Dark varieties of honey are considered useful beekeeping products, which are made from the nectar of different crops. Unlike light varieties, dark varieties of honey are more difficult to harvest. Therefore, there are a limited number of such species on the market. However, true connoisseurs of the product still try to find such varieties. Moreover, today there are many varieties that have their own characteristics.
Reasons for dark color
Dark shades of honey are associated with a number of reasons:
- The type of plant from which pollen was collected. The more iron the nectar contains, the darker its color.
- Weather. If there is no rainfall for a long time, the bees begin to process dry plants. As a result, a honeydew variety is obtained. It has a dark color and liquid consistency. This product is practically odorless, but retains its taste.
- Pure nectar or mixture. Raw materials affect the shade of the finished product. Honey can be made from pure buckwheat or spruce nectar. It also often contains admixtures of other plants.
- Shelf life. The duration of storage of the substance is considered one of the reasons why nectar acquires a dark shade only after some time.
Thus, the main reason for obtaining dark honey is considered to be its high mineral content, including iron, copper, and magnesium. In addition, natural dyes, in particular tannin, affect the color. These substances may be present in honey plant flowers.
Along with nectar, bees also collect coloring components, which affect the shade of the product. When the temperature changes, they change color. Therefore, when heated, honey darkens.
Medicinal properties
The beneficial properties of dark honey are associated with its unique composition. It contains a lot of copper, iron and other minerals. The product is useful to use in such cases:
- Anemia. Due to the high content of copper and iron, the composition significantly improves hematopoietic processes and allows you to cope with anemia.
- Blood pressure disorders. The product mixed with water helps normalize blood pressure parameters.
- Pregnancy. The use of the substance during pregnancy provides the fetus with the necessary amount of minerals that are required for the normal development of organs and systems.
- Heart diseases.Dark honey helps strengthen the heart muscle and blood vessels, and also has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the entire system.
- Weakening of the immune system. The high content of micro-, macroelements and vitamins has a beneficial effect on the state of the immune system.
The beneficial properties of the substance directly depend on the honey plant. Thus, chestnut product is important for men’s health, and buckwheat product copes with sleep disorders and nervous disorders. All dark varieties include high levels of antioxidants. Therefore, they help cleanse the body of toxins and waste.
They can also be used for cosmetic purposes. Thanks to the use of honey masks, it is possible to cope with wrinkles and other age-related skin changes.
Varieties of dark honey
There are many honey plants that produce dark honey.
Varieties differ in taste and content of healthy ingredients.
Chestnut
High-quality chestnut honey is considered one of the most beneficial among dark varieties. There is a certain bitterness in its taste. However, when the product is heated, it disappears. At the same time, heating the substance above 50 degrees is prohibited, as it will lose its beneficial properties. Chestnut honey is brown in color and has a liquid consistency. It retains its structure for a long time. However, after crystallization it becomes homogeneous.
Heather
This honey is considered a tasty and healthy product that has a pleasant aroma, pronounced aftertaste and astringency. As the product is stored, the smell intensifies and the taste becomes more intense.
As a result, the nectar becomes dark brown.This variety is useful for people suffering from asthma, bronchitis and diseases of the respiratory system. Heather honey helps cope with stress, insomnia and nervous tension.
Honeydew
This honey is produced in the dry season, when there are not enough flowers. In this case, the bees begin to process dry plants. The main difference of this nectar is the complete absence of odor. At the same time, the composition is characterized by the appearance of flower honey. Its taste has a pronounced bitterness.
Buckwheat
This product has unique properties. It has a very dark, almost black tint. This is the only black honey that is considered high-grade. With daily use of the product, it is possible to cope with such complex diseases as asthma, radiculitis and gout.
Chicory
Chicory is a common medicinal plant that blooms for a long period of time - from late June to October. At this time, much less honey plants are available to bees, so chicory becomes the main one.
Flower honey from this plant has a spicy taste and a dark hue. It is characterized by pronounced antibacterial properties. Thanks to this, the composition can be used to prevent infections. It also normalizes the functions of the nervous system and improves heart function.
Coniferous
Bees make this honey from the nectars of spruce and pine. These trees are distinguished by medicinal properties, because pine honey helps to cope with various infections and has pronounced analgesic properties. Unlike forbs, this honey turns out to be very dark. As it crystallizes, it turns dark green.
Lugovoy
This type of honey is characterized by a sharp and specific taste and amazing aroma.The product has pronounced analgesic properties. Therefore, it should be used in the form of compresses, applied to places of bruises and abrasions. The product turns out to be very useful because it contains many valuable microelements.
Diaghilev
Angelica is a herbaceous plant that has medicinal properties. The grass is found throughout Europe and Siberia. The appearance of a beekeeping product is determined by the components that make up it. Bees cannot collect nectar from just one plant, and this is reflected in the chemical composition of the product. However, in any case, it will have medicinal properties.
The angelica variety is characterized by a dark color - from reddish to brown. There are slight caramel notes in the taste. The composition has a pronounced aroma with a slight bitterness. A distinctive feature of the variety is that it is almost not candied. It is useful to use for lesions of the digestive organs and inflammation. The product also has diuretic properties.
Hyssop
Hyssop is a honey-bearing shrub that is found in the Crimea, Central Asia, and the Caucasus. This medicinal plant is used to combat bronchitis and skin diseases. Hyssop honey has a dark yellow color and a bitter taste. It is characterized by a spicy aroma with notes of ginger and sage.
Eucalyptus
This honey is obtained from eucalyptus. The product is characterized by a grayish tint of varying intensity - from medium to dark. Another feature is fast crystallization. As a result of this process, small and medium-sized crystals are formed in the structure. The product also has a caramel flavor with a woody aftertaste.It contains many vitamins, but few minerals.
Burdock
Burdock plantations are quite rare. Therefore, the product is most often included in flower honey made from various herbs. At the same time, in the central regions of Russia you can find burdock honey. It is sold by Chuvash, Pskov, Kostroma and Udmurt beekeepers.
This unique product is characterized by a dark olive hue and a pleasant aroma. The taste of the substance has a slight astringency. The variety has choleretic and diuretic properties. It can be used to prevent colds and cleanse the body of toxins. The product is characterized by weak crystallization.
How to use it correctly
When consuming any variety, it is important to remember a sense of proportion. The daily dosage for adults should not exceed 80-150 grams. This amount is enough to add important biologically active substances present in the product to the diet.
It is best to consume honey in the morning - before breakfast. Thanks to this, you will be able to get a boost of energy for the whole day. In the evenings, the product is recommended for people who suffer from stress and insomnia.
When using the substance, it is strictly forbidden to heat it. This will lead to a loss of its beneficial properties and may even negatively affect the functioning of the heart.
When taking honey, it is better not to swallow it, but to dissolve it. This promotes better absorption of essential oils. To avoid dental caries, you must brush your teeth after using the composition.
The product should not be given to babies under 1 year of age, as it can cause a severe allergic reaction. Older children are allowed to eat a maximum of 1 small spoon per day.
Dark honey is considered a very useful product that has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the body. This is due to the high content of valuable components. It is important to follow the rules for using this substance.
