Not all honey is produced, handled or packaged in exactly the same way. When shopping for honey, you may come across terms such as raw honey, natural honey, pure honey and processed honey. But what do these terms actually mean?
For people who value natural food, understanding how honey is handled from the hive to the jar can help you make a more informed choice.
At Midlands Honey, we believe honey should be enjoyed as close to its natural form as possible, while supporting responsible and sustainable beekeeping in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.
What Is Raw Honey?
Raw honey is honey that has undergone minimal processing after being harvested from the hive.
After bees collect nectar from flowers, they bring it back to the hive, where it is naturally transformed into honey. Beekeepers then harvest the honey and remove unwanted particles such as pieces of wax or other hive debris.
Depending on the beekeeper and the product, raw honey may be filtered or strained while avoiding intensive processing.
This helps retain the natural character of the honey, including its distinctive colour, aroma, texture and flavour.
What Is Processed Honey?
Processed honey generally goes through additional heating and filtration.
Commercial honey processing may involve heating honey to make it easier to filter and package. Fine filtration can also remove very small particles that naturally occur in honey.
This can result in a honey product with a particularly clear and consistent appearance.
However, processing methods can differ considerably between producers, so it is always worth checking the product information and understanding where your honey comes from.
Why Does Honey Taste Different?
One of the fascinating things about natural honey is that no two harvests are necessarily identical.
The flavour of honey is influenced by factors including:
- The flowers available to bees
- The location of the hives
- The season
- Weather conditions
- The surrounding environment
- The nectar collected by the bees
Honey produced in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands can therefore have its own distinctive character.
This connection between honey and its environment is one of the things that makes locally produced honey so special.
Is Raw Honey Better?
The answer depends on what you are looking for.
If you prefer food products that have undergone minimal processing and want to experience honey’s natural flavour and character, raw honey can be an appealing choice.
Rather than focusing solely on marketing claims, it is important to look at where the honey comes from, how it is produced and who is producing it.
Buying directly from or supporting local beekeepers can also give consumers greater insight into the origins of their honey.
Why Buy Local Honey?
Choosing locally produced honey has benefits beyond the product itself.
When you buy honey produced in your region, you are supporting local beekeepers and businesses while helping maintain a connection between consumers and the agricultural environment around them.
For Midlands Honey, our connection to the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands is at the heart of what we do.
Our honey reflects the natural environment where our bees forage, while our approach focuses on producing honey that is raw, natural and local.
How Should You Store Honey?
Honey is naturally long-lasting when stored correctly.
For the best quality, keep your honey:
- In a sealed container
- At room temperature
- Away from excessive heat
- Away from direct sunlight
- In a dry environment
If honey crystallises over time, don’t assume that it has gone bad. Crystallisation is a natural process that can occur in honey.
Simply warming the container gently can help return the honey to a more liquid consistency.
Choosing Natural Honey
When choosing honey, look beyond the label.
Consider the producer, the source, the location and how the honey is handled after harvesting.
For anyone searching for raw honey in South Africa, locally produced honey can provide an opportunity to enjoy a product with a genuine connection to its environment.
Midlands Honey brings the natural goodness of locally produced honey from the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands to honey lovers across South Africa.
Explore our range of natural honey and discover the taste of the Midlands.
