Different types of honey have different colors, flavors and consistencies depending on what flowers the bees visited to produce that honey. Clover honey, for instance, has a fairly neutral floral flavor that is often associated with “plain” honey. Orange blossom honey, on the other hand, definitely has citrus notes to it. It’s easy to differentiate the two, even though they are similar in appearance. The most unusual honey I’ve tasted is White Gold Honey. It is completely unlike any honey I’ve seen or tasted.
White Gold Honey is an off white cream color and is much, much thicker than other honeys. Consistency wise, it is at least as thick as peanut butter and has the texture of a soft caramel candy, sticky and smooth. The closest product to it would be whipped honey – which is aerated until it is thick in order to make it spreadable – but White Gold Honey is still much thicker. The honey is raw, untreated and definitely not aerated in any way. The reason it is so thick is that it has a very low moisture content compared to other honeys.
It tastes very sweet, like pure sugar, with floral overtones. It actually smells slightly of beeswax or honeycomb in a way that makes it seem very fresh and unprocessed. The honey is best when it is spread on toast, scones, waffles or similar pastry items. It thins out a bit to an almost buttery consistency (and is excellent when paired with butter, by the way) when heated or spread on something hot. I wouldn’t use it as a substitute for regular honey in a recipe that calls for it, but I would definitely go out of my way to bake scones for an excuse to snack on some of it.
The honey is sold at some specialty food stores (Williams Sonoma and Whole Foods often have it) and is available quite a few places online. It’s not inexpensive, as honey goes, but a jar as a treat is definitely worth it if you’re a honey fan.
Aaron
January 8, 2009I wonder what it would taste like to make mead with this honey.
Anonymous
January 8, 2009this looks like something I would like to try.
Where do you think would sell it? Health food stores?
Also, does this cost considerably more than ‘regular’ honey?
Stef
January 8, 2009I’ve seen this at Whole Foods and always wondered about it. Thanks for the detailed description.
Linda
January 8, 2009I would have guessed Whole Foods before seeing that in the blog but it’s good to get validation of it. I’m fascinated by different things like this so I will have to try it–drat the expense! My two favorite things with honey is on hot toast or in hot tea. I would think this would work well for either. I used to like clover honey for its neutral flavor but now I don’t like it as much. It’s stronger in some ways than I like. I can’t put my finger on it but I’ve tried the wild mesquite honey at Trader Joe’s and MUCH prefer it to clover for a softer honey taste–in baking and just plain on toast or in tea.
murti
January 9, 2009This looks like a definite must-try! 🙂
Katie
January 9, 2009This is my favorite honey! Its been harder to come by lately even at Whole Foods but I always have some in my pantry.
Brian
January 9, 2009Thanks for the review. I love honey and have seen this in the stores but haven’t bought because of the price. I am going to give it a try.
Linda
June 6, 2009I finally found this honey at Whole Foods . I love trying things I haven’t tried before and you certainly made this one sound appealing. It’s very good–as you said unlike any other honey. It wasn’t cheap but for a change and to find a new flavor–it was worth the price!!