What is wildflower honey?

29.10.2020. 13:00

Have you ever watched “The Lion King”? The movie is set in the Pride Lands of Africa, an area filled with all kinds of creatures - the perfect definition of the wild.

Now picture the Pride Lands with a huge field of flowers, randomly growing in nature. Those, my friend, are wildflowers.

As with most other blossoms, honeybees love wildflowers because they provide a vast energy source all in one place.

Fun fact: bees hate pesticides.

Since wildflowers are usually resistant to pests, this makes them reliable or preferred suppliers for local buzzers.

Owing to all the possible species that may grow in a wildflower field, its honey is known to have some distinct features that we don’t always understand.

Relax, you’re not the only one confused about this diverse nectar and its sugary by-product.

We’ve got all the answers laid out for you right here; so let’s get into it:

What is the Difference Between Wildflower Honey and Regular Honey?

We’ve already established that wildflower honey comes from uncultivated fields, but we want you to focus on the word ‘processed’ when you think of regular honey. Why? Because that’s exactly what it is.

Wildflower honey is just about the closest thing to all-natural that you will find on the shelves. This raw honey is removed from the honeycomb and strained to eliminate any contaminants - be it from dirt, pollen, or dead worker bees.

In the end, you get a healthy mixture of antioxidants and other essential nutrients.

The truth is, pure honey is quite rare on the market and, most times, loses the competition between ‘regular’ processed ones.

No doubt, processed honeys are cheaper to make because they require less work and less of the raw by-product in the packaging. They get pasteurized and filtered to remove microbes, but their vitamins and minerals also get killed off using this method. 

Usually, a bottle of regular honey will only have a third of the organic variety. The rest is substituted with cane or corn syrup, with almost no nutritional benefit. That’s not what you thought your money was buying, right? 

What Does Wildflower Honey Taste Like?

Like we mentioned before, wildflower honey comes from a great variety of blossoms. Because of this, you will find that its taste is not very consistent throughout the summer.

Its flavor depends on which species are blooming when the honeybees go out to collect nectar. At the same moment, they also gather pollen to carry back to the hive.

As they move from flower to flower, the pollen they collect passes on to other bloomers and in doing so, pollination takes place. This helps ensure a supply of flowers for the next season, although climate changes can also affect the turnout.

Compared to other varieties (like orange blossom), wildflower honey often has a strong fruity-flowery flavor, but again, no can really give a definite taste to the product.

You may also notice that its color varies from shades of light to dark brown.

Does Wildflower Honey Go Bad?

Now that you know for sure that wildflower honey is the real deal, the next obvious question has to do with its life span.

You should always strive to have a jar of raw honey in your cupboards, even if its physical and chemical composition may change over time.

After a few months, the honey will begin to crystallize from the bottom up. But don’t worry - this is only the glucose part of the mixture turning to a solid sugar form.

That’s what we mean when we say ‘physical change’.

If and when it does crystallize, you can place the jar in a container of warm water and the sugar grains will slowly reliquify. Either way, the honey will still be safe for consumption.

Chemically, there may be alterations in its shade and scent, but don’t sweat it. Across the board, natural honey has anti-microbial properties which make it highly unlikely that anything out of the ordinary - or moldy - would be growing in your jar.

What you should be wary about is if your honey gets mixed with moisture. In that case, it may begin to ferment and well, no one wants to be eating honey beer.

Other than that, your wildflower honey will last you years upon years - just remember to store it in a clean, moisture-free container.

Is Wildflower Honey Healthy?

Wildflower honey is an excellent addition to any diet because of its richness in essential compounds such as digestive enzymes, nutrients, and antioxidants. Nutritionists praise it for its benefits in the following areas:

  1. Anti-inflammatory control

Like many other raw honeys, the wildflower variety is well-known for its anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and analgesic properties. These characteristics make it an excellent alternative for pain relief and the treatment and disinfection of wounds.

It is also rich in heart-healthy antioxidants, which help reduce the risk of cardiac arrest, strokes, and other associated diseases.

  1. Immunity and Resistance

Wildflower honey’s high concentration of antioxidants plays a fundamental role in cell preservation and anti-aging. These compounds are also great for boosting the immune system and fighting against symptoms of the cold
and the flu.

  1. Digestion and Weight Loss

A naturally good source of carbohydrates, honey is excellent for increasing energy. Organic mixtures like that of the wildflower honey are often packed with digestive enzymes that assist in the smooth running of the
alimentary canal.

Better digestion means healthier metabolism, one of the key areas in which people struggle to lose a few pounds. 

Wildflower honey also coats the lining of the canal and reduces the effects of gastritis.

Is Wildflower Honey Good for your Face?

It is known that honey, in general, keeps skin young and healthy. And wildflower honey is known to reduce acne, wrinkles and aging lines while restoring moisture and glow to the skin.

If you want to try a honey face mask, check our article and find the appropriate one for your skin type. 

Finally

There seem to be many types of honey on the market. But the real question is, how many of them are as pure as the Wildflower? Think about that before you make your next purchase.