Different Types of Honey

There are many different types of honey available both in Ireland and abroad. In this post we are going to look at some of the more well known honeys and give a little bit of information about each of them.


Acacia Honey - acacia honey comes from what’s called the black locust tree or “false acacia” tree, usually the Robinia pseudoacacia or Caragana arborescens species. It is very popular in Germany, Bulgaria and Hungary.

  • Light amber colour

  • Very sweet but light taste with floral accents

  • High in fructose and low in glucose

  • Slow to crystallise


Citrus Honey - comes from orchards of different fruits. The nectar can come from: oranges, grapefruit, lemons, mandarins, tangerines, limes and many others. Many Mediterranean countries produce citrus honey.

  • Very light in colour

  • Fresh and floral taste

  • Medium sweetness and low acidity


Forest Honey - different to most honeys as the honey is made from honeydew, a sugary secretion left on trees by insects. The bees collect, store and convert this into honey. Common across Europe.

  • Dark or very dark in colour

  • Very little crystallisation

  • Medium sweetness

  • Taste depends on trees involved

Honeys.jpg


Heather Honey - the western European answer to Manuka honey, heather honey is hard to extract due to its thickness but well known for it’s healing properties and taste. Found in Ireland and in the UK.Dark-coloured honey

  • Mild, sweet taste with a tangy aftertaste

  • Thixotropic consistency, which means it only becomes more liquid when stirred, shaken, or agitated. 

  • Pungent aroma


Manuka Honey - Produced in New Zealand this honey is expensive due to the small window in which the plant flowers and the distance it needs to travel to get to our market. It’s widely recognised as a superfood honey with distinctive and measurable health benefits.

  • Rare, dark-coloured honey

  • Rich and sweet flavour

  • From the flowers of the Tea Tree bush

  • Better known more for its health benefits than its flavour


Sunflower Honey - Sunflowers or Heliantus Annus produce thousands of seeds and are rich in nectar and pollen. Very popular in Europe, especially Bulgaria and Poland.

  • Bright, yellowish colour

  • One of the fastest types of honey to crystallise

  • High level of glucose and fructose

  • A medium sweetness with strong acidity

Photo credit: Buram Honey