India’s rich cultural tapestry, from the cold mountains of the Himalayas to the hot deserts in the West, has an unexpected common thread–honey. Honey has long been seen as a monolith, but that seems to be far from reality. India boasts a roster of over 300 varieties of honey, and with growing concerns about adulteration, awareness about these varieties has become increasingly important. Often, the very presence of a range of honey in a brand’s catalogue can become an indication that they are selling authentic honey.
Bees buzz to their own rhythm and collect nectar from every flower they find. The nectar is sourced from several flowers, and this is why most honey is multifloral. But some flowers are so nectar-rich that bees keep returning, creating what we call monofloral honey. Though not exclusive to one flower, it’s defined by a dominant nectar source (at least 50%). Monofloral varieties have a distinct charm and quality of their own because of their unique colours, flavours and aroma.
When we think of pure honey, we think of a golden liquid with a thick, syrupy consistency that smoothly flows. On the other hand, spoiled honey is often associated with crystallisation under the assumption that it contains added sugar. However, the opposite is true. Crystallisation is the most apparent indication that the honey is pure. Honey crystallises due to the presence of fructose and glucose. If there is a higher fructose content, then it will crystallise more slowly, and if there is more glucose, then this process occurs faster.
Honey that is commonly available in the market goes through a lot of processing with heat and filtration, which breaks the structure of natural sugars in the honey, preventing crystallisation, while also removing other components like pollen and yeast. This allows it to remain liquid for an extended period.
Crystallisation is also quite easy to manoeuvre. Just place your jar of honey in warm water or leave it out in the sunlight, and you’re good to go.
Mustard Honey
This is a unique variety of honey, as it is always found crystallised in nature. This happens due to the high presence of pollen in the honey, which gives it a light and creamy appearance. This is produced in mustard fields all over India and has a floral aroma with a light, sweet taste.
Lychee Honey
Blossoming in the Lychee orchards of India, this light amber honey flourishes in the Lychee-producing states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and West Bengal. Muzaffarpur district in Bihar is particularly renowned for its Lychee, with the Shahi Litchi even receiving a Geographical Indication Tag. The nectar of this sweet fruit makes for a honey that is light, buttery and subtle enough to make a mark without overwhelming your palate.
Jamun Honey
The Jamun of our childhood takes pride of place in India’s wide roster of honey varieties. The slight tanginess and bitterness are married with the sweet caramel notes of honey. This dark amber honey is for anyone looking for a balanced flavour that’s not too sweet.
Kashmiri Acacia Honey
Often referred to as Himalayan Honey, this variety is considered one of the rarest Indian honey types. Made from the nectar of the Acacia flower, which is also called Kikar, this honey dons a light hue; so light it’s sometimes even called White Honey, and is considerably sweeter than other varieties of honey. The flowering season of the Kikar flower is quite short, of about 20 days, making this one of the most coveted honey varieties in the country.
Sidr Honey
The arid climate of Rajasthan and Gujarat provides the perfect environment for the Sidr or Wild Jujube Trees to flourish. The plant is also locally known as Ber, and it produces a honey that is golden amber in colour with a taste that boasts balanced sweetness and earthy notes. This variety has a high level of international demand, often referred to as the Manuka of the East, and India has also begun to make an impact on the scene.
Ajwain Honey
Deeper than the usual honey, both in colour and flavour, this honey is said to channel Ajwain’s benefits as an antioxidant. Harvested in the cooler months, this Indian honey embodies notes of savouriness with a herbal kick. This monofloral variety may sometimes even have a slight bitterness to it, but it’s all enveloped in sweet golden richness.
Chichri Honey
From the heights of the Himalayas comes the Chichri Honey. This flower is quite rare and grows at an altitude of almost 16,000 feet. Given the environmental conditions, the Indian honey can only be collected in small batches after the rains halt and before the first snow. With a fruity flavour and refreshing notes, this is a truly special honey to have in your collection.
Fennel Honey
Before Fennel, or Saunf as we know it, takes its dried and refreshing avatar, it blooms as vibrant yellow flowers full of nectar. However, as the plant grows alongside several other plants, monofloral varieties of this honey can be quite challenging to find, making it all the more unique. If you pay close attention, you can detect some subtle hints of saunf in this honey that is light with a floral aroma.
Sundarban Honey
Straight from the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans, this variety was conferred a Geographical Indication Tag in 2024. Between the months of March and May, this Indian honey is collected by the indigenous community of honey collectors in the Sunderbans. The colour leans towards red and dark brown, while the flavour feels grounded with woody notes and a floral scent.
Clover Honey
Locally called the Berseem flowers, it’s notable for its high nectar content. This is a type of grass plant and is found in several regions across the country. However, the production of this variety of honey has been facing challenges, as it is derived from a wildflower, and new cultivable hybrid varieties are taking over. These are not as nectar-rich, resulting in a decline in the honey yield.
India’s honey varieties are living testimonies of the ecological diversity and the profound connection between bees and flowers. Whether it’s the butteriness of Lychee Honey or the bittersweetness of Jamun Honey, these are a reminder of the bounty of nature. In a world of conformity and uniformity, these bees are carving out their own, one golden drop at a time.
