Honey is a wonder of nature. And health-conscious people all over the world are turning their attention to India, because of its organic honey. It is collected from different parts of India, including the mountainous areas of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, the Araku Valley in Andhra Pradesh, and others. In fact, the famous Kashmir honey is one of the best-selling varieties and is exclusively collected from the beautiful and fascinating landscapes of Kashmir. Honey collected from the dry slopes of the Araku Valley acts as an excellent digestive and antioxidant due to the presence of a wide variety of medicinal plants in the valley.

So let us see the different varieties of honey available in India and which one you should go for:

Commercial Honey

Commercial Honey is actually a pasteurized version. Although you won’t see the word ‘pasteurized’ anywhere on the packaging, isn’t it obvious that all commercial products are processed? Instead, the word you see in the description is ‘Pure’. But the reality is far from that, as there is no set of manufacturing standards that defines ‘pure’ on a label. And such commercially manufactured honey may contain fillers like corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, etc.

It is manufactured and processed to remove all fragments such as pollen, propolis, comb, etc. who accompany Honey during the harvest. It is heated for a cleaner end product and filtered for a smooth texture. It is manufactured in such a way that it does not crystallize unless it is frozen in a refrigerator. It is heated to a high temperature to achieve this and in the process it kills all the bacterial enzymes. Although not an optimal variety, it is better than refined sugar. If organic or raw honey isn’t available, commercial honey from stores is the next best thing.

raw honey

Raw honey is collected and distributed by trusted local beekeepers. This acts as a great source of immunity against seasonal allergies. With just one visit to your beekeeper’s unit, you will be able to assess the quality of the honey. It is usually 100% pure and unadulterated. It will be available in 3 forms:

• Completely Raw Honey – It will be crystallized and crispy when you buy it. May contain bits of pollen, wax, and other debris.
• unfiltered raw (or strained) – Will crystallize faster than the other types. It is simply strained to release the honey from large chunks of combs etc.
• Raw Filtered Honey – Heat slightly and filter. It is completely clean with no traces of pollen, etc. It doesn’t have all the other health benefits of a completely raw honey, but it is considered better than the pasteurized variety. Although raw honey is claimed to be unprocessed, there are no strict legal requirements labeling it “raw.” Although unprocessed, they are slightly heated to retard granulation for a short period of time and allow for light straining and containerization for sale. Therefore, it is difficult to identify the amount of real honey in 100% pure honey.

organic honey

The variety of honey with the best flavor, aroma and health benefits is Organic Honey. Organic honey manufacturers meet the standards set by the local organic farming board in terms of bee feeding areas, nectar source, bee handling, extraction, transportation, and packaging materials. For honey to be organic, beekeepers must follow the following farming standards:

• The farms that surround the beekeeping areas about 5 kilometers away are organic. Which means that these farms are grown only naturally and with the use of natural fertilizers.

• No additives are added at any time (sugar, sweeteners, non-compliant honey, etc.).

• Most hives are kept in secluded areas away from pollution and high traffic areas and are grown in a safe, pesticide-free environment.

• During starvation, bees should be fed organic supplements only such as honey, sugar, fruit concentrate, etc. This type of farming demands rigorous methods and regular sample testing to ensure the process is consistently organic.

Organic honey is a healthier choice and tastes superior compared to other varieties.