DATA STORY · WIDGET 38

Honey Variety Radar

15 varieties · 4 editorial scores · compare up to 3 at once · no variety clears 60 on all four

Scores are editorial: 0–100, our judgement from tasting notes, catalogue prices and origin, not lab measurements.

Varieties
15
in catalog
Scores
4
editorial, 0–100
Perfect honey
None
none clears 60 on all four
3 of 4 ≥ 60
6
varieties come closest
Choose up to 3 varieties to compare
Variety 1
Variety 2
Variety 3
Multi-Dimensional Profile Radar
Editorial scores, not measurements · each axis = 0 (centre) → 100 (outer edge) · hover variety name to highlight
255075Flavor DepthComplexity & aromaShelf StabilityStays liquidAffordabilityValue for moneyProvenanceOrigin exclusivity
Hover a variety name in the legend to highlight its profile · Scores are our editorial judgement from tasting notes, catalogue prices and origin, not lab measurements
Editorial Score Breakdown (0–100)
Dimension🌾 Buckwheat🌺 Manuka🌸 Acacia
Flavor Depth
Complexity & aroma
95
82
20
Shelf Stability
Stays liquid
35
60
95
Affordability
Value for money
35
5
42
Provenance
Origin exclusivity
42
85
35
Bold = highest of the three selected varieties on that dimension
🌾 Buckwheat
Strongest flavour in the set — but fast-crystallising.
🌺 Manuka
Distinctive flavour and a high provenance score — and the least affordable honey here.
🌸 Acacia
Maximum liquid shelf life; the mildest, palest flavour in the set.
The No-Perfect-Honey Finding

Across all 15 varieties, no single honey scores ≥ 60 on all four editorial scores. Six clear 60 on three of four. Heather, Lavender, Manuka, Sourwood and Tupelo fall short only on affordability; Orange Blossom falls short only on provenance. The radar chart makes this visible: every strong polygon has at least one axis that sags toward the centre.

🌾 Buckwheat
Strongest flavour — short shelf life
🌺 Manuka
3 of 4 scores ≥ 60 — affordability 5, the lowest
🌸 Acacia
Max shelf stability — mildest flavour
💜 Heather
3 of 4 scores ≥ 60 — fails only affordability
Why there are no antioxidant or health axes

Until October 21, 2026 this radar also had Antioxidants and Health Activity axes. The first was scaled from per-variety ORAC values that we could not trace to the studies cited; the second scored antibacterial activity that nobody had measured on these honeys. We removed both. The one ORAC study we cite, of US honeys from 7 floral sources, reports a range (3.1 to 16.3 µmol Trolox equivalents per gram, darkest honeys such as buckwheat highest), not a value for each variety here, and no measured colour source covers all 15. Measured data: honey ORAC chart.

Embed on Your Site — Free

Food bloggers, nutrition educators, and honey retailers can embed this comparison tool free of charge. No account, API key, or tracking required. Add ?theme=dark for dark mode.

<iframe
  src="https://rawhoneyguide.com/tools/honey-variety-radar"
  width="100%" height="1260"
  frameborder="0" loading="lazy"
  title="Honey Variety Radar">
</iframe>
FAQ
Which honey has the most antioxidants?
Darker honeys test highest. In a 2002 US study of honeys from 7 floral sources, ORAC ranged from 3.1 to 16.3 µmol Trolox equivalents per gram and the darkest, such as buckwheat, scored highest. In a 2022 Polish study of 49 honeys, dark multifloral (187.6 mg GAE/100 g) and buckwheat (182.6) had the most phenolics of 8 honey types. These are lab tests; they do not show an effect in the body.
What is the best honey for everyday baking and cooking?
Clover is the practical answer: widely available, mild flavour that doesn't compete with other ingredients, affordable, and stable enough in storage. Wildflower is a step up in complexity while remaining affordable. For pairing with stronger flavours (cheese, charcuterie, aged spirits), Buckwheat, Chestnut, or Heather's intensity is an asset.
Why do Tupelo and Sourwood score so high on Provenance?
Tupelo (95/100) is produced commercially only along the Apalachicola and Choctawhatchee River floodplains of Florida during a 2–4 week bloom window in April–May. No other region produces authentic white tupelo honey from Nyssa ogeche. Sourwood (90/100) is similarly confined to the Appalachian Mountains where Oxydendrum arboreum grows at 1,000–4,500 ft elevation. Both are harvested in small quantities and verified primarily by taste, enzyme profile, and pollen analysis.
Sources
  • Gheldof N & Engeseth NJ (2002). Antioxidant capacity of honeys from various floral sources based on the determination of oxygen radical absorbance capacity and inhibition of in vitro lipoprotein oxidation in human serum samples. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 50:3050–3055. [FAQ antioxidant range only.]
  • Puścion-Jakubik A et al. (2022). Content of phenolic acids as a marker of Polish honey varieties. Antioxidants 11(7):1312. [FAQ phenolics only.]
  • Radar scores: Raw Honey Guide editorial judgement (tasting notes, our catalogue prices, origin). Not lab measurements.