Essential Things You Need to Know About Orange Blossom Honey
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- December 24, 2019
The general rule is anything that has pollen can give you honey. Bees usually look for pollen and flower nectar to feed on. The region and season will determine what sources are available for these bees. During winter, bees look for citrus blossoms as their source of abundant pollen and nectar. They store their honey in honeycombs that can be found inside their hives.
When a monofloral honey variety produced by bees collecting pollen and nectar from flowers of orange trees, the honey color is amber light, which makes people think that the best orange blossom honey is a combination of orange juice and honey.
What is orange blossom honey?
Though labeled as monofloral, orange blossom honey can be a mixture of honey from various citrus species. For instance, if the bees moved and relocated to a citrus tree orchard and flowers are in full bloom there, but other orange plants are also abundant in the same area, bees are most likely going to visit all of the area’s citrus species. This only means that it is highly likely for orange honey to contain pollen and nectar from various citrus plants. However, if the primary honey source is orange blossoms, the byproduct will be labeled monofloral orange honey.
If there are no other flowering plants in the area except for the orange trees and nectar is plentiful, bees will most likely collect all that they need only from one source. After that, they will produce exclusive monofloral honey.
Beekeepers, in general, choose where they will relocate their honey bees. They will do so very carefully and also take into consideration several factors, depending on the honey type they want their bees to make. If the goal is to make the best orange blossom honey, the beekeeper should move his bees to orchards for orange trees. Here, he will make sure that the said orchard can offer a sustainable source of nectar. Aside from that, the beekeeper will also ensure that there is no other competition from nearby floral sources of hives.
How does orange honey look like?
Orange blossom honey generally looks pale, whitish, and light golden in color. Purer varieties, ones with very minimal contamination from other sources, are lighter than usual in color.
In terms of taste and smell, orange honey has a weak yet distinct citrus smell. It also has an overall fresh citrus aroma. It usually tastes sweet, with a slightly acidic, delicate flavor, reminiscent of orange or citrus fruits.
The raw and unprocessed honey syrup has a viscous, thick consistency. This indicates intense flavor and low moisture content. Processed honey, on the other hand, no longer has the taste and texture of raw honey. It will become a sweet-tasting liquid, devoid of any specific flavor. This happens because processing causes it to lose its benefits. Orange honey, compared to other honey varieties, crystallize more rapidly.
The Final Takeaway
Orange honey is one of nature’s best gifts, satisfying one’s palate, as well as providing a plethora of health benefits. Then again, to enjoy its best taste and health benefits, use it in its raw and unprocessed form. Though processing can make it significantly sweeter, you will never make the most out of this honey syrup.
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