Today’s question is from Holly:
I was just wondering about raw honey. I know the health benefits and I really want to try it, but where’s the best place to get it? The farmer’s market has stuff they claim is raw, but it’s clear and made from clover. In the grocery store it is very expensive. Is Amazon.com a good place? What brands do you suggest?
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Local is the way to go! We’ve used raw honey for a number of years and have seen some great benefits with our children that suffer from asthma. A few tips for allergy relief ~
* the honey should be from within 20-40 miles of your location for best benefits.
* Do not start using it regularly now as it may cause an ‘overdose’ of pollen exposure & if you’re allergic, this will increase the allergy symptoms. Wait until late fall is what we were told.
* Raw honey should be taken at room temp or in cold drinks — not hot ones like tea to have health benefits.
Hope you find what you need!
Even raw honey on cheerios and cold milk. MMMMmmmm
Yes! My kids love Joe O’s (the Trader Joe’s version of cheerios) with honey and milk!
Mary Ellen
The Working Home Keeper
I get mine from Safeway–5 pounds for 13.99, I believe. It comes in a big can, and it is called “Wild Mountain” brand. Raw 100% pure natural uncooked honey–unblended, unfiltered, undiluted. I am not sure if it would be in stores outside California, since it is packaged in Oakland, Ca.
My family usually gets it at the local farmer’s market here. It’s a little bit more expensive for a jar (around $10-$12), but it lasts a long time and you’re helping out the local farmers!
I started suffering from horrible allergies 6 years ago when we moved to our current home. I read about the benefits of local, raw honey for allergies, so I started adding 1 tablespoon to my morning oatmeal last summer. This spring I have not had to take a single allergy medication while family and friends have been miserable. I buy it at either the local health food store or the farmer’s market. Not only has it helped my allergies, but it tastes soooo much better than anything I’ve bought at the grocery store! Now if only I could convince my 8 year old to eat it daily
I’m going to try out some raw honey from the farmer’s market this summer. But I have a question. Do you all just eat a spoonful of it everyday or use it in recipes? If its used in baking, etc, it loses its properties right? I was just wondering.
I use it in baking, in tea, whatever…I like it on plain yogurt with some nuts on top too!
I, too, heard that raw honey loses its health benefits when subjected to high temperatures, as in baking. Seems a waste to buy the expensive stuff to bake with…should I keep raw honey for room temperature use and cheaper honey for baking? I’ll be interested to read what others have to say about this!
Yes Ann — raw honey will lose the properties that help allergies if used in baking, in hot drinks…basically heated up, and it’s not worth the benefits!
We take one teaspoon full a day, every day during the fall & winter months. Add it to cereal, spread on toast, etc.
Hope that helps!
We go through raw honey really FAST at our house! So grateful to be able to get it for $20-24 a GALLON in South Louisiana. My mom picks it up for us. I agree – look LOCAL! And if you can get it straight from the beekeeper your price may be better. That’s what we do
My husband takes raw honey every morning. I take organic apple cider vinegar 3 times a day and it has many, many, many benefits. I used to have major sinus problems where I was taking mucinex daily which is not cheap and I am sure it isn’t all that good to need to take it every day. It has also helped with allergies, my immune system, weight loss, energy level, blood pressure and cholesterol. It helps with many health issues. This is the brand I use and I get it at my local grocery store. http://www.bragg.com If you go to their website, you will find locations that are close to you. It is $6 a bottle at our grocery store, but it is 2 for $7 this week!
sometimes you can find a local honey seller on craigslist.
As a beekeeper for about 15 years, I would like to help your readers understand more about the bees and their wax and honey.
Wax is manufactured by young bees in the hive. They are fed honey by the house bees so they can make flakes from their bodies. The wax is molded into the honeycomb and is used for storage of pollen, nectar, and a place to lay eggs for the brood. Eating the wax with honey is not harmful to the human body. The “Old Timers” of days gone by went to “bee trees” and either cut the tree down or climbed the tree to get to the honey comb and collected it to take home.
To qualify for being ‘raw honey’, it cannot be heated more than 130 degrees. 140 degrees and above will destroy the enzymes and other nutrients. Straining the honey will just take out the unwanted ‘floaties’
ae. wood chips, wax chips, and maybe little bee parts. This is only to make the honey more ‘people pleasing’.
Filtering, on the other hand will force all the nutrients and pollens out and all you will have left is honey flavored syrup chocked full of unwanted calories.
It is true that wax is a magnet for unwanted chemicals. However, when the beekeeper collects the ‘honey in wax’, it is this year’s new wax and hasn’t had much time to absorb any harmful chemicals. There is nothing to worry about when eating it.
If the brood has ever been in some comb, it will not be used to collect honey by the bee keeper. It is rotated out of the hive or down to the brood box.
Now the last point is this. Local Wildflower is the best honey for allergies. Each colony of bees work only one kind of flower until it is exhausted. We don’t know which colony is working what flower as there is a smorgasbord of flowers blooming at the same time in the Spring. All that honey is collected and put into the same barrel and we call it Wildflower. That is why it is better for your allergies. If any of you have any questions and I may be of help, email me at ekpeach@dpeach.com .
Thank you! This is great info.
I recently bought Beemaid Honey at Costco in Canada when we were visiting only to discover it is UNPASTURIZED…aka raw, and the price was excellent, regular price of honey. So if you are near or in Canada, that might be the way to go.
I get mine at our local farmers market and asked the farmer about the difference between the clear honey and the one w/ the sugar crystals and he said all the honey is raw, but the clear honey had the crystals strained out. For the most part, I prefer the crunchy crystals, but you should really just taste all the different varieties from different flowers and see which one you like. The best honey is the one that you would actually eat.
I like Tropical Traditions Raw Honey from Canada. It has a lovely soft taste and I order it online. It’s organic and in Canada they have more strict guidelines when it comes to honey.
Dear Holly, I can personally vouch for the many benefits of raw, local honey. May I suggest the “buy in bulk and save $$$” method. I live in Eastern Nebraska. A friend has located a beekeeper who will sell five gallon “buckets/jugs/containers” of local raw honey for a VERY economical and cost-effective price. The difficulty is finding these people.
If you live in or near a metropolitan size area, try visiting a few small towns within 40 miles of the city limits. In those small towns, visit the farmers cooperatives, church bulletin boards, VFW or American Legion posts, grocery store bulletin boards, “city offices,” and “Main Street” types of businesses. Most local small town people know someone who knows someone. Through these cooperative methods, I am able to buy fresh, local raw honey for about $9.00 for a gallon jar. Waaaay cheaper than the health food stores. Best wishes !
Hi honey enthusiasts!
My husband and I are beekeepers who sell 100% raw honey. The health benefits are fantastic, and for local users, our honey is a great aid in preventing allergies.
We are a small business and take great care in maintaining the integrity of our honey by avoiding the high temperatures that destroy its natural enzymes. We also sell handmade, all-natural beeswax & honey soaps.
If anyone has any questions about raw honey or would like to order from us, please email jamie@buzzbeehoney.com.
Blessings,
Jamie Mobley-Ceballos
The Buzzbee Honey Company
jamie@buzzbeehoney.com
Follow us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/buzzbeehoney
Azurestandard.com Around $30 for a GALLON! (or it was last time I bought it a year ago!)
Local honey (as close as possible) is the way to go to get the full benefits of having the bees having gotten pollen from plants close to you (it can help reduce allergy symptoms). If you live in the Midwest, or along one of their delivery routes, Country Life Natural Foods has about the best price that you can get. They will ship UPS as well.
I actually use raw honey to clean my face….it works great and is sooo much better for you than the store bought stuff. I get mine (raw and organic) on Vitacost.com. I love that site for a bunch of organics.
I am not sure what your personal reason is for wanting the “raw honey”. My father is a beekeeper and raw honey just means that it isn’t pasturized. If you are looking for the benefits for allergies- definitely buy local honey.
I asked the owner of our local health food store. She has a lot of written materials on this. Bottom line…
1) Local honey (found in local health food stores)
2) Works for allergies after 1 to 2 years of taking about 1 tbsp/day.
3) Do not cook/boil the honey
We always have local raw honey on hand. I use it mostly in my tea or my plain yogurt. I also bake with raw honey, but I like to use Tupelo for that (helps lower blood sugar). I buy it by the gallon from http://www.breadbeckers.com
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