What Is the Difference Between Pure Honey & Clover Honey?
Honey is created by honeybees. It has been collected and used as a food source, medicine and ingredient for cooking and distilling for almost three millennia. Dozens of varieties of honey are found all over the world. Each type of honey has its own color, taste and even smell. The source of the pollen honeybees collect to make their honey bestows distinct characteristics on the honey.
Source
Bees will collect pollen from any flowering plant. Pure honey would simply be honey from any variety of flowers (of any color, etc.) as long as it was produced by bees. Some of the better-known honey sources include alfalfa, orange trees, pumpkin blossoms and clover. According to Becky and Glenn Magrum of eBeeHoney, clovers contribute more to honey production in the United States than any other group of plants. Clover honey includes white Dutch clover, white blossom clover and yellow blossom clover. The National Honey Board stipulates that at least 50 percent of the flowers from which pollen is collected must be clover for honey to be identified as clover honey.
Color
The color of honey can range from pale to dark brown. Honey from sources such as avocado or buckwheat tend to be darker. Clover honey refers to a pale amber to almost white honey.
Taste
According to many honey tasters, clover honey has a subtly sweet, flowery flavor and a pleasing mild taste. Some pure honeys have a stronger flavor or a sharper taste.
Smell
Pure honey derives its scent from its source. Basswood honey has a woody scent, while acacia honey has almost no scent. Clover honey has a grassy, floral scent. Historically, the scent would influence the uses of the honey. Basswood is commonly used in marinades. Acacia is popular as a sweetener for teas, as it doesn't affect the tea's aroma. Clover honey is often used in dressings and in baking.
Processing
Genuine clover honey can (dependably) only be obtained through a beekeeper. Most commercial honey is heated before packaging. The Magrums state that this honey has been heated to about 160 degrees Fahrenheit to accomplish several things: allow use of fine filters so that all impurities - including beneficial pollen and enzymes - are removed to extend shelf life; allow faster automated packaging; blend different honeys; and impede the crystallization process. According to eBeeHoney, some large packers add corn syrup to honey to extend the shelf life and keep the honey clear.
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