We have found that there are different colors of honey in the market, which causes great confusion for consumers when choosing. They don't know what color of honey to choose and why honey has different colors. In this article, we will provide a detailed explanation for you!
Why does honey have different colors?
The color of honey varies greatly depending on the different types of flowers that bees collect nectar from. Even honey from the same type of flower can have different shades of color. The color of honey generally ranges from water white to deep amber. Pure honey from a single flower type has its own unique and relatively consistent color. Although there may be some variations in color due to factors such as the year, climate, and region, these variations are not too extreme and fall within a general range of colors.
The color of honey becomes lighter after crystallization and darkens when stored for a longer period of time or exposed to sunlight or higher temperatures. Honey heated at high temperatures or processed with additives like cane sugar or chemical dyes may have abnormally vivid colors. Honey contaminated with heavy metals may also have a darker color.
Most people think of honey as either light yellow or dark yellow, which can be monotonous. However, the following types of honey have colors that are truly extraordinary.
1. Cotton Honey:
Cotton Honey, also known as Purple Clover Honey, is mainly found in the northern region of China. It has excellent cold and drought resistance. The color of its honey is often blood red to deep red, which is extremely rare. Due to its high protein content, it is often recommended for people with weak constitution or recovering from illness to replenish energy and restore vitality.
2. Locust Honey:
Locust Honey comes in various shades from light yellow to pale white. However, the most unique is the water white honey produced by field beekeeping from Acacia confusa. It has a pure white and translucent appearance, smooth and delicate like water. According to the "SN/T0852 Import and Export Honey Inspection Regulations," honey with a color grade below 8mm is considered water white, and the water white honey produced by field beekeeping often reaches a level below 1mm.
3. Galla Honey:
Galla is a deciduous shrub that grows in various regions of China, except for Northeast China, Inner Mongolia, and Xinjiang. It can be found on sunny slopes, valleys, and sparse forests at altitudes ranging from 200 to 3000 meters. Galla Honey has a deep green color, with black and green intermingled, making it a very rare color. However, due to the difficulty of achieving a large-scale production of honey from Galla plants, the honey is relatively scarce.
4. Buckwheat Honey:
Buckwheat is widely distributed in China, and the main production areas of buckwheat honey are Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Gansu, and other regions. It is a very dark amber color, and some are even black. This black color is much darker than jujube flower honey. However, buckwheat honey is often not accepted by consumers due to its pungent odor.
In fact, the color of honey is mostly influenced by the nectar plants. To some extent, it can reflect the quality of honey, but it cannot be used as the sole criterion to measure all types of honey. Nowadays, there are various methods of honey adulteration in the market, so it is necessary to ensure that the honey is genuine before using color to judge its quality.
Is light-colored honey better or dark-colored honey better?
It is difficult to answer whether dark-colored honey is better or light-colored honey is better because it depends on how individuals define "better." Some people believe that the most important criterion for good honey is its taste, while others consume honey for its health benefits and consider higher nutritional content to be better.
The color of honey is related to its taste and nutritional content to some extent. If we taste different colors of honey, we will find that light-colored honey generally has better taste than dark-colored honey. In the market, light-colored honey is usually sold at higher prices. Through experiments, it has been found that dark-colored honey has higher mineral content than light-colored honey, which means that dark-colored honey is more nutritious.
In conclusion, light-colored honey has better taste, while dark-colored honey is more nutritious.
