What is raw honey and how is it different from regular honey?

Raw honey is extracted from the hive and strained without heating above 118°F (48°C) or pasteurizing. Regular honey is pasteurized at 150–170°F, which kills beneficial enzymes, reduces antioxidant content, and destroys natural yeasts. Raw honey retains all its pollen, propolis, and 200+ bioactive compounds.

Does honey expire or go bad?

Honey is one of the only foods that never truly expires when stored properly. Its low moisture content (below 18%), acidic pH (3.2–4.5), and natural hydrogen peroxide production inhibit bacterial growth. Archaeologists have found 3,000-year-old honey in Egyptian tombs — analysis confirmed retained characteristic sugar composition and antimicrobial properties. Crystallization is normal and does not mean honey has gone bad.

How many types of honey are there?

There are over 300 distinct honey varieties worldwide, classified primarily by floral source. Common types include clover, wildflower, manuka, buckwheat, acacia, and orange blossom. Each variety has a unique flavor profile, color, and nutritional composition determined by the nectar source.

Is honey healthier than sugar?

Honey contains antioxidants, enzymes, vitamins, and minerals that table sugar lacks entirely. A 2022 meta-analysis of 18 clinical trials found honey lowered fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, and triglycerides compared to sugar. However, honey is still a concentrated sweetener at 64 calories per tablespoon and should be consumed in moderation.

How can you tell if honey is real or fake?

Look for "True Source Certified" or single-origin labeling. Real honey crystallizes over time (fake honey often stays liquid indefinitely), has a complex aroma matching its floral source, and lists only "honey" as an ingredient. Lab testing (C4 sugar analysis, NMR profiling) is the only reliable way to detect adulteration — home tests like the water or thumb test are unreliable.

Can you give honey to babies?

Never give honey to infants under 12 months old. Honey can contain Clostridium botulinum spores that cause infant botulism — a rare but potentially fatal illness. After age 1, a child's digestive system is mature enough to handle these spores safely. This applies to all forms of honey, including cooked and baked goods containing honey.

Monthly Reference Guide

Seasonal Honey Calendar

A month-by-month guide to what's blooming, what's being harvested, and the best honey varieties to buy each season.

Landscape orientation recommended

Four-season honey wheel: spring orange blossom, summer lavender, fall buckwheat, winter creamed honey with seasonal flowers

SpringSummerFall

🌸

Spring

Mar - May

Blooming

Clover, wildflower, orange blossom, apple blossom, cherry blossom, dandelion, tupelo

Best Buys

Orange blossom, tupelo, early wildflower

Best time to buy [tupelo honey](/honey/tupelo-honey) -- it blooms for only 2-3 weeks in April/May along Gulf Coast rivers.

☀️

Summer

Jun - Aug

Blooming

Lavender, buckwheat, sourwood, basswood/linden, clover, alfalfa, sunflower

Best Buys

[Sourwood honey](/honey/sourwood-honey), [lavender honey](/honey/lavender-honey), [buckwheat honey](/honey/buckwheat-honey), [linden honey](/honey/linden-honey)

Peak harvest season. Most varieties are freshest and most abundant. Farmers markets overflow with options.

🍂

Fall

Sep - Nov

Blooming

Goldenrod, aster, sage, eucalyptus (warm climates)

Best Buys

Goldenrod, sage, aster

Dark honeys like goldenrod and [buckwheat honey](/honey/buckwheat-honey) are at their freshest. [Buckwheat honey](/honey/buckwheat-honey) has ORAC 16,000+ antioxidants -- 9× more than [clover honey](/honey/clover-honey).

❄️

Winter

Dec - Feb

Blooming

Very little in most US regions. Eucalyptus and avocado in California/Florida.

Best Buys

[Manuka honey](/honey/new-zealand-manuka-umf-15) (imported), stored [clover honey](/honey/clover-honey), creamed honey, comb honey

No US harvest, but properly stored honey keeps indefinitely. Stock up on fall varieties before they sell out.

Month-by-Month Guide

Month	What's Blooming	Varieties Available	Best to Buy
Jan	--	Stored varieties	[Manuka honey](/honey/new-zealand-manuka-umf-15), creamed honey
Feb	--	Stored varieties	Last of fall harvest
Mar	Dandelion, cherry blossom	Early wildflower	Pre-order from local beekeepers
Apr	Orange blossom, [tupelo honey](/honey/tupelo-honey), apple	[Orange blossom honey](/honey/orange-blossom-honey), [tupelo honey](/honey/tupelo-honey)	[Orange blossom honey](/honey/orange-blossom-honey), [tupelo honey](/honey/tupelo-honey) (limited)
May	[Clover honey](/honey/clover-honey), [wildflower honey](/honey/wildflower-honey), [acacia honey](/honey/acacia-honey)	[Clover honey](/honey/clover-honey), [wildflower honey](/honey/wildflower-honey), [acacia honey](/honey/acacia-honey)	Spring [wildflower honey](/honey/wildflower-honey), [acacia honey](/honey/acacia-honey)
Jun	Lavender, basswood, clover	Lavender, linden, clover	Lavender, fresh clover
Jul	[Buckwheat honey](/honey/buckwheat-honey), [sourwood honey](/honey/sourwood-honey), sunflower	[Sourwood honey](/honey/sourwood-honey), [buckwheat honey](/honey/buckwheat-honey)	[Sourwood honey](/honey/sourwood-honey) (sells out fast)
Aug	Alfalfa, [buckwheat honey](/honey/buckwheat-honey), sunflower	[Buckwheat honey](/honey/buckwheat-honey), alfalfa, sunflower	[Buckwheat honey](/honey/buckwheat-honey), late summer [wildflower honey](/honey/wildflower-honey)
Sep	Goldenrod, aster	Goldenrod, aster	Fresh goldenrod, fall wildflower
Oct	Late aster, sage	Sage, late wildflower	Sage, fall harvest varieties
Nov	Minimal	Last fall harvest	Stock up for winter
Dec	--	Stored varieties	Gift sets, comb honey, creamed

Rare & Limited

[Tupelo honey](/honey/tupelo-honey) -- Apr-May (2-3 weeks only, never crystallizes)
[Sourwood honey](/honey/sourwood-honey) -- Jul (Appalachian terroir above 2,500 feet)
Fireweed honey -- Jul-Aug (Pacific NW only)
Meadowfoam honey -- May-Jun (Oregon vanilla notes)

Year-Round Staples

[Clover honey](/honey/clover-honey) -- Most popular US honey, always available
[Wildflower honey](/honey/wildflower-honey) -- Multi-floral, varies by region & season
[Manuka honey](/honey/new-zealand-manuka-umf-15) -- Imported from NZ/AU, UMF 10+ therapeutic activity
[Acacia honey](/honey/acacia-honey) -- GI ~32, slow to crystallize, diabetic-friendly