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With so many honey varietals available today, it can be challenging to determine which kind works best for what. The truth is, not all honey is created equal—some varietals work best in recipes like baked goods, while others are better suited for beverages. Honey pairings can be intimidating at first, but they're easy (and delicious) to learn!
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The best honey for tea can elevate any tea-drinking experience. Whether it’s a bold black tea, a delicate white tea, or a soothing herbal infusion, honey plays a vital role in balancing sweetness and tea bitterness. Additionally, the health benefits of honey in tea, such as soothing sore throats and providing natural cold remedies, make it a wonderful addition to your daily routine.
There’s something undeniably comforting about a cup of artisanal tea. It’s a timeless ritual that warms the soul and brings solace to our busy lives. The world of pairing tea with honey can be complex at times, which is why we wanted to share our top picks!
Pairing Tea with Honey: Our Top Picks
Florida Orange Blossom Honey
Delicate and fragrant, Florida Orange Blossom Honey boasts a hint of citrus that pairs impeccably with black and green teas. It serves as a subtle sweetener, lending a luscious sweetness to Earl Grey and creating a delightful combination of flavors. Our honey comes from Florida orange trees, and it's not easy to acquire real Florida Orange Blossom Honey, as much of it comes from Brazil.
Spring Honey, informed by Lavender
Our Spring Honey is influenced by at least 500 lavender plants on our farm, making it perfect for floral and herbal teas. A dash of this honey in chamomile tea creates a soothing elixir ideal for relaxation. You may also want to try stirring lavender honey lollipops into your tea for a very subtle sweetness.
Wildflower Honey
Wildflower Honey is a rich and earthy choice that pairs wonderfully with oolong and herbal blends. This honey, collected from various wildflowers, boasts a golden hue and a rich, complex flavor profile. It’s full of floral notes and offers a taste of the diverse landscapes where our bees forage, enhancing the flavors of different teas.
Sweet Clover Honey
Sweet Clover Honey is a surprising varietal, thanks to its bright, bold, and sweet flavor. It’s sometimes so strong with pollen that it evokes a response from the back of your throat when you taste it raw, and it’s not unusual to cough during a tasting.
The floral undertones of our Sweet Clover Honey are thanks to the bright yellow tall spikes in the region where it is collected. Our most recent Sweet Clover is from the Dakotas. Its bright color, deep, rich flavor, and thick consistency make it a welcome addition to any cup of tea. Additionally, Sweet Clover Honey can soothe a sore throat.
Linden Basswood Honey
Linden Basswood Honey is a rare type of honey that originates from sweet, aromatic, nectar-rich basswood trees, also known as linden trees. It has a delightful flavor and aroma, combining hints of sweet hay and herbs. This honey is delicious and can be enjoyed in a cup of flavorful tea—our Good Morning Tea pairs nicely—or as a topping for pancakes for an exquisite dessert.
Black Locust Honey
Called acacia honey in Europe, Black Locust Honey is a great choice for white and green teas. It boasts a sweet and light taste and has hints of floral notes. Unique and flavorful, pair it with a mint-infused herbal tea. Our Good Night Tea is quite fitting for a refreshing sip! Alternatively, consider using Bamboo Honey to enhance the vegetal notes of green teas.
Cranberry Blossom Honey
Cranberry Blossom Honey is a limited-edition sweet treat with a subtle tang of cranberry goodness. It is sourced from vibrant cranberry bushes in Massachusetts, making it truly special. However, it's only available during the fall season, so don't miss out! This magical honey not only offers a healthier alternative to processed sugars but also perfectly complements our array of autumn-inspired teas and dishes with its cranberry undertones. Say goodbye to artificial sweeteners and hello to a delicious native late-season honey. Try it now and taste the difference!
Our Favorite Teas
All of this talk about the best honey for tea may have you wondering about our favorite tea options. Did you know that along with honey, we also produce artisanal tea made from delicious botanicals?
We have 9 different varieties to choose from, and here are a few of our favorites:
- Sunrise Tea - Rich, zesty, and brisk, this tea tastes wonderful with Orange Blossom or Cranberry Honey.
- Blue Butterfly Pea Flower Tea - Earthy and light, we love enjoying this tea with Black Locust Honey.
- Midnight Berry Tea - Sweet berries combined with tart hibiscus and nutty rooibos makes this tea pair well with our Blueberry Honey.
- Beautea Ginger & Turmeric Tea - With sweet and spicy flavor notes, this tea pairs wonderfully with Tupelo Honey.
- Bee's Knees Tea - A sweet, nutty, and rich blend that pairs perfectly with Sunflower Honey.
What type of Honey is Best for Coffee and Tea?
The flavor of honey becomes more prominent as its color darkens. When selecting honey for tea, consider personal taste preferences as they vary. If you want to appreciate the taste of honey fully, opt for a darker variety. Alternatively, for a more enjoyable tea experience, choose a lighter variety. Follow your taste buds, and don’t hesitate to experiment. For those who prefer a different level of sweetness, white sugar can be used as an alternative to honey, allowing for variations based on individual taste and health considerations.
What Kind of Honey is Best for Green Tea?
Green tea is often mild, so selecting honey with a mild profile won’t overpower the tea’s flavor. Orange blossom honey is mild, sweet, and citrusy, making it a great pairing. Our Sourwood Honey is a rare, thick honey that gives any tea a new, warm flavor. Our favorite pairing is Sourwood Honey and Cider + Spice Tea. Adding honey to green tea can also boost the immune system, enhancing overall health.
Is Raw Honey Better Than Processed Honey for Tea?
We think that raw honey is always the way to go in any situation. Do a taste test, and you’ll see what we mean. Open up a jar of any of our artisanal or varietal honey, open a grocery-store-bought honey, and do a blind tasting. Take notes. Try this with friends and family to see how different each honey tastes. Try combining raw honey with lemon juice in hot water for a soothing beverage to make a comforting tea.
Pasteurized honey is stripped of its micro-nutrients and unique subtle flavors, while raw varietals preserve the essence of the flowers from where it came. On the flip side, this means that it may crystallize which is often misunderstood as a flaw in the honey.
Choosing the Best Honey for Tea
Embrace the art of tea drinking and pay close attention to the honey you use to sweeten it! There are so many diverse flavors and aromas of honey to discover—from the citrusy notes of orange blossom honey to soothing Spring Honey influenced by lavender plants on our farm. Each varietal will bring its unique charm to your cup.
As we always say, don’t be afraid to play with your food. We have tasted different honeys to find the perfect match for tea, and we encourage you to do the same. Here’s to finding your perfect match of honey for tea!
