When I was on a press trip in Provence, France, last year, I pocketed some lavender honey from a buffet breakfast from one our hotels (it wasn’t stealing—they had little individual jars for everyone to take for their breakfast). They make honey (among many other things) in the Provence region, and because lavender grows wild everywhere, it is found in so many artisinal products. It truly was probably the best honey I’ve ever tasted.

More recently, I picked up a jar of honey with a piece of honeycomb in it in South Carolina. Its called Pure Mountain Honey. I can’t say for sure just pure it is (I’ll have to take their word for it), but it really has a nice, fresh, light flavor. (Honey has an extremely long shelf life—it never really, truly goes bad—but it can pick up a stale taste after a while.)

A few years ago, I read an article in Saveur (one or my absolute favorite food magazines) about leatherwood honey, made in Tasmania. Things like this make a foodie’s cheeks blush. I just about died when I actually saw leatherwood honey on the shelf of my local Asian market (God, I love that place!). The honey has a unique floral flavor (although many honeys have a floral flavor, I would describe this one as exotic) with an almost woodsy afternote.

In that article, there was a recipe for leatherwood honey-macadamia ice cream. You know I made it, right? It was FABULOUS! The recipe is not in the Saveur recipe archives (maybe the article goes back too far), so I’m giving it to you here:

Toasted Macadamia Nut & Leatherwood Honey Ice Cream
(Courtesty of Saveur magazine article, date unknown)

2 cups shelled macadamia nuts
2 cups heavy cream
2 tablespoons leatherwood honey
2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spread the nuts out on a baking sheet. Toast until golden brown, 8-10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool completely.

Put cream in large bowl and beat with electric mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in honey, condensed milk, and nuts.

Transfer to a medium bowl, cover with plastic, and freeze until completely solid, 6-8 hours.

Makes 6 cups.

Honey has been used since ancient times for food but for other purposes as well. The word honey comes from an ancient Hebrew word meaning “enchant.” It’s no wonder because honey is one of nature’s most wonderful gifts to us. It sweetens foods and beverages and provides us with healthful healing alternatives.

Honey contains vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. 1 tablespoon contains: 0.1 g protein; 17.3 g carbohydrates; 1 mg calcium; 1 mg phosphorus; 11 mg potassium; 64 calories; 0 g fat. It also contains vitamin B6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, ascorbic acid, pantothenic acid, copper, magnesium, manganese, sodium, and zinc.

Another important ingredient in honey is antioxidants. Research on honey shows that it actually inhibits the growth of cancer.

Using honey to treat conditions is not new. Today, such treatment is called apitherapy (an apiary is collection of bees, from the Latin word for bee, apis). Among its healing properties, honey —

— Replenishes and enhances energy. Honey has energizing properties and can be used as a tonic. It is beneficial to people who have been weakened by illness or stress. It has been noted that taking honey less than 1 hour before a workout increases stamina (letting you last longer) and reduces the feeling of exhaustion.

— Reduces stress. Honey can calm and relax the body and mind.

— Helps promote restful sleep.

— Helps relieve indigestion. The glucose and fructose in honey have been predigested, making them absorb easily into the intestinal walls and creating a soothing action.

— Aids in treating cardiovascular diseases.

— Helps treat respiratory conditions, such as asthma, bronchitis, and whooping cough, by soothing inflamed lungs and airways and possibly because it helps dissolve mucus.

— Relieves allergy symptoms. Honey contains traces of pollen, and over time, it may desensitize one from allergens in the air. In order for this to work, however, experts stress using regional, unpasteurized honey to familiarize the body with local allergens. Studies have been done in which patients experienced relief from allergy symptoms after taking honey regularly.

— Soothes sore throats.

— Cleans teeth, mouth, and dentures, and stops bleeding gums. It is useful against canker sores, mouth ulcers, and mouth blisters.

Honey can be applied topically to disinfect and heal wounds, scrapes, and burns. There are several advantages to it. The thickness of honey provides a protective barrier for the wound. It acts as an antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory. The sugar in honey prevents a lot of water from getting to the offending microorganism, hindering its growth. At the same time, honey draws moisture from the air, promoting healing and helping to prevent scarring (I’m not sure how it does both). Honey contains hydrogen peroxide; as it slowly releases, it kills the germs. It promotes the growth of healthy tissue while reducing inflammation. It even makes wounds smell better by allowing the bacteria to eat its sugar; the bacteria then emits sweeter gases. Research in India found that people with burns who were treated topically with honey healed faster than those treated with silver sulfadiazine. They also experienced less pain and scarring and their wounds had less leakage.

Research done in New Zealand at the University of Waikato indicates that honey is a powerful agent against several types of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including those that cause flesh-eating diseases, gastric ulcers, and staph infections, as well as other “superbugs.” Additionally, they found that honey killed certain bacteria that cause infections in burn units and in patients hooked to intravenous lines.

Women, in particular, may benefit from regular doses of honey. Honey contains boron, which is good for the bones. Consequently, it is believed that honey helps prevent the onset of osteoporosis. The boron also raises the level of estrogen. This, in turn, reduces the symptoms of PMS.

It is said that Cleopatra used honey to beautify her skin. She was right on the mark. The minerals, vitamins, and other ingredients in honey nourish the skin.

C Its healing powers make honey ideal for chapped lips.

C Honey’s antibacterial properties help with acne. A New Zealand study had teenagers treat half their faces with honey; they reported that their acne improved while the other half of their faces did not.

C Honey conditions and shines hair.

C Honey tones, cleanses, and moisturizes skin.

Types of Honey

The best quality of honey to use is “raw,” which means that no heat was used to process it. Other words that indicate unprocessed honey are “uncooked” or “unfiltered.” The effectiveness of honey, in terms of healing, depends on the quality you buy, since processed honey can have up to 50% less vitamin content than it had in its raw state. Other factors are the region of origin and the nectars that the bees chose to eat. These things change the ingredients of honey.

In the U.S. alone, there are about 300 varieties of honey. Darker ones tend to have higher levels of minerals and antioxidants. They are also bolder in flavor; lighter varieties are milder. Honey comes in 3 basic forms: liquid, comb, and whipped (also known as creamed, spun, or granulated). Liquid means that the honey is removed from the comb through centrifugal force. Comb honey is removed with pieces of the comb. Whipped honey is made to be used as a spread.

There are little environmental toxins in honey. Since bees die when they come into contact with pollutants, they can’t bring anything back into the hive. However, some beekeepers use pesticides on their apiaries or feed their bees refined sugar. So try to find honey that has been organically produced.

Store honey at room temperature. If it crystallizes, place the jar in warm water and stir. Or place it in the microwave for a minute, stirring occasionally. Be sure not to boil or burn it. Honey does not spoil and it keeps other foods fresh longer.

Uses for Honey

C To heal a wound, spread honey directly on the wound and cover it with sterile bandage.

C Apply directly to chapped lips and mouth sores.

C For respiratory problems, mix 1 tablespoon honey with 1 teaspoon fresh thyme and take as needed.

C For sore throats, stir some honey in tea or take a teaspoonful directly.

C For skin problems, mix some honey with herbal or aromatherapy oil (such as lavender) and pour into a bath.

Before sugar became widely available in the 16th century, people relied primarily on honey to sweeten their food, as well as using it as a healing aid. It is known that many of the great ancient civilizations used honey medicinally and people continued to do so until World War II, when antibiotic dressings were developed. Studies on honey continue all over the world. Australia and New Zealand have approved the sale of honey as medicine. As stubborn as they can sometimes be, even North American scientists are beginning to come back around to the ancient beliefs about honey. Honey is not a term of endearment for nothing. It’s sweet and special. Below are some recipes and uses for honey, courtesy of http://www.honey.com, The Honey Experts.

Recipes for Skin & Hair Health

Honey Cleansing Scrub: Mix 1 tablespoon honey with 2 tablespoons finely ground almonds and 2 teaspoon lemon juice. Rub gently onto face. Rinse off with warm water.

Firming Face Mask: Whisk together 1 tablespoon honey, 1 egg white, 1 teaspoon glycerin (available at drug and beauty stores) and enough flour to form a paste (approximately 1/4 cup). Smooth over face and throat. Leave on 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

Hair Conditioner: Mix 2 cup honey and 1/4 cup olive oil. (Use 2 tablespoons oil for normal hair.) Work a small amount at a time through hair until coated. Cover hair with a shower cap; leave on 30 minutes. Remove shower cap; shampoo well and rinse. Dry as normal.

Facial Toner: In blender, puree 1 tablespoon honey with a peeled, cored apple. Smooth over face; leave on 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water.

Moisture Mask: Mix 2 tablespoons honey with 2 teaspoons milk. Smooth over face and throat. Leave on 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

Smoothing Skin Lotion: Mix 1 teaspoon honey with 1 teaspoon vegetable oil and 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice. Rub into hands, elbows, heels and anywhere that feels dry. Leave on 10 minutes. Rinse off with water.

Skin Softening Bath: Add 1/4 cup honey to bath water for a fragrant, silky bath.

Hair Shine: Stir 1 teaspoon honey into 4 cups (1 quart) warm water. Blondes may wish to add a squeeze of lemon. After shampooing, pour mixture through hair. Do not rinse out. Dry as normal.

WARNING: Never give honey to children under 1 year old. Infants are prone to getting botulism from honey. However, experts say that topical treatment for scrapes and burns is fine.

So there you have it. The many wonders of honey. As for me, I have a new favorite snack: Peanut butter and honey sandwiches. 

Have a great week everyone. Peace.