Honey is a wonderfully versatile store-cupboard staple, and I always seem to have about three different types on the go at any one time. It’s typically a squeezy bottle to bake with, a jar for sweetening teas and yoghurt, and something a little fancier and more complex to enjoy drizzled on buttered toast or with cheese.
Honey shouldn’t just be “sweet”, though. Its taste, colour and viscosity are shaped by a range of factors – from the season it was harvested and the location, to the pollen of the plants nearby. Many cheaper options blend honey from more than one country, whereas single-origin honey is clearly labelled and typically has more distinctive, layered flavours specific to where it was produced. I’ll happily be adding a few of these into my rotation, so much so that I sense a honey-themed dinner party is on the way.
The best supermarket honey
Best all-rounder:
Odysea Greek pine & fir tree raw honey
£4.90 for 250g at Sainsbury’s (£1.96/100g)
£3.92 for 250g at Amazon (£1.96/100g)
★★★★☆
Noticeably less sweet than many of the others, and with a rich and complex malty flavour and savoury notes that I really enjoyed. This would be wonderful to cook with.
Best splurge:
Scottish Bee Company signature blend honey
£8.50 for 227g at Ocado (£3.74/100g)
★★★★★
This won’t be to everyone’s taste, but I loved it. It’s punchy and woody, with a bit of muskiness, too – almost savoury-leaning. It smells divine, like a warm autumn walk in the woods.
Best bargain:
Groovy Food Company orange blossom squeezy honey
£3.60 for 340g at Ocado (£1.06/100g)
★★★★☆
Beautifully bright and citrussy. It feels quite fun and summery, too. This would be great in drinks and cocktails.
And the rest …
The Greek Kitchen pine tree Greek honey
£5.50 for 250g at Ocado (£2.40/100g)
£5.40 for 250g at Amazon (£2.40/100g)
★★★★☆
A delicious, well-balanced honey that would be perfect for drizzling on toast. It has a really appealing colour and a floral flavour that comes through softly.
Rowse pure & natural runny honey
£3 for 340g at Asda (88p/100g)
£3 for 340g at Morrisons (88p/100g)
★★★☆☆
Leans on the sweeter side compared with the others, but is otherwise very neutral-tasting. A standard honey that would suit everyday use.
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Black Bee Honey British summer runny honey
£6.95 for 227g at Ocado (£3.06/100g)
£6.95 for 227 at Black Bee Honey (£3.06/100g)
★★★★☆
It’s common to assume that lighter-coloured honeys won’t be particularly complex in flavour, but this has a lot going on. There’s a lovely fresh and fruity citrus vibe, and it does indeed taste like summer. I can imagine it being great on scones and in cakes, especially while sitting in a sunny garden.
Hilltop everyday blossom honey
£4 for 720g at Tesco (56p/100g)
£3.15 for 720g at Amazon (50p/100g)
★★★☆☆
An OK honey that would do the job for your honey needs. Some floral notes do come through, and it smells quite fragrant.
Littleover organic wildflower honey with royal jelly
£4 for 340g at Waitrose (£1.48 /100g)
★★★☆☆
A good all-rounder. It has quite a clean honey flavour and feels more neutral than some of the others. Fine for everyday usage, but doesn’t really stand out.
M&S Mexican wildflower honey
From £4 for 340g at M&S (£1.18/100g)
★★★☆☆
There’s a little smoky aftertaste, which I do enjoy. It’s one of the runniest honeys and does lean quite sweet.
Waitrose Essential squeezy honey
£2 for 454g at Waitrose (44p/100g)
★★☆☆☆
You pretty much get just sweetness here and not much else. Tastes more like golden syrup.