Cherry honey
Also known as: cherry blossom honey
Cherry honey is a rare monofloral honey from the nectar of sweet cherry (Prunus avium), amber, with almond and cherry-stone notes, quick to crystallise.
Cherry honey is a monofloral honey from the nectar of cherry trees (Prunus), above all the sweet cherry, Prunus avium. As a single-flower honey it is known above all from Italy and France, and in Wallonia cherry is one of the spring fruit trees behind the first honey flow.
It is a rare honey, because cherries bloom early and briefly. In Slovenia, beekeepers on the coast, in the Karst and in the south-east have begun to produce it more regularly, and the Slovenian Beekeepers' Association analysed 11 samples from 2023–2025. Their water content was 14.6–17.0 %, the electrical conductivity 0.60–1.12 mS/cm (0.85 on average), and cherry pollen made up only 24 % of the pollen on average.
Liquid, the honey was medium to dark amber. It can crystallise quickly and then turns light amber with a grey-green hue. Tasters found it medium sweet to sweet, slightly to moderately sour and sometimes a little bitter, with notes of almond, marzipan, cherry stone, cherry blossom and cherry compote.
Why this matters to you: cherry honey is darker and more aromatic than most spring honeys, and quick crystallisation is normal for it.
Facts
| Botanical origin | Nectar of sweet cherry (Prunus avium) |
|---|---|
| Colour | Liquid medium to dark amber; set light amber with a grey-green hue |
| Crystallization | Can crystallise quickly |
| Moisture | 14.6–17.0 % (11 Slovenian samples) |
| Taste | Medium sweet, slightly sour; almond, marzipan, cherry stone |
| Region | Italy, France; Slovenia (coast, Karst, south-east) |
How it connects to Honey & beekeeping
Cherry honey → kind of → Blossom and honeydew honey → kind of → 🍯 Honey
Links
- Part of
- Monofloral honey, Blossom and honeydew honey
- Similar and different
- Orange blossom honey, Raspberry honey, Miel wallon
Frequently asked questions
What is cherry honey made from?
Mainly from the nectar of sweet cherry (Prunus avium).
What does it taste like?
Medium sweet, slightly sour, with notes of almond, marzipan and cherry stone.
Is it true that cherry honey is always pale like other spring honeys?
No. Slovenian samples were medium to dark amber when liquid.
Why does it crystallise quickly?
It is a natural trait; once set, it is light amber with a grey-green hue.
Where is cherry honey produced?
It is listed for Italy and France; in Slovenia it comes from the coast, the Karst and the south-east.
What to read next
- Orange blossom honey — Orange blossom, or citrus, honey is a monofloral honey from the nectar of Citrus trees, very pale, with a floral, fresh-fruit aroma.
- Miel wallon — Miel wallon is a creamy honey with an EU protected geographical indication (PGI) from Wallonia in Belgium: multifloral, monofloral or honeydew, with very fine crystals.
- Raspberry honey — Raspberry honey is a monofloral honey from the nectar of raspberry (Rubus idaeus), pale, usually crystallised, with a fruity, slightly acidic aroma.
Similar
Fruit blossom honey · Lychee honey · Blueberry honey · Blackberry honey · Raspberry honey · Avocado honey
ℹ️ Honey is mostly sugars: about 82 g per 100 g. Do not give honey to babies under 1 year old because of the risk of infant botulism.
Sources
- Debelak A. et al. (2026) Preliminary results of Slovenian sweet cherry honey characterization. Slovenian Beekeepers' Association, IHC abstract
- Persano Oddo L. et al. (2004) Botanical species giving unifloral honey in Europe. Apidologie 35 (Suppl. 1) S82-S93
- Single document Miel wallon PGI, OJ C/2024/6324 (EUR-Lex)
- FAO, Krell R. (1996) Value-added products from beekeeping, Chapter 2 Honey