiotics. While it has a medium color, this honey features a refreshing and robust flavor with pronounced notes of eucalyptus.
United Kingdom
Earth and Breath Organic Raw Spring Flower Honey
Organic Raw Spring Flower Honey has a pleasantly sweet, light, and mild flavor. This makes this organic honey excellent for a variety of culinary uses. It will be delicious on everything – porridge, toast, fresh vegetables, fruit, and baked goods.
The Organic Forest Honey is a precious raw honey variety because of the wide range of herbs, botanicals and tree nectars it contains. This organic honey is highly acclaimed for its medical qualities to cleanse the body and boost the immune system, soothe sore throats and coughs.
Australia
Ambrosia raw organic honey is unstrained, unheated raw honey direct from the hive, which comes packed in a 500 gm jar from Ambrosia. The Ambrosia raw honey is the unprocessed form of honey that retains all its essential nutrients and provides you with pure honey for your total well-being.
Our Wa Jarrah Honey has a TA rating of 35+ meaning it is rich in microbial activity that feeds your cells, gut and immune system with the goodness it needs. Each 450ml glass jar of cold-pressed organic honey comes with a piece of honeycomb inside.
Canada
Velvety smooth. Delicately sweet. Simply irresistible. Every delectable drop of this creamed organic honey is made at a family-run apiary in Canada’s pristine Peace River region. Discover the only Canadian honey certified as both organic and non-GMO.
The Bottom Line on Organic Honey
Clearly, not all honey is created equal. However, organic honey is one of the best conscious living products on the market. It’s great for your overall health and can’t be ignored when trying to maintain a healthier diet and lifestyle.
