Honey comes in different types based on characteristics, sources, aroma, and taste. If we delve into specifics, there are approximately 320 types of forest honey and various beekeeping honey.

Honey offers numerous health and beauty benefits, making it widely used in daily life. It is used for cooking, beverages, and as a facial mask for skincare. Moreover, when used correctly, honey can help prevent various illnesses.

I. The three most beloved types of honey

If you're a honey enthusiast, you're likely familiar with three special types of honey available in Vietnam today. These are mint honey, coffee honey, and multi-flower honey. The reason they are popular and used daily by many people is that they are easy to find, reasonably priced, and offer great value. However, on the market, many places sell these three types of honey, but the quality varies greatly. To avoid the "losing money for nothing" situation, you should choose a reputable place to purchase them. Furthermore, it's important to equip yourself with knowledge to be able to distinguish between these types of honey.

If you're still unsure about which type of honey to choose for daily use and don't know how to differentiate between these three types, you can refer to the useful tips that Ivy Honey shares below.

II. Origin of different types of honey

1. Mint Honey

This honey is obtained from the nectar of mint flowers collected by honeybees. It is harvested during the late months of October to December, which is the cold weather of the winter season. The most renowned "mint flower forest" is found in Meo Vac, Yen Minh, and Dong Van provinces.

2. Multi-flower honey

Bees that produce multi-flower honey are not selective and collect nectar from various types of flowers, mostly from the "hundred fragrances and thousand colors" of natural forest flowers. The Gia Lai and Kon Tum regions are known for their abundant wildflower varieties, including valuable medicinal flowers such as Ginseng, Dong Quai, Turmeric, Codonopsis, Eucommia, Saussurea, and more.

3. Coffee Honey

Coffee flowers are well-known and commonly seen. The best source of delicious coffee blossom honey comes from the "capital" Tây Nguyên. This pure honey is obtained during the blooming season of coffee flowers (from the end of February to April every year).

III.  Aroma, taste, and color 

1. Mint honey

Contrary to popular belief, mint honey does not have a purple color; instead, it has a sparkling yellow color with a greenish hue. It carries a mild, refreshing aroma of flowers and has a sweet, smooth taste. Be cautious of buying honey with a dark greenish color and a strong minty smell, as it may be counterfeit.

2. Multi-flower honey

Due to the diverse sources of pollen and nectar, multi-flower honey has a beautiful golden color. It has a natural sweetness and carries a delicate aroma of wildflowers.

3. Coffee honey

100% pure honey is harvested during the coffee flowering season, and bees do not need additional sugar. The key characteristic to identify this honey is its unique and gentle coffee flower aroma, along with a subtle acidity from the Arabica "snow flower." The honey is rich in the sweetness without any cloying taste.

IV. Crystallization characteristics

1. Mint Honey

Mint honey is usually harvested during the winter when the weather is cold, which makes the honey appear thicker and more prone to crystallization. If you observe closely, you may notice small bubbles forming on the surface of the honey. According to the principle "heat expands, cold contracts," when the honey is kept during the summer, it will become less viscous. Many people worry about buying low-quality honey, but there is no need to worry as it is a natural chemical reaction of honey.

2. Multi-flower honey

Compared to mint honey, multi-flower honey tends to form more gas bubbles due to its nature as forest honey. During the harvesting process, gas bubbles may be released due to a mix of flower pollen and bee excrement. The crystallization ability of this honey may vary depending on the harvesting time. For example, honey harvested at the end of the season (in June) is less prone to crystallization.

3. Coffee honey

Compared to mint and multi-flower honey, coffee blossom honey is less viscous, which is why it crystallizes at a slower rate. The crystallization of honey depends on various factors, such as the source, harvesting time, and storage conditions. This is a natural chemical reaction of honey, and there is no need to worry. If you want the honey to return to its original state, you can simply soak it in hot water.

V. The effects of honey when consumed daily

Based on numerous ancient documents, honey has been used since ancient times. It was commonly used for fermenting alcohol and disinfecting wounds. Throughout historical dynasties, honey was even considered a precious "elixir" reserved only for kings and nobles. Over centuries, the value of honey has remained unchanged, and it continues to be widely used in daily life, and applied in various fields of medicine, beauty, and cuisine.

1. For health

Honey contains many vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients beneficial for the body. Its main components are sugars, iron, zinc, amino acids, antioxidants, B vitamins, etc. Thanks to its superior nutritional content, honey offers numerous health benefits:

• Antibacterial and wound-healing properties.
• Treats cough, cardiovascular diseases, and gastric disorders.
• Helps with asthma, memory enhancement, and digestive health.

You can use honey to marinate food and prepare delicious dishes, such as honey-grilled chicken/ribs/duck, honey-coated crispy pork, and various sweet pastries, and also prepare refreshing beverages like turmeric-honey mix, Saffron-infused honey, red apple honey, and Cordyceps honey.

2. For beauty

Honey is rich in antioxidants and natural nutrients that possess anti-inflammatory, cleansing, and moisturizing properties for the skin. Therefore, honey can be used to treat acne, inflammation, improve aging conditions, alleviate psoriasis, and allergic skin conditions.

Some popular honey-based facial masks among women are:

• Honey + egg mask for skin whitening.
• Honey + avocado/banana mask for smooth and healthy skin.
• Honey + lemon mask for acne treatment and reducing dark spots.
• Honey + yogurt mask for moisturizing and tightening pores.

3. Proper usage of honey

To maximize the benefits of honey without causing harm to the body, it is essential to follow some guidelines:

• Do not mix honey directly with boiling water. Instead, mix it with warm water around 40 degrees Celsius to preserve its valuable nutrients and avoid destroying the enzymatic compounds.
• Avoid using metal containers for honey storage, as it may alter the honey's quality and not be beneficial for health.
• Do not overuse honey, as excessive consumption might lead to adverse effects. Nutrition experts recommend a daily intake of only 2 - 3 tablespoons of honey.
• Do not give honey to infants under 6 months of age or to individuals with diabetes or allergies to honey components.

VI. Where to buy genuine honey?

For those not knowledgeable about honey, it can be challenging to distinguish between genuine and counterfeit products available on the market. Therefore, besides educating oneself about honey, it is essential to purchase honey from trustworthy sources.

Ivy Honey is a reputable honey brand that, despite being relatively young, has gained customer trust over the past 4 years. From 2019 to 2022, Ivy Honey grew from producing 2000 crates to 9000 crates of high-quality honey products.

To ensure the production of pure honey products, Ivy Honey follows a rigorous selection process for safe source materials, committing to:

• No residual plant protection agents, no genetic modification, no antibiotics.
• Choosing ripe and seasonally harvested honeycombs to yield the highest quality.
• Meeting strict national standards (TCVN 12605:2019) during production and processing.
• Complying with export standards for products going abroad, such as criteria for C4 sugars, water, HMF, and single sugars, or international standards for food safety management systems (ISO 22000:2018).

Ivy Honey supplies various delicious natural honey types to the market. If you have the need, feel free to connect with Ivy Honey today for suitable product recommendations.