Consumed the world over, honey is produced by bees once they collect nectar from flowers. There are endless varieties of honey owing to a range of variables such as the type of bee, the flowers from which the honey is created, and the region in which it is formed. Not only is honey a delicious food product with various positive properties for humans, but it can also be used in a wide range of non-culinary situations.

• When consumed with warm water, honey has been shown to actively aid the digestion of the body’s fat stores, making it a powerful tool for weight loss. Also, the addition of lemon and/or cinnamon to the mixture can increase its weight loss properties.
• Honey is an excellent alternative to regular sugar. Not only does it contain fewer calories, but honey is also packed with more vitamins and minerals than sugar, which contains close to none. In most honey, you can find stores of Vitamin C, Calcium, and Iron.
• Honey can be used to treat wounds. It has been found that honey is packed with antimicrobial properties, making it a powerful tool in medicine as well as the kitchen. Applying honey to wounds can quicken the healing process as well as serving as a mild disinfectant.
• When combined with milk and consumed as a beverage, honey has been found to keep skin healthy and glowing. It’s no wonder that such practices have been prevalent for hundreds of years, and people across the world continue to adhere to this practice today.
• Manuka honey, made from a rare plant native to New Zealand, is the world’s most expensive honey. This is due not only to the rarity of the product, but also due to the fact that it has been found to have antibacterial properties, making it a useful tool for human health. It is thicker than most honey, with a deep caramel colour and rich taste that makes it unique.
• The energy properties of honey make it popular among elite athletes. Reports have shown that consuming honey before, during, or after exercise can produce various benefits such as increased energy levels, increased endurance, and reduced muscle fatigue.
• Although inconclusive, recent studies have suggested that honey may possess powerful anti-carcinogenic properties, making it an area of extensive research in the fight against cancer.
• There are more than 300 types of nectar sources collected by bees worldwide, producing an immense range of honeys that can be thin, clear, and runny in consistency or a thick, viscous substance of dark colour and strong taste.
• Long known as a treatment for sore throats, honey has been shown to be just as effective as some medicines in treating the ailment, particularly in children. Consumed before bedtime, a spoonful of raw honey can aid children in getting a good night’s sleep unhindered by a nasty cough or sore throat.
• Finally, did you know that it takes the use of over two million flowers by honeybees to produce just one pound of honey? That’s some work rate!