Won from the blooming orange groves of Tarragona – province of the southern part of Catalonia bordered by the Mediterranean Sea. Tarragona is considered ‘the honey village’, being a reference in the bee world on an international level, the success of their products normally isn’t anything new.

Orange grove blossom

Generally, beekeepers chose where to relocate their bees very carefully and take into account various factors, depending on the type of honey they want their bees to produce. So if the aim is for them to make orange blossom honey, the bees will be moved to orange tree orchards that should offer a plentiful supply of nectar for a set period of time, making sure there is no competition from other hives or floral sources. Also, old honeycombs with honey from other flower sources will be removed prior to this, to further ensure purity, quality and a monofloral product.

Orange blossom honey is usually thick with a beautiful light golden color. Over time, the honey’s color will darken slightly if the jar remains sealed. Don’t be surprised if your orange blossom honey crystallizes extremely quickly, because it has very high glucose content. A gentle warm water bath will restore the honey to its liquid state.

An unusual ingredient in this honey is caffeine, which is not found in any other varietal. However, it’s an extremely small amount of caffeine, even less than you’ll find in decaf coffee, so it won’t give you a wake-me-up jolt if you eat it with breakfast.

Orange blossom honey does indeed smell like oranges and citrus, although the aroma is a mild and delicate one. If you wait a while before eating the honey, its aroma and “honey taste” will take on added complexity. Orange blossom is a fruity and sweet honey, but only has light citrus overtones rather than a strong orange flavor. It’s also rather acidic

1) Good for skin health. One of my favorite face masks is a simple honey mask. I gently apply raw honey on my face, softly rubbing it in and making it stick. I wait for 15-20 minutes, then wash my face with lukewarm water. My skin looks great afterwards: pores are closed, clean and less visible, the skin has a beautiful glow to it, without being or looking oily and the redness of my acne scars is gone. It even helps keep my acne under control, preventing breakouts.

2) Good gastritis and gastric ulcers relief. When honey comes into contact with gastric juices, it releases hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide has been found to encourage healing of the stomach lining, further contributing to recovery from H. pylori infection. It also further contributing to improving certain digestive conditions such as gastritis or gastric ulcers, as well as occasional inflammation or irritation of the stomach lining.

3) Soothing on the stomach. The particular consistency of the honey makes it stick to mucous membranes, forming a protective coating that shields from harmful elements and allows the mucous membranes to heal, reducing inflammation and irritation at the same time.

4) Great for sore throat and bacterial respiratory infections. Orange blossom honey is great for a sore throat because it helps calm irritation, reduce pain and discomfort and relieve cough. With its viscous consistency, it sticks to the throat lining, forming a protective coating that allows the mucous lining to heal.

5) Stimulates appetite. Orange blossom honey is particularly sweet with a citrussy aftertaste and an overall pleasant flavor and fragrance. It contains special enzymes and simple carbohydrates that help digestion and encourage eating, stimulating appetite.

6) Nutritious food. Honey in general is nutritious, despite not having a dense nutritional profile and being rich in natural sugars. All honey varieties are actually quite nourishing, providing essential nutrients. Considering its properties, orange blossom honey is a great substitute for refined sugar, candy or artificial sweeteners.

7) Antimicrobial action. Orange blossom honey boasts strong natural antimicrobial properties that recommend it for a variety of uses, from wound healing to improving the appearance of acne and acne scars and treating respiratory tract infections by reducing bacterial load.

8) Source of antioxidants. Orange blossom honey is a great source of polyphenolic compounds, notably phenolic acids and flavonoids. Their main role is to protect our cells against damage caused by harmful free radicals, reducing our risks of developing chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease or degenerative nerve and muscle diseases.

9) Low pollen content. Orange blossom honey is estimated to contain a little over 15% pollen, making it a low source of the element and thus less likely to cause allergic reactions than other varieties. However, this does not exclude allergies altogether. It might be best to avoid the honey and have a skin allergy test to either confirm or rule out a potential allergy.

Spreading orange blossom honey on English muffins, French toast or pancakes (from any nation) is a recipe for a yummy breakfast or snack, but it’s just as delicious when paired with aged cheeses, used to sweeten baked goods (honey breads simply beg for the inclusion of orange blossom), added to marinades, sauces and dips (try making an avocado and honey dip!) – and of course, replacing sugar as a sweetener for tea or coffee.

For gastritis and gastric ulcers relief, it is recommended to have 1-2 tablespoons of raw, unprocessed, unheated honey and postpone eating or drinking anything for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour. The honey is best consumed upon waking up in the morning on an empty stomach.

Pro tip: wait until the tea is lukewarm to add honey, because boiling water destroys many of the honey’s beneficial health ingredients. Speaking of which…

FDA Registration No. : 10887810022
FDA Product Code : 36 C C T 04
Manufacture Certification : SALSA

*** NOT SUITABLE FOR INFANTS UNDER 12 MONTHS
*** If you are already allergic to flower pollen, honey bee enzymes, and other bee products consumption should be avoided because it will trigger a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.

As standard, all our honeys are supplied with Certificates of Analysis testing done by international laboratories as illustrated in the European Honey CODEX :

• HMF & Diatase
  To ensure the honey has not been heat treated and is not old/adulterated honey (refer to Honey Codex).
• Sugars (Fructose/Glucose/Sucrose)
  To ensure the honey has not been adulterated by the addition of sugar syrup and the bees have foraged on flower nectar to make the honey and not fed on sugar syrup during the honey production period (refer to Honey Codex).
• Pollen Analysis and Geographical Origin
  To ensure authenticity of the botanical and geographical origin. Note, with respect to Orange Blossom Honey, the flower naturally produces very low pollen counts and therefore the concentration of Methyl Anthranilate is also analysed as an indicator of the quality and authenticity of the Orange Blossom honey.
• Antibiotic and Veterinary Residues
  To ensure products comply with those maximum residue limits for honey established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
• Moisture Content
  To ensure the honey has ripened properly and not diluted with water (refer to Honey Codex).

***Due to space limitation, we only published Pollen Analysis Report here. If you interested to get access on full report, please send us an email. We’ll gladly help you.

Our Honey Sommelier has traveled the globe to bring you the finest, raw monofloral honeys from around the world, each selected for their unique aroma, palate and finish. All traditionally gathered and never heated over the normal temperature of the hive.

Produce of : Tarragana Spain
Pack & bottle : Hand pack & bottle in Perthshire, Scotland