Your cart
There are no more items in your cart
Rosemary, thyme or flower honey: which one to choose depending on the use
When buying honey, do you have doubts about which one to choose?
There's one thing that almost everyone overlooks when choosing honey, and that is that, depending on whether you're looking for honey for your breakfasts and to accompany mild foods like yogurt or herbal tea, or if you're looking for honey to accompany cheeses and meats, you'll need a honey with a milder and more delicate aroma and flavor or one that's more intense and persistent on the palate.
The key is understanding the different nuances of their flavors and aromas and which one is best suited to your intended use. In this post, we'll help you choose the best option for you based on your preferences and needs.
flavors and aromas of honey
To help guide your choice, let's explore the flavors and aromas of different honeys so you can distinguish between them:
ROSEMARY HONEY: Rosemary honey is very aromatic, yet has a delicate and mild flavor. Its aroma is herbaceous, thanks to the rosemary plant, and its taste is silky, fruity, and sometimes slightly almondy.
THYME HONEY: With similarly floral and herbaceous aromas, thyme honey has a more intense and persistent flavor. It contains gently balsamic notes and sometimes a subtle hint of spice. It's a sweet honey, but not at all cloying due to the slight bitterness that appears at the end.
FLOWER HONEY: Its flavor is both sweet and very well-balanced, making it the most versatile honey. It has a floral, fruity, and slightly citrusy aroma. Its aroma is stronger than that of acacia honey and varies depending on the type of flower from which the nectar was extracted.
HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED IF SOME HONEYS ARE MORE SUITABLE THAN OTHERS DEPENDING ON THEIR GASTRONOMIC PURPOSE?
We all know honey as a natural source of energy and for its antioxidant and antibacterial properties, thanks to its components and acidity. But do we know how to choose the right honey for our dishes?
TIPS:
When it comes to mild and sweet foods like fresh cheeses, yogurt, pastries, and toast, it's best to choose a honey with a similarly mild flavor and aroma. Its taste shouldn't overpower or overpower the main ingredient, but rather add a subtle aroma and sweetness. For these uses, we recommend rosemary honey.
On the other hand, if you're planning to use honey for savory dishes or robust recipes like a sauce for white meats, oily fish, or a selection of aged and semi-aged cheeses, you'll need a honey with an intense aroma and powerful flavor to complement and enhance the taste of these foods. For these types of recipes, we recommend thyme honey.
Finally, if you enjoy breakfasts and sweet treats like cookies, muffins, milk, toast with fresh or soft cheese and fruit, etc., and you're looking for an aromatic honey without an overpowering flavor, we recommend wildflower honey. It's also great in sauces or dressings for hot or cold salads and in infusions.
HONEY IN A MAIN DISH: HONEY CHICKEN WITH GARLIC
Honey can transform a dish like chicken into a juicy and flavorful meal.
RECIPE:
1. Season 4 chicken thighs or breasts with salt and pepper while heating the oil in a fairly large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken, browning it for about 4 or 5 minutes (if using breasts, no more than 4 minutes) on each side.
2. While the chicken is browning, mince 4 cloves of garlic. Once the chicken is removed from the skillet, reduce the heat and add the garlic to the skillet; stir for half a minute and then add 3 tablespoons of honey, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, and 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Stir until you have a smooth sauce. If it's too thick, add a little water.
3. Return the chicken to the skillet, coating it with the sauce. Stir briefly and let it cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes. Finally, we serve it hot.
TIP:
To complement and balance the flavors, you can pair the chicken dish with a glass of white wine with citrus and slightly fruity notes, such as Crial Lledó white wine from Bajo Aragón.
Do you like sweets with honey?
In sweet or slightly sweet foods, honey enhances the flavors and adds an aromatic touch...
You can opt for a moist honey cake (preferably with rosemary or wildflower honey)...
In sweet or slightly sweet foods, honey enhances the flavors and adds an aromatic touch and moister textures. Here are two ideas to share with friends or family: one a very sweet pastry, and the other a healthy and delicious dessert.
You can opt for a moist honey cake (preferably with rosemary or wildflower honey) that will stay moist longer thanks to the added moisture.
You can also use this recipe to whet your appetite with a tempting starter of baked goat cheese log with walnuts and honey. Simply substitute the cinnamon with a little pepper and fresh thyme and serve the cheese with toasted bread.
Recipe: Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) using the conventional setting (top and bottom heat). Grease and flour a 20-22 cm (8-9 inch) cake tin. Beat 3 large eggs with 70-100 g (2.5-3.5 oz) of sugar for 4-5 minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add 120 g (3.5 oz) of honey, 120 ml (3.5 fl oz) of sunflower oil, 125 g (3.5 oz) of Greek yogurt, 60 ml (2.5 fl oz) of milk, and a teaspoon of vanilla extract. Mix well. Then, add the zest of one orange or lemon. Sift the flour with a pinch of salt and 16 g (3.5 oz) of baking powder. Gently fold the dry ingredients into the egg mixture.
LAVENDER HONEY: AN INTENSE AND AROMATIC FLORAL HONEY
Unlike other floral honeys, lavender honey is characterized by the intensity of its herbal aroma due to the nectar of the lavender flower (a variety of wild lavender) and its balanced sweetness with a fruity aftertaste and a touch of acidity.
Lavender honey is a monofloral honey made primarily from lavender nectar.
Its culinary use is very versatile, combining well with both sweet foods (fruits, desserts with nuts, infusions, sweet and savory toasts, yogurt...) and savory foods (goat or aged cheeses, vinaigrettes, dressings, or marinades for white meat). Would you like to try it?
Related products
Product available with different options
