On the market, most consumers prefer light honey varieties. Due to their taste, meadow and flower ones have gained the greatest popularity. In addition, such types are extremely beneficial for the seller, since light honey is easier to obtain. However, a certain place is occupied by dark varieties of beekeeping products, which are also common on the market. They will be discussed in this material. From the publication, the reader will find out why honey is dark in color and which varieties are most in demand.

What does dark honey mean?

Honey is a medicinal delicacy. Some of its species are produced by bees from flower pollen, but there are other ways. There is also a honeydew variety, which is an apiproduct of brown shades. This type is produced from vegetable juices, and as a rule, it is quite bitter and specific to the taste of honey. The honeydew variety includes, for example, coniferous varieties, which are characterized by a brown color, aroma and taste of resin, as well as a practically absent crystallization property. All other types of honey are created by bees using the usual method for the consumer.

Black honey

Dark varieties are divided into species that are less in nature than light ones. Honey of the following types can be dark:

  • paddy;
  • chestnut;
  • heather;
  • coniferous;
  • buckwheat;
  • meadow;
  • chicory;
  • black.

Which honey plants produce a dark honey color:

  • During periods when there is little rain and there is no proper amount of flowers in meadows and fields, bees begin to process dry plants. As a result, they get honeydew honey. Its main difference is the complete absence of any smell, but at the same time it has the taste of flower honey and it looks the same. The only characteristic and defining sign that the purchased is not a fake is the obvious presence of some bitterness during tasting.

    Honeydew honey

  • The honey product obtained from heather is a tasty and healthy medicine, but it has an excellent aroma, tart taste and a sharp aftertaste. Over time, the heather species begins to emit an even stronger smell, the taste becomes tart and rich. Outwardly, the delicacy has a red-yellow hue, and as it crystallizes, it begins to darken, resulting in dark brown honey. This type is especially useful for those who suffer from asthma, bronchitis, respiratory diseases. Heather honey product has a beneficial effect on people with insomnia, stress and nervous strain. In these cases, it is recommended to brew hot tea or milk and drink them with 1 teaspoon of such honey.
  • Coniferous species, of course, bees produce from the nectars of pine and spruce. It is known that these trees have healing properties, so the result of the work of bees helps to cope with various infections and even acts as a good pain reliever. Coniferous honey is outwardly dark, and as it crystallizes, it acquires a dark green hue.

    Coniferous species

  • Chestnut honey is the healthiest among the dark types. There is some bitterness in its taste, but you can get rid of it by slightly heating the product. It is important to remember that you cannot heat honey above 50 ° C, otherwise it will lose all its healing properties. Outwardly, the chestnut type of a healthy dessert is liquid. It retains this state for a long time, but when sugared it becomes homogeneous.
  • The buckwheat species is unique in nature. Outwardly, it has an unusual color, often it has an almost black tint.In addition, it is the only dark type of black honey that belongs to high-grade. With its daily use, it is possible to get rid of such complex diseases as asthma, gout, radiculitis.

    Buckwheat look

  • The meadow species has a very sharp and specific taste, but, despite this, it has an amazing aroma. This honey has a positive effect on the body as a pain reliever. Therefore, it is recommended to use it in the form of compresses in cases of bruises or abrasions. The question of usefulness leaves no doubt, because meadow honey contains many essential trace elements.
  • Chicory honey can resemble meadow honey both in appearance and in taste and aroma. However, it has darker color shades. In medicine, the chicory species is useful as an antimicrobial agent. It has a beneficial effect on the central nervous system, eliminates insomnia, depression, neurasthenia, irritability and migraine. In addition, chicory honey improves brain activity, the work of the heart muscle and blood vessels in general. With pronounced antibacterial properties, it is able to help cope with severe respiratory diseases.

Note! There is a plant in nature, after working on which, bees also get dark nectar. This is nothing more than wild black cumin. He has white flowers with a black inner cup, as a result, the nectar is the same, which means that the honey will also be almost black.

Each variety described above differs in characteristics. Honey colors can range from dark yellow to almost black. The most expensive product is honey from chestnut blossom nectar, which is appreciated for its richness. It contains many beneficial properties for the human body. For example, this variety is considered essential for men's health.

Beneficial features

Along with other bee products, all brown types of honey contain vitamins and microelements necessary for the human body. This healthy dessert has antimicrobial and antibacterial effect, it strengthens the immune system well. It is recommended to take beekeeping products in the presence of instability of blood pressure, as well as in case of heart disease. Brown honey products cleanse the body of toxins and toxins.

Brown honey products

The low cost of meadow and buckwheat honey, and with it a rich chemical composition, increase the popularity of the product as a cosmetic product. Before use, thickened apiproducts are slightly melted in a water bath, the temperature of which should not exceed 40 ° C.

Important! When choosing a bee product of brown shades, you should pay attention to the smell and taste, which will certainly be bright and rich. And if you crank a spoon in it, the nectar will be layered evenly, without flowing down in a trickle. Dark honey almost never completely crystallizes, but becomes stringy and thick.

The reason for the dark shade

Many people wonder why honey becomes dark in color. First, you need to consider the blooming honey plant from which the bee collects pollen. It is generally accepted that the more iron is contained in the nectar, the darker its shade will be and the more useful in such honey. An important role is also played by the monoflorality of the bee processing product. For example, pure buckwheat honey has a dark brown tone, and if other herbs are present, it will turn out to be light brown.

Reasons for different shades

The hue of honey depends on how much it was stored after pumping. The buckwheat species, which was collected quite recently, will be a couple of shades lighter than the one that has already been standing for 6-9 months. In addition to the timing, there are several other factors that affect the shade of the treat. This is the collection period, and the presence of active ingredients in the composition, as well as the weather, climatic conditions and species of bees.

Note! Experienced beekeepers say that spring honey is always lighter in color than that which is harvested towards the end of summer.

Features of brown species

Brown honey immediately after pumping out is quite liquid consistency, but wrapping it around a spoon, you can find viscousness. Such species are more difficult to fake, since most of them hardly crystallize, but only become thicker and viscous. Dark honey contains more iron and useful trace elements. If you eat it for a week, the tests and the general condition of the body will improve. Darkish species are useful for people with anemia and diseases of the circulatory system.

Features of brown species

About the benefits of such honey

Honey is considered an indispensable product for a healthy lifestyle. It contains more than 190 useful compounds. The properties of dark honey varieties are determined by the medicinal characteristics of the plant from which the pollen was collected. The color range of the product also depends on the herbs and the time when the pollen was collected by the insects.

The type of honey collected in the spring is usually the lightest colors, but the closer the end of summer or the beginning of autumn, the darker the nectar will be. Honey from linden flowers is pale yellow, from acacia - transparent or slightly beige, from sunflowers - golden, from rapeseed - white matte, and from heather, buckwheat, chicory - brown. Forest varieties will be of the same color. In general, it is believed that the number of varieties of honey depends on the number of honey plants.

Important! Light varieties of a healthy dessert contain more vitamins, while dark varieties contain more iron, manganese, copper, and other trace elements and protein compounds. That is why dark varieties of honey are recommended for those who suffer from anemia.

Another useful property of dark honey is the ability to neutralize and remove alcohol-containing substances from the body. It is appropriate to use it in cases of intoxication and strong alcoholic intoxication.

Knowing all about the benefits of the brown honey product, as well as how to choose it correctly, you can purchase not only a delicious, but also a healthy dessert.