I. The best types of honey on the market

Most types of honey have similar components, but each type of honey has different aromas and characteristics. You can refer to some of the most popular delicious honey types, including:

The best types of honey available on the market today

1. Forest honey

Forest honey is pure honey extracted from wild beehives in nature, without any nurturing or human interference. Bees in the forest survive on their own, seeking flowers and collecting nectar. Because it is entirely natural, forest honey is always very fragrant and nutritious. However, due to hunting and seasonal availability, forest honey has become scarce and harder to find nowadays.

Forest honey has a dark brown color, deep yellow, and a rich scent due to bees collecting nectar from various flowers. This type of honey is currently very popular and suitable for making delicious dishes or medicinal remedies.

Known for its excellent health benefits for many years, natural honey, especially pure forest honey, has become one of the essential foods that families are looking to buy.

2. Mint honey

Mint honey is a domesticated type of honey, where humans intervene in the process of nurturing the bee colony but do not interfere in the honey production process. This type of honey retains high nutritional value and beneficial effects on human health.

The best mint honey is formed from honeybees collecting nectar from the flowers of the mint plant - a wildflower with a light purple color, often found in the rocky plateaus of districts such as Meo Vac, Dong Van, Yen Minh Forest in Quan Ba, Ha Giang province.

High-quality mint honey will have a cool and refreshing aroma, not the pungent scent of mint leaves often used to treat coughs. The decisive factor in the quality of Ha Giang mint honey is the quality of mint flowers, whether they bloom well, the favorable climate, and honey collection techniques.

Mint honey has a characteristic cool and refreshing aroma of mint flowers

The color of mint honey often depends on the concentration of pollen: if bees gather a lot of mint pollen, the color of mint honey will be lemon yellow with a slight greenish hue. If the mint honey is collected at the beginning or end of the flowering season, the color will be darker, and more orange.

3. Coffee honey

Coffee blossom honey is natural and pure honey because coffee plants are always carefully irrigated and cared for by farmers. Honeybees have to work diligently to collect sweet and wonderful nectar from coffee flowers. After several days of processing, the honey turns into sweet and aromatic drops.

Around February to April each year is the ideal time for bees to produce the best coffee blossom honey as this is when the mountains are covered in white, resembling snow due to the blooming of coffee flowers. Coffee flowers bloom only a few times a year, so honey is also harvested for a short period.

Most of the coffee blossom honey is harvested from nature, and the raw material for making honey is abundant, making the honey thick and viscous. When poured out of the bottle, you will easily see honey sticking to the mouth of the bottle. Each drop of fragrant honey is thick, not diluted like regular honey.

Coffee blossom honey contains natural sugars and many vitamins such as vitamins B1, B2, C, E, K, Protein, organic compounds, and many minerals such as calcium, sodium, potassium, and magnesium. These are very nutritious and beneficial to human health.

4. Longan honey

Longan honey is also known as the honey of spring because it is mainly harvested in March and April of the lunar calendar. This is the time when longan flowers bloom, and bees collect nectar from the flowers to create sweet and unforgettable longan honey.

Pure longan honey is thick, has a bright color, a delightful aroma, high nutritional value, and is very good for human health. Moreover, this type of honey is safe and healthy for all ages, so anyone can use it.

Longan honey usually has a shiny yellow color, thick consistency, and a distinctive fragrance of longan flowers. After harvesting, if carefully preserved, it will maintain its original taste for a long time. Longan honey not only has excellent health benefits but also has many effective skincare and hair care properties.

II. Benefits of honey

Considered a gift from Mother Nature, honey brings many health benefits and is widely used in daily life to create delicious food and beverages. Additionally, honey is also extensively utilized in food production.

Natural honey has many beneficial effects on humans

In food, pure honey is used as a natural sweetener. In production, natural honey is used as a flavoring agent and to moisturize in soaps and cosmetics. Some common uses of pure natural honey include:

1. Effective cough treatment

Honey contains numerous anti-inflammatory and antibacterial substances, which can act as an effective cough remedy for individuals suffering from respiratory tract infections and acute nighttime cough.

Taking a small amount of honey before bedtime can reduce the frequency of coughing in children aged 2 and above. Moreover, consuming water with a small amount of honey can help reduce the frequency of prolonged coughing in adults.

2. Diabetic foot ulcer treatment

Honey is very beneficial for diabetic individuals who still want to enjoy the sweetness. The sugars in honey are natural, easily digestible, and not harmful like refined sugars. Furthermore, honey is delicious and has many positive effects on diabetic patients.

Most medical studies have shown that applying honey can significantly improve diabetic foot ulcers and reduce the need for antibiotics. However, for severe diabetic foot ulcers, relying solely on honey is not enough, and proper medication and following the doctor's treatment plan are necessary.

3. Relieving dry eyes

Using eye drops with honey components or special honey eye gels can help alleviate dry eyes. These products can be used in conjunction with regular dry eye treatments, such as lubricating eye drops and warm compresses on the eyes.

4. Treating radiation or chemotherapy-induced oral ulcers

For patients undergoing dangerous treatments that require radiation, oral ulcers, or mucosal inflammation, are common symptoms. However, taking honey before and after radiation treatments can help reduce the risk of developing oral ulcers.

In addition, applying honey to oral ulcers or consuming honey can also be very effective in healing oral ulcers caused by chemotherapy. However, it is essential to seek medical advice before using honey for certain diseases as some health experts advise against its use in specific conditions.

5. Accelerating wound healing

Using honey-based products directly on wounds or using honey-infused bandages can significantly improve wound healing, such as surgical wounds, chronic leg ulcers, pressure sores, burns, abrasions, or skin graft donor sites.

Natural honey helps regenerate and heal wounds quickly

Honey also can reduce odor and pus, clean open wounds, reduce infections, relieve pain, and promote faster wound healing. Honey is generally safe for adults and children over 1-year-old. Moreover, pure honey can be useful in treating scalds, infected skin, and other skin conditions.

6. Reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases

Numerous renowned medical studies have shown that the components present in pure honey can prevent and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Specifically, honey can also reduce the risk of sudden cardiac arrest in individuals with heart disease, as honey slows down the harmful cholesterol oxidation process, a major factor leading to heart attacks and strokes.

7. Improving nerve-related conditions

Honey offers effective benefits in combating depression, seizures, and anxiety. Additionally, honey helps prevent memory disorder syndromes.

Apart from soothing nerves and reducing fatigue, honey is also essential for the nervous system. Glucose in honey can directly affect the function of nerve neurons. It is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, relaxing the body, and more effectively reducing psychological disorders.

8. Antibacterial properties of honey

Natural honey has been proven to inhibit the growth of disease-causing microorganisms commonly transmitted through food, such as E. coli and Salmonella, as well as resist certain highly dangerous bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The darker the honey, the higher its antibacterial and antioxidant capabilities.

9. Effective moisturizing and skin whitening

Honey is considered an effective natural moisturizer for sensitive skin. The natural effect of honey is to draw moisture from the air and deeply permeate the skin. Additionally, honey is rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, both of which protect the skin from the effects of sunlight and delay the aging process.

10. Deep cleansing of pores

Enzymes found in pure honey have the function of brightening the skin and maintaining clean pores. Moreover, the antibacterial effect of honey combined with coconut oil can prevent the accumulation of bacteria. As a result, it helps you achieve smooth, breathable, fresh, and youthful skin while avoiding acne and nutrient imbalances in the skin.

III. The best ways to soak honey for the most beneficial effects

To fully enjoy the most useful benefits of honey, consider the following best ways to soak honey.

1. Soaking honey with garlic

Soaking honey with garlic helps boost immunity effectively

Both garlic and honey are familiar foods that contain many essential nutrients for the body and have effective healing properties. When combined, the medicinal properties of garlic soaked in honey are very high, bringing many positive effects to the body, such as treating flu, and coughs, benefiting the cardiovascular system, treating acne, burns, hair loss, sinusitis, rhinitis, etc.

The process of making garlic soaked in honey is very simple. You only need to prepare about 15g of garlic, 100 ml of pure honey, and a glass jar. First, peel the garlic, then wash it thoroughly with water and cut it into small slices or crush it.

With the glass jar, wash and dry it thoroughly before pouring the honey and adding the garlic in the corresponding ratio of 100ml of honey to 15g of garlic. Close the lid of the glass jar tightly and let it soak for about 20 days before use. If you want to preserve honey longer, you can also put the jar of honey soaked with garlic in the refrigerator and use it gradually.

2. Soaking honey with saffron

Saffron is another name for saffron crocus - an extremely precious and highly valued ingredient that is popular all over the world for its miraculous effects on human health. In particular, saffron is very suitable to be combined with honey to treat stomach pain and nourish the skin effectively.

Honey infused with saffron is very beneficial for health

Using saffron soaked in honey also helps to have strong resistance and a healthy immune system. Moreover, drinking saffron-soaked honey helps improve sleep and reduce weight safely.

You can soak honey with saffron in a glass jar following the standard formula as follows: Prepare a clean and sterilized glass jar, dried, and cleaned along with 500ml of honey and 1 gram of saffron.

Put the saffron in the jar, and slowly pour honey and other ingredients if any. Then, close the lid, store in a dry and cool place. After about 2-3 days, you can use this saffron-soaked honey.

3. Soaking honey with cordyceps

Cordyceps soaked with pure honey is a perfect combination, creating a delicious and nutritious drink that is very good for health and trusted by many people.

Honey soaked with cordyceps has miraculous effects for men's health

Cordyceps soaked in honey have the miraculous effect of being compared to natural antibiotics that help enhance the immune system and reduce weakness and fatigue thanks to the ability to increase the amount of oxygen in the blood. Protecting blood vessels and improving the functions of the liver, lungs, and digestive system to give you abundant health.

Especially, Honey combined with cordyceps is famous for its ability to improve sexual function by stimulating hormones. For women, it helps anti-aging and beautify the skin to keep the skin smooth, fresh, and youthful.

To soak honey with cordyceps, you only need to soak in the ratio of 100 grams of cordyceps with 1000ml of honey, then store in a cool area for about 15 days before use. Each time you use it, you can mix 1 spoon of cordyceps-soaked honey with 200 - 300ml of warm water and drink it every morning for the best health.

4. Soaking fresh turmeric with honey

According to ancient beliefs, yellow turmeric and honey, when combined together, will create a precious remedy and treat many diseases. Moreover, to this day, despite the rapid development of cosmetic science, turmeric soaked in honey is still the top choice of women who want to find natural beauty methods from deep inside.

Soaking fresh turmeric in honey is very effective in treating stomach pain

Soaking fresh turmeric with honey effectively treats stomach pain, the Curcumin compound in turmeric helps regulate the production of acid in the stomach and stimulates the thickening of mucus to protect the inner surface of the stomach. In addition, this substance also has the ability to inhibit HP bacteria that cause stomach pain and accelerate the healing process of inflammation ulcers. Therefore, turmeric soaked in honey becomes an essential supportive factor in the treatment of stomach pain and inflammation.

Therefore, those who have stomach pain, do not overlook the very simple method of soaking fresh turmeric with honey, which brings many excellent results. With fresh turmeric, you should wash it thoroughly, then slice it thinly, dry it, or expose it to the sun for about 2-3 hours. Put the turmeric in a glass jar, and pour honey into it until the jar is full. Cover the lid and store it in a dry place. Each time you use it, you only need to use 1-2 spoons mixed with water to drink daily for better skin and a healthier digestive system.

IV. The best way to store soaked honey

After soaking honey with other ingredients, you need to pay attention to the storage of honey for the longest shelf life as follows:

• Storing honey in wide-mouth glass jars is the best to ensure convenient use and maintain the best honey quality. At the same time, make sure to tightly seal the honey jar to avoid insect and bacterial contamination.
• Place the honey jar in a cool and dark place, avoiding areas with high temperatures such as the kitchen, oven, etc. This is an important factor in the long-term storage of honey that you need to particularly consider.

The best way to store soaked honey

• Absolutely do not add water or allow air to enter the honey jar, as this can spoil the storage process, causing the honey to darken and lose valuable nutrients inside.
• Avoid placing honey near foods with strong odors. Although honey itself has a pleasant aroma, it can be influenced by surrounding odors.
• For forest honey, you should not close the lid too tightly because forest honey produces strong gas in hot weather. Therefore, if you close the lid too tightly, it may cause the honey to overflow and be difficult to control.

Each type of honey-soaked with different ingredients will bring useful health benefits, and you can choose the suitable soaking ingredients according to your preferences. Also, you need to pay special attention to selecting and buying the best and highest quality honey products.