Honey: Nature’s Golden Superfood

Honey has been treasured by humans for thousands of years — not just for its delicious sweetness, but for its nutritional benefits, healing properties, and versatility. From ancient remedies to modern kitchens, honey stands out as one of nature’s most remarkable foods. In this post, we’ll explore what makes honey a superfood, its benefits for health and wellbeing, and showcase some of the exceptional local honey producers we’re proud to work with here in Devon.

🐝 What Makes Honey a Superfood?

At its simplest, honey is a natural sweetener made by bees from the nectar of flowers. But unlike refined sugar, honey contains a range of bioactive compounds — including antioxidants, enzymes, and trace nutrients — that contribute to its health-promoting properties. These compounds help honey go beyond being just a condiment; they give it nutritional value and functional benefits that many other sweeteners simply don’t offer.

🌿 Antioxidants & Phytonutrients

Honey contains plant-derived compounds such as flavonoids and phenolic acids — antioxidants that help protect your cells from oxidative stress. Oxidative stress occurs when free radicals damage cells, which can contribute to aging and chronic diseases. Regular consumption of antioxidant-rich foods like honey may help reduce this stress and support overall health.

🛡️ Antibacterial and Antimicrobial Properties

Honey naturally contains enzymes that produce hydrogen peroxide, making it effective at inhibiting the growth of certain bacteria and microbes. This is why honey has historically been used as a natural topical remedy for minor wounds and skin irritations.

💪 Immune System Support

The combination of antioxidants and antimicrobial compounds in honey can offer gentle support to your immune system. While honey isn’t a cure-all, its natural components help fight inflammation and assist your body in defending against infections and illness.

🍯 Energy Boost with a Lower Glycemic Impact

Honey has a lower glycemic index than refined sugar, which means it can raise blood sugar more gradually — helping to deliver a smoother energy boost without the sharp “crash” often associated with sugary foods. For many people, this makes honey a smarter choice for sweetening drinks or snacks.

🌱 Prebiotic Effects & Digestive Health

Honey contains compounds that act as prebiotics — food for the healthy bacteria in your gut. A thriving microbiome is linked with improved digestion, nutrient absorption, and even a stronger immune response.

🍯 Honey for Everyday Health

So what does all of this mean in practice? Let’s break down some of the most popular uses and benefits of incorporating honey into your daily life:

🫖 1. Soothe Sore Throats & Coughs

Honey is one of the most widely recommended natural remedies for soothing sore throats and reducing cough symptoms. A spoonful on its own or stirred into warm tea can help coat irritated throat tissues and ease discomfort.

🍳 2. Replace Refined Sugar

Honey makes for a tastier, more nutritious alternative to white sugar. Use it in baking, drizzle it on porridge or yogurt, or stir it into your coffee or herbal teas. Its rich flavours can elevate simple dishes while providing a touch of natural goodness.

🥣 3. Boost Post-Workout Energy

Because honey provides natural sugars along with trace nutrients, it’s a great option for quick energy before or after exercise. A small drizzle over fruit or stirred into a smoothie can help fuel your body without processed ingredients.

😴 4. Help with Sleep and Stress

Local folk wisdom often pairs honey with warm milk before bed to support restful sleep — a tradition backed by honey’s ability to influence hormones like serotonin and melatonin, which regulate sleep cycles.

🍞 5. Natural Skin Care

Beyond food, honey has been used topically for skincare. Its antibacterial properties and humectant nature (attracting moisture) make it a useful ingredient in natural masks, scrubs, and balms.

🍯 Celebrating Devon’s Finest Honey Producers

We’re honoured to offer jars of honey from some of Devon’s most loved and respected producers — each bringing passion, quality, and local character to their products.

🐝 North Devon Queens

North Devon Queens is a family-run bee and honey producer based near South Molton. While they are best known for breeding British Buckfast queens — bees prized for their calm temperament and honey productivity — they also produce small-batch, award-winning honey.

Their range includes classic Devon Spring and Summer honeys, as well as unique varieties like Hawthorn Honey with rich flavour notes. You can even enjoy cut comb honey, honey served still in its natural hive structure — a treat for enthusiasts and purists alike.

North Devon Queens’ honey has earned accolades at the Taste of the West awards, showcasing the excellence and care in every jar.

🌼 Hall’s Honey

Hall’s Honey produces artisan honey sourced from the hedgerows and wildflower meadows of North Devon. Their runny and soft set honeys come in different styles and flavours, reflecting the diversity of local forage.

Small-batch and handcrafted, Hall’s Honey retains a delicate floral character with hints specific to the seasonal flowers that fed the bees. Their runny honey is perfect drizzled over breakfasts, stirred into salad dressings, or simply enjoyed by the spoonful.

🍯 Quince Honey Farm

Quince Honey Farm is one of Britain’s best-known honey farms, founded in 1949 and now a multi-generation family business based in South Molton.

Here, bees forage the rich North Devon and Exmoor landscapes, creating multiple varieties of seasonal honey depending on what’s in bloom — from spring blossoms to summer wildflowers.

Quince’s extensive range includes Devon honey, Exmoor Heather honey, and more, each with distinct flavours and colours reflecting the nectar source and season.

The farm also offers a unique visitor experience where you can learn about bees, tour facilities, taste honey, and participate in fun activities like beeswax candle rolling — making it a great family day out.

🍽️ How to Use Honey

Honey is incredibly versatile. Here are some of the ways you can enjoy it:

• Drizzle over porridge, yogurt or fruit for a natural sweetness boost.
• Stir into tea or warm milk — great for soothing and flavour.
• Use in baking or marinades where sugar is typically called for.
• Pair with cheese or charcuterie on a cheeseboard for flavour contrast.
• Splash into salad dressings for gentle sweetness and depth.

Remember, while honey can be healthier than refined sugar, it is still sugar — so enjoy it in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

🐝 Choosing the Best Honey

When selecting honey, consider choosing local, artisanal, or raw honey over heavily processed products. Raw honey retains more of its natural enzymes, antioxidants, and flavours — characteristics often reduced through pasteurisation and filtration.

Supporting local honey producers like North Devon Queens, Hall’s Honey, and Quince Honey Farm not only connects you with high-quality products but also supports sustainable beekeeping and pollinator health in your region.

🍯 Honey as a Thoughtful Gift

Honey isn’t just a pantry staple — it makes a beautiful, meaningful gift. With its golden colour, rich flavours, and natural goodness, a jar of local honey feels both indulgent and thoughtful, making it perfect for any occasion.

Whether you’re shopping for birthdays, thank-you gifts, housewarmings, Valentine’s Day, or seasonal celebrations, honey is a gift that suits everyone. It’s naturally long-lasting, universally loved, and easy to enjoy in countless ways — from breakfast and baking to teas and cheeseboards.

🎁 A Gift with a Story

One of the most special things about gifting honey is the story behind the jar. Local producers like North Devon Queens, Hall’s Honey, and Quince Honey Farm bring with them a sense of place, craftsmanship, and care. Each honey reflects the flowers, hedgerows, and landscapes where the bees forage, making every jar unique. Honey appears in many of our hand crafted hampers such as our  Johns Deluxe Hamper or Johns Sweet Treat Bag

Gifting local honey shows thoughtfulness — it says you’ve chosen something that supports British beekeepers, sustainable practices, and local food production, rather than a mass-produced alternative.

🧀 Perfect for Foodie Hampers & Pairings

Honey works beautifully as part of a food hamper or gift box. It pairs especially well with:

• Artisan cheeses and crackers

• Herbal teas or specialty coffee

• Biscuits, baking mixes, or breakfast treats

• Charcuterie and antipasti

A jar of Devon honey can elevate a simple gift into something truly special, adding warmth, colour, and flavour.

🌿 A Gift That Feels Good to Give

Because honey is often associated with wellbeing, comfort, and nourishment, it makes a lovely “feel-good” present. It’s a gentle way to say thank you, thinking of you, or take care. From soothing winter colds to brightening breakfasts, honey is a gift that keeps on giving long after it’s been opened.

🍯 Final Thoughts

Honey is more than nature’s sweetener — it’s a superfood steeped in tradition, nutrition, and versatility. Whether you’re drizzling it on breakfast, stirring it into tea, using it as a natural remedy, or pairing it with cheese, honey offers something special in every spoonful.

With award-winning producers right here in Devon, each jar you choose has a story behind it — of buzzing bees, thriving wildflowers, and years of beekeeping expertise. So next time you reach for honey, take a moment to appreciate not just its sweetness, but the natural goodness and heritage it brings to your table.