Dark honey: properties and varieties. How dark honey is harvested

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Honey is one of the most valuable natural products ever given to humanity by Mother Nature. Our distant ancestors knew about its unique properties. It contains about 190 different chemical compounds. Dark honey is considered especially useful. From which plants in central Russia this product is obtained, you will find out by reading today's article.

What determines the shade?

We note right away that the color of this product is largely determined by the time of collection. In addition, its shade is affected by the nectar of the plants from which it is extracted. So, in the spring a lighter product is obtained. At the end of summer and at the beginning of autumn, dark honey is harvested (from which plants this is done, you will learn later). For example, chicory, buckwheat and heather are recognized by their characteristic brown color.

It is generally accepted that light varieties contain more vitamins, dark varieties are rich in trace elements (copper, manganese, zinc) and protein compounds. Therefore, the latter is often recommended for people suffering from anemia.

The most important features for which dark honey is valued

From which plants of the middle zone it is collected, it becomes clear from the names themselves. Although each variety has its own unique properties, there are several common characteristics that unite them into a single group.

Usually dark brown honey is collected from flowering plants. Its shade is due to the high concentration of iron and trace elements. It is more viscous and dense compared to light varieties. Despite the fact that it is much more difficult to fake dark honey, it is recommended to purchase it only from trusted beekeepers. When buying it, you need to pay special attention to the features inherent in the selected product.

List of colors from which brown varieties are obtained

Many people love dark honey. From which plants it is collected, you will find out right now. This list includes heather, chestnut, angelica, eucalyptus, chicory, burdock and buckwheat. Working with these plants, the bees produce such a valuable product.

In addition to the above varieties, the so-called honeydew honey also belongs to the dark ones. It is collected not from the flowers themselves, but from the secretions protruding from the leaves of plants. Due to the fact that this product has a strongly pronounced bitter taste, it is not suitable for human consumption. However, it is ideal for outdoor use.

The benefit of the darkvarieties

From the foregoing, we can conclude that the properties of the product depend on the plant from which it was obtained. But despite this, there is something that distinguishes them from the light varieties.

Dark honey has a thicker consistency. It has a high content of iron and some trace elements. Just like the light varieties, it can be used to treat many diseases. With the help of this product, you can be healed of almost all ailments, including malignant neoplasms.

Among other things, this product is often used in cosmetology. At home, all kinds of masks are made from it. In industry, factory-made care products are made from it.

How to recognize a fake?

Due to the fact that dark honey (from which flowers it is collected, we have already mentioned above) is less common than light honey, it is sold at a higher price. Therefore, counterfeit products can often be found on sale. To avoid the disappointment associated with buying a fake product, there are several important factors to consider when choosing a product.

Of course, it is possible to judge how high-quality dark honey is only after conducting appropriate examinations. Therefore, even specialists who are well versed in various variations of this product will not always be able to accurately determine where the original is and where the well-made counterfeit is. To avoid becoming a victimunscrupulous manufacturers, we recommend purchasing it only in specialized stores that have certificates for the goods being sold.

Dark honey - from what plants?

Burdock gives a valuable olive-colored product with a sharp spicy smell. Burdock honey is often used as a cleanser and diuretic.

Orange is made from orange or tangerine pollen. This product is dark brown in color and has a rich citrus aroma.

Hyssop honey also belongs to dark varieties. It is collected from the pollen of the medicinal plant of the same name. This product is indicated for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, it has an excellent wound healing effect.

The same group includes high-grade meadow and forest honey. The first is obtained from wildflowers. The shade of this product can vary from light to very dark. The second is made from a mixture of pollen from various honey plants growing in forests.

Buckwheat honey

It is considered the most useful of all dark varieties. Its color can vary from yellow with a pronounced red tint to rich brown. This product has a unique bitter-tart taste and spicy aroma. It contains 40% fructose and 36.5% glucose.

This dark honey is rich in vital amino acids, enzymes, antioxidants, protein and minerals. It is considered one of the best sources of iron. It is recommended to uselow hemoglobin, scarlet fever, measles, mumps, hepatitis, cholelithiasis and kidney stones. This product helps to renew the blood composition, cleanse blood vessels and enhance regeneration in tissues.

Regular consumption of buckwheat honey is indicated for pregnant women, as well as people with problems with the gastrointestinal tract. It saturates the human body with valuable nutrients, so it is advisable to take it for flu, colds and beriberi. With antiseptic, antiviral and antimicrobial properties, this product is useful in the treatment of acne, dermatitis, boils, ulcers and ulcers.

Dandelion variety

You have already understood what determines the properties that this or that dark honey possesses, from which plants (dandelion, buckwheat or chicory) it is obtained. For example, a product derived from yellow flowers contains 41.5% fructose and 35.6% glucose.

Dandelion honey can be distinguished from other dark varieties by its pungent odor and strongly pronounced specific taste. This product is highly valued for its antiprotozoal and antimicrobial properties. It is indicated for people suffering from constipation, colitis, gastritis, cholecystitis and many other diseases.

Fresh dandelion honey thick rather viscous consistency. The peculiarity of this variety lies in the fact that if it is not periodically stirred, then it candied very quickly, turning into a fine-grained mass.

Heath honey

This variety can be easily distinguished from other analogues byunique rare red hue. It is considered one of the best sources of many minerals and proteins. It is often recommended to increase appetite.

Another characteristic feature of heather honey is its high viscosity, streaks and ability to thicken quickly. That is why it is so difficult to extract it from honeycombs. This product turns into a jelly-like mass during long-term storage.

Chicory honey

In taste, smell and external characteristics, it is very similar to meadow varieties. It can only be distinguished by its darker shade. This product is highly valued for its unique antimicrobial properties. Chicory honey is recommended for people suffering from hypertension, flatulence, colitis, angina pectoris, inflammation of the kidneys and bladder.

In addition, this variety is indicated for migraines, neurasthenia, depression and insomnia. It also has a beneficial effect on the nervous system and helps to get rid of bouts of irritability. Experts assure that those who consume one tablespoon of chicory honey three times a day are less likely to catch colds and receive all vital microelements and vitamins. It is believed that this product has a beneficial effect on the state of the brain, blood vessels and heart muscle. Regularly drinking a glass of warm milk with a spoon of chicory honey dissolved in it at night, you will sleep better, improve your overall tone and feel a surge of vigor.