As the days get shorter, the honey jar moves from our breakfast table to the place next to the teapot. In Morocco and Yemen, it has been this way for generations: honey belongs in winter just as mint belongs in tea. In this piece, you will read why, and which jar from our range you should put in the cupboard this winter.
Why honey and winter belong together
Honey is pure nature: bees collect nectar, thicken it, and seal it in the comb. What is in the jar is mainly natural sugar (glucose and fructose), along with small amounts of pollen, enzymes, and minerals. Because of this, a spoonful of honey quickly provides energy on a cold morning, without anything being added.
Raw honey is not heated or filtered. What the bees put in it stays in it. You can taste it: every variety tastes like the blossom it comes from, and in winter you naturally reach for the fuller, spicier varieties.
And then there is the ritual. A spoonful of honey in hot tea with fresh mint, a spoonful of pure honey before going to bed, honey on warm bread on a dark Sunday morning. In many households, that is the regular winter ritual. When there is a scratchy throat, the whole family reaches for the same jar.
Which honey suits which winter moment
Thyme Honey from Morocco: the jar for the winter cupboard
Dark, powerful honey from the wild thyme fields. Full and spicy, with a warm, slightly peppery finish. In Morocco, za'tar honey has been the regular jar in the winter cupboard for generations, and not without reason: in hot tea with mint or lemon, the thyme aroma is fully released. For those who like honey with character.
Thyme Honey 450 g · Thyme Honey 250 g
Eucalyptus Honey: dark, with a fresh finish
From the blossom of the eucalyptus tree. Full and rich, with the slightly menthol-like finish that only eucalyptus has. Delicious in warm milk or on dark bread, and the classic spoonful of pure honey on a winter evening.
Eucalyptus Honey 450 g
Yemeni Sidr Honey: the jar you save for winter
From the blossom of the sidr tree in the Hadramout Valley in Yemen, where beekeepers can only harvest for a few weeks a year. Because of this, sidr is one of the most valued honey varieties in the world. Thick, golden brown, and deep in flavor, with a long caramel-like finish. In Yemen, this is the honey for the cold months: a spoonful in the morning, pure from the spoon, and nothing else.
Yemeni Sidr Honey 250 g
Samr Honey from Yemen: dark and powerful
Samr honey comes from the blossom of the samr tree, an acacia that grows in the dry valleys of Yemen. Darker and less sweet than sidr, with a full, almost spicy character. Bedouins have been taking it as winter honey for centuries. For those who know sidr and are looking for something a bit stronger.
Samr Honey 250 g
Lotus Flower Honey from Morocco: the milder cousin of sidr
Lotus flower honey comes from the blossom of the wild jujube, also called sidr in Morocco: a relative of the Yemeni sidr tree, but lighter and softer in flavor. Creamy and mild, and therefore the jar that the whole family enjoys. Through the yogurt, on pancakes, or as a gentle sweetener in tea.
Lotus Flower Honey 450 g · Lotus Flower Honey 250 g
Daghmous Honey from the Anti-Atlas: warm and tingling
Cactus honey from the daghmous, a succulent that blooms in places where almost nothing else grows. Warm and aromatic, with a slightly tingling finish that is typical of this honey. In Morocco, a classic from the better grocery store, and at home a spoonful in warm milk.
Daghmous Honey 450 g · Daghmous Honey 250 g
Carob Honey: for the dark mornings
From the carob tree on the rocky slopes of Morocco. Full and dark, with a sweetness reminiscent of caramel. The honey for warm bread or pancakes when it is still dark outside.
Carob Honey 250 g
Propolis: what the bees themselves use in winter
Propolis is the resin mixture that bees make from buds and tree bark. They line the inside of the hive with it and seal all the cracks in the fall, so that the colony gets through the winter clean and sheltered. It is therefore literally the winter material of the bees. People have been using propolis for centuries, and with us you can find it in a few forms:
- Propolis Capsules: 100% propolis in a plant-based capsule, for those who prefer to skip the spicy taste. One to two capsules a day with a glass of water.
- Propolis Honey Mix for Children: raw honey with propolis, mild enough for the little ones (from 1 year).
- Propolis with Palm Pollen: propolis combined with pollen from the date palm, a classic from the Moroccan spice cabinet.
- Four Seasons Balm: chest balm with natural ingredients, for a warm feeling on the chest and back. To rub in at night.
Want to add honey to it? Honingkracht is sunflower honey with 3% royal jelly, and you sprinkle pollen granules over the oatmeal in the morning. This way you have the whole beehive in the kitchen cupboard.
This is how you get the most out of your honey in winter
- Tea not boiling. Let the tea steep for a few minutes first and then stir the honey into it. Above 40 degrees the aroma of raw honey is lost.
- Crystallization is normal. Raw honey becomes firmer or grainy in a cold kitchen. That is a sign of real honey, not a defect. Put the jar in a bowl of warm water for a while (not in the microwave) and it will become liquid again.
- Store at room temperature. Not in the refrigerator: honey crystallizes faster there. Well sealed, honey stays good for years.
- Not for babies. Honey is not suitable for children under 1 year.
All honey in our shop is 100% pure, without additives and directly from the beekeeper. Not sure which jar suits you? Start with the Honey Tasting Pack with 6 jars, or view the entire pure honey collection.