What Is Raw Honey? Raw Honey vs Regular Honey

Raw honey is honey that has been minimally processed after it is removed from the beehive. It is usually strained to remove bits of wax and other debris but is not heavily filtered or pasteurized. All honey made by bees is raw – at least at first. What happens after harvest creates some important differences between raw and regular honey.

As a beekeeper, I get to enjoy honey straight from the hive—and see firsthand how much it can vary from one harvest to the next. If you’re curious, my guide to the different types of honey is a great place to explore.

Straining Fresh Honey

After extracting, I allow my honey to drip through a nylon sieve using only gravity. This removes bits of beeswax and other larger particles.

Though sometimes used interchangeably, straining and filtering are not the same thing. My goal is to remove unwanted bits while doing as little as possible to the honey.

Color, Clarity and Texture

One of the interesting things about harvesting my own honey is seeing how it varies from season to season.

The color of honey may be light gold, rich amber or even dark brown depending largely on the nectar sources visited by the bees.

Fresh honey may be clear or slightly cloudy and can vary in thickness. Appearance alone can’t tell you whether honey is raw.

Filtering

Commercial honey may be finely filtered to remove very small particles and produce the clear, uniform appearance many shoppers expect. Unlike simple straining, fine filtration can remove much smaller particles.

Heating and Pasteurization

Honey doesn’t flow well when cold, so producers may warm it to make filtering and bottling easier and to dissolve sugar crystals.

Most grocery store honey is not necessarily pasteurized. Pasteurization involves controlled heating to reduce yeast and delay fermentation and crystallization. Gentle warming for bottling is not the same as pasteurization.

Raw Honey vs Regular Honey: Key Differences

The biggest difference between raw honey and regular honey is what happens after it leaves the hive. Raw honey is minimally processed, while regular honey may be filtered, heated or pasteurized before bottling.

Flavor and Texture

One of my favorite things about honey is the variety of flavors due to the nectar sources visited by the bees.

Clover honey is known for being mild—though it isn’t my favorite.

Sourwood honey is highly prized in my region, and believe it or not, some folks actually enjoy the bold flavor of buckwheat honey.

Texture varies too, depending on floral source, moisture and temperature. And no, you can’t tell if honey is pure just by how thick it is!

Crystallization

Sooner or later, most honey will crystallize as some of its natural sugars form crystals. Some varieties crystallize faster than others, and temperature also plays a role.

Raw honey often crystallizes readily, but crystallization does not prove that honey is raw.

Regular honey can crystallize too. Crystallized honey is still perfectly good and can be returned to liquid with gentle warming. If you have some – read my guide on “How to Decrystallize Honey.”

Does Processing Affect the Benefits?

One reason people choose raw honey is that minimal processing preserves more of its natural components, including small amounts of pollen, enzymes and antioxidants.

Filtering and heat may affect some of these components.

As a beekeeper, not a nutritionist or doctor, I prefer honey as close to its natural state as possible- strain out the bits of wax and leave the honey mostly as the bees made it.

Understanding Honey Labels

Pure honey means there are no added ingredients, while raw describes how honey has been processed. Honey can be pure without being raw.

Organic honey is more complicated because bees may forage several miles from their hive. I’m not sure how organic producers tell their bees where to go—mine never listen when I tell them to fly in a certain direction!

The USDA regulates this certification of organic livestock practices. The certification process is rather expensive – often too much of a cost for small producers.

If knowing how your honey was produced is important to you, buying directly from a local beekeeper gives you the opportunity to ask. I have a guide for beekeepers on labeling their honey jars.

Which Honey Is Best for You?

Choosing between raw and regular honey often comes down to personal preference and how you plan to use it. Either works well in your favorite honey recipes.

But, there are many ways to use honey beyond food: a home remedy for seasonal allergies, indigestion and even wound care.

Whip up a bunch of diy honey straws or sticks to take on your backpacking trip – it likely doesn’t matter which honey you choose. Either will give you a natural energy boost.

If I am making my honey aloe burn salve (or something similar)- I use raw honey to reap any potential health advantages.

For me, nothing beats honey fresh from the hive—especially when I can sneak a bite of honeycomb during harvest!

FAQs