There are so many teas available. It cannot be easy to decide which one you prefer. Once you have settled on a few, it’s time to move on to honey!

This golden sweetener adds flavor and health benefits to your favorite teas. There are many options. This post will discuss our favorite pairings of honey with tea.

Let’s first clear up a common myth about honey.

What Is Honey?

There have been rumors that honey with no pollen particles was fake in the last decade. Honey without pollen is still the real thing.

Honey is not made from pollen. Honey is produced by bees using a complex process called “regurgitation”, enzymatic activation, and water evaporation”. This involves nectar from flowers and plants.

After bees have collected nectar, they alter it chemically. Complex sugar sucrose is found in nectar. Their enzymes turn the complex sugar into glucose and fructose, simple sugars. These enzymes give the substance its sweetness and make it great for your cup of tea.

It is then transferred to a honeycomb. However, the modified substance remains in liquid form. The liquid is then accelerated by the bees fanning it with their wings.

Health Benefits: Raw vs. Processed honey

Honey has been used for centuries by people for its medicinal properties and sweetens foods and beverages.

Scientists have demonstrated that honey produces “antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative…and antimetastatic effects”.

Honey can be used in the following ways:

• Common cold symptoms can be relieved by a warm compress to soothe the sore throat or cough.
• To improve oral health
• To lower your risk of developing heart disease
• As a natural energy booster, combine with electrolytes found in fresh lemon juice or caffeine in tea.

These benefits are believed to be due to the presence of amino acids and the production of hydrogen peroxide.

Researchers aren’t able to agree on whether honey is better for health.

Although there isn’t a defined term for raw honey, Utah passed the HB148. It states that “raw honey” means honey as it exists in the honey beehive or extracted, settling or straining. Honey must not have been pasteurized or stored at temperatures above 118° Fahrenheit.

Raw honey is not pasteurized or filtered to contain pollen as honey is more natural and healthier; many consumers associate pollen with honey. Although bee pollen is a potential source of nutritional and medicinal properties, honey does not contain enough to show a significant difference in the nutrient profile.

Further complicating matters is the Australian study that found that processing honey with heat and filtration reduces H2O2 activity. However, most honey samples still produce high levels of H2O2 after processing.

According to the study, honey intended for medicinal purposes should not be subject to mild heating. However, the micronutrient profile of honey was found to remain unchanged.

Although scientists still need to do more research on this interaction, you can be confident that the pollen content in honey does not determine how healthy it is.

The Best Teas to Enjoy with Honey

Matching honey with tea can be as easy as pairing wine with food. This is the place to start if you are a tea lover.

There are over 300 varieties of honey in the United States. The type of flower that the honeybees visit determines the color and taste.

Certain tea and honey pairings are similar to wine and food. The best teas will pair well with specific flavors of honey, and they will overwhelm your tastebuds when mixed with other teas.

A light floral tea would not be paired with sweet honey, just like a red wine with fresh fish filets or oysters.

This rule is easy and quick.

You’ll make your final decision based on your personal preferences. To help you do this, add a section about honey and tea pairings to your tea journal.

Black Tea and Honey

There are many types of black tea available around the globe. Each one has its unique flavor and health benefits. Earl Grey has a citrus taste because it is infused with bergamot oils. Orange blossom honey is a great pairing for this tea to bring out its citrus flavors.

You will enjoy other types of black tea like English Breakfast Tea with a stronger honey flavor. For a strong cup, try Sourwood honey or Buckwheat honey. You can also use honey made from Lamiaceae herbs, such as those with Thyme and Sage.

Honey and Green Tea

Green teas are milder and have a more earthy or grassy flavor. Our Dragon’s Well Tea has a mild, grassy flavor and subtle floral notes, while our Hojicha has more earthy, roasted flavors. Mild floral kinds of honey can enhance the flavor of green teas like these. You can also try Clover, Clover, Lavender or Tupelo honey. A Linden Honey may be a good choice to bring out the flavors of Moroccan Mint or Avocado honey to enhance classic Sencha.

Honey and Rooibos tea

Rooibos is sometimes called red tea because it comes from the Aspalathus lines plant, not the Camellia sinensis. Rooibos tea is a neutral tea with a sweet, nutty taste with hints of vanilla or cinnamon. To enhance the flavors of vanilla and cinnamon, pair it with Orange Blossom honey or Meadowfoam spiced honey.

Honey and Jasmine tea

Jasmine Dragon Pearls is a delicious green tea made from hand-rolled jasmine blossoms. This fragrant tea is best paired with floral Clover, Holly, or Lavender honey.

Honey and Chamomile Tea

Many tea-takers choose Chamomile Tea to drink at night because of its soothing effects. To avoid overwhelming the chamomile, we prefer mild honey-like Sage, Clover, and Alfalfa.

White Tea and Honey

On the other hand, white tea is less processed and oxidized than black tea. Its flavor profile is delicate, sweet and soft. Enjoy a cup of our Shanghai Rose, Silver Needles with light honey from the Fireweed and Acacia varieties.

Flavored and Herbal Tea

Be creative! You can pair Basswood, Holly or Eucalyptus honey with other herbal or fruit-flavored teas. Or, you could try Meadowfoam honey or Gallberry honey to enhance sweet vanilla and cinnamon flavors in flavored teas.

Is honey in tea bad for you?

It’s quite the opposite!

You’ll reap the health benefits of honey in tea, and the flavor will be enhanced. You can also experiment with different honey and tea combinations to find the one you love best.

To influence the flavor of your tea, we recommend that you start with your favorite cup. You’ll soon discover which tea pairings you love best. Keep track of your tea journal.