Clover honey
Clover honey is a monofloral honey from the nectar of clover (Trifolium), most often white clover, light in colour and mild in taste.
Clover honey is what bees make from the nectar of clover (Trifolium), most often white clover (T. repens). It is white or light, mild and delicate in taste. Like most monofloral honeys it follows the general EU limits: at least 60 g of fructose plus glucose per 100 g and up to 5 g of sucrose.
The international list of plants that yield monofloral honey in Europe includes several clovers: white (T. repens), red (T. pratense), crimson (T. incarnatum) and Egyptian (T. alexandrinum).
A field handbook describes white clover honey as crystallising quickly after extraction but more slowly in the comb, and notes that in dry years the plant yields very little nectar. According to FAO, in temperate climates most honeys crystallise, fastest around 14 °C.
White clover is among the plants in the mixed-flower Miel — Marque nationale (Luxembourg), a honey of hard texture, and the genus Trifolium is one source of the multifloral Mel dos Açores.
Why this matters to you: if you like the mildest pale honey without a sharp aroma, look for the word "clover" and the country of harvest. A thick white mass in the jar is crystallisation, not spoilage.
Facts
| Raw material | Nectar of clover (Trifolium), most often white clover |
|---|---|
| Taste | White or light; mild, delicate taste |
| Sweetness | Fructose + glucose ≥60 g/100 g; sucrose up to 5 g/100 g (EU directive) |
| Legal basis | Directive 2001/110/EC: general limits, no special exception for clover |
| Botanical origin | Trifolium repens, T. pratense, T. incarnatum, T. alexandrinum |
| Crystallization | Quick after extraction, slower in the comb |
How it connects to Honey & beekeeping
Clover honey → kind of → Blossom and honeydew honey → kind of → 🍯 Honey
Links
- Part of
- Monofloral honey, Blossom and honeydew honey
- Similar and different
- Sainfoin honey, Sulla honey, Alfalfa honey, Mesquite honey
- Which plants it comes from
- White clover
Frequently asked questions
What is clover honey made from?
From the nectar of clover (Trifolium), most often white clover (T. repens).
What does it look and taste like?
White or light, mild, with a delicate taste.
Does clover honey crystallise?
Yes: a field handbook says it crystallises quickly after extraction and more slowly in the comb.
Is it true that crystallised clover honey is fake?
No. Crystallisation is a natural property of most honeys in temperate climates (FAO), not a sign of adulteration.
Which clovers give monofloral honey?
In the European list: white, red, crimson and Egyptian clover.
What to read next
- Sulla honey — Sulla honey is a monofloral honey from the nectar of sulla, or French honeysuckle (Hedysarum coronarium), a very pale honey of Italy and Spain.
- Alfalfa honey — Alfalfa, or lucerne, honey is a monofloral honey from the nectar of Medicago sativa; EU law allows it up to 10 g sucrose per 100 g.
- Sainfoin honey — Sainfoin honey is a monofloral honey from the nectar of common sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia), a forage legume.
- Mesquite honey — Mesquite honey is a monofloral honey from the nectar of mesquite, or algarrobo (Prosopis), thorny legumes of the dry Americas; very mild, it sets fast into a white mass.
Similar
Alfalfa honey · Sainfoin honey · Tupelo honey · Thistle honey · Sulla honey · Dandelion 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
- Directive 2001/110/EC relating to honey (consolidated text, EUR-Lex)
- Persano Oddo L. et al. (2004) Botanical species giving unifloral honey in Europe. Apidologie 35 (Suppl. 1)
- Summary sheet Miel — Marque nationale du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg PDO (eAmbrosia)
- Single document Mel dos Açores PDO, OJ C 384, 12.11.2019 (EUR-Lex)
- Honey plants manual: a practical field handbook for identifying honey flora (white clover entry)
- FAO, Krell R. (1996) Value-added products from beekeeping, Chapter 2 Honey