What is Orange Blossom Honey?
So what makes Orange Blossom Honey Orange Blossom? This sweet, citrusy honey is harvested from hives that have been settled in a blooming orange grove during citrus season.
It is a monofloral honey, which means it is made almost exclusively from one flower - in this case, the nectar of orange tree blossoms. It’s a very popular type of honey - celebrated for capturing the delicate floral essence and the sunny zest of orange groves.
It is a direct result of bees pollinating those fragrant blooms, creating a honey that is both a pure and nuanced reflection of its floral origin.
Oranges are in bloom from December until March, and somewhere between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit is their ideal blooming temperature.
Some of the best Orange Blossom Honey is found in central Florida, Mexico, Brazil, or California. Oranges generally need a lot of sun and water, so the sunnier the climate, the more likely they are to thrive!
What is a Monofloral Honey?
The concept of monofloral honey is central to appreciating Orange Blossom Honey's unique flavor. These honeys are derived from the nectar of a single type of flower, allowing for a distinctive taste profile that mirrors the characteristics of the specific blossoms visited by the bees. Orange Blossom Honey is a perfect example, offering a flavor that's exactly what it’s advertising - orange!
What Does Orange Blossom Honey Taste Like?
The taste of Orange Blossom Honey is marked by its refreshing sweetness and subtle citrus undertones. Its rich yet delicate flavor, and light floral aroma, has the power to transport you to a blossoming orchard with one spoonful.
This honey, like all pure honey, is a testament to the pure and natural beauty of the environment from which it's produced, a taste Savannah Bee Company is proud to bring to your table.
The look of Orange Blossom Honey varies from season to season, but you can usually mark it by it’s light coloring, faintly orange/yellow coloring. It’s also characterized by it’s higher glucose levels, meaning it’s even sweeter than a wildflower or clover honey.
Higher glucose also means it can crystallize quicker - but even crystallized honey is always still edible and delicious. You can always de-crystallize by putting your jar of honey in hot water.
How is Orange Blossom Honey Harvested?
Year to year, harvesting honey can change drastically. You have to account for the weather, the crop, the honeybees, the capabilities of the beekeepers - finding and securing top-quality honey is no easy feat. Harvesting Orange Blossom Honey involves careful timing and skills.
The hives are left in orange groves for around 4 weeks, depending on the season, to allow for the bees to settle in and forage while the season is in full swing. Once the season is over, the hives are then loaded up and scraped for honey - with full consideration for the bees, of course.
We work with local groups of talented and committed beekeepers and citrus farmers - people who care about their bees and product as much as we do. This process ensures each jar of honey captures the essence of orange blossoms at their peak season, embodying our commitment to bringing you the finest, most authentic honey.
How to Use Orange Blossom Honey
Beyond its delightful taste, Orange Blossom Honey shines as a versatile culinary ingredient. Its distinctive flavor makes it perfect for baking, cooking, and even as a natural sweetener for teas and other beverages.
Orange Blossom Honey adds a touch of natural citrus sweetener to our Honey Basque Cheesecake. In this Pork Carnitas dish, our Orange Blossom Honey is combined with orange juice to flavor the pork.
Whether glazing a roast or sweetening a dessert, Orange Blossom Honey enhances dishes with its natural sweetness and subtle floral notes, proving itself as a kitchen staple.
Beyond the Flavor
The uniqueness of Orange Blossom Honey extends beyond it’s flavor. Bees collecting nectar from orange blossoms produce a honey that not only tastes exceptional, but also plays a vital role in pollinating orange trees.
This symbiotic relationship between bees and blossoms is something Savannah Bee Company values deeply, recognizing that healthy bees lead to a healthy planet.
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Orange Blossom Honey
$25.00
$25.00