Heather honey
Monofloral honey from ling heather (Calluna vulgaris) nectar: dark, strongly aromatic, slightly bitter and jelly-like in texture.
Heather honey is a honey from the nectar of ling heather (Calluna vulgaris), an important late-summer source in northern and western Europe. It is dark, strongly aromatic, with a bitter, long aftertaste, and unusually thick, almost jelly-like. EU law allows Calluna honey a higher moisture, up to 23 g per 100 g.
The jelly-like texture is thixotropy caused by colloidal proteins, which is why extracting it from the combs needs special needle tools. Higher water and a quicker rise of HMF shorten its shelf life. International Honey Commission data (219 samples) describe a dark to very dark colour with a reddish or orange tone, mean conductivity 0.73 mS/cm and water 18.5 g/100 g; crystallisation is moderate, often with big rounded crystals.
A protected example is Miód wrzosowy z Borów Dolnośląskich (Poland, PGI): amber to reddish-brown, thick and gel-like, with a strong heather smell, at least 50 % heather pollen and a nectar flow in late August and September. Filtering, creaming, pasteurising and artificial warming are not allowed. In Provence heather blooms in September and October, so it also appears in Miel de Provence.
Why this matters to you: the jelly texture is natural, not a thickener. Heather honey keeps less well than most honeys, so check the date and keep it cool; crystallisation of honey is normal here too.
Facts
| Raw material | Nectar of ling heather (Calluna vulgaris) |
|---|---|
| Taste | Strong aroma, bitter long aftertaste; dark to very dark |
| House range | Moisture up to 23 g/100 g; mean 18.5 g/100 g (219 samples) |
| Colour | Dark – very dark, reddish-orange tint; mean 77 mm Pfund |
| Crystallization | Moderate; often large rounded crystals |
| Season | Flowering: late August–September |
How it connects to Honey & beekeeping
Heather honey → kind of → Blossom and honeydew honey → kind of → 🍯 Honey
Links
- Part of
- Monofloral honey, Blossom and honeydew honey
- Similar and different
- Honey crystallisation, Blueberry honey, Meli Kissouri, Miód wrzosowy z Borów Dolnośląskich, Mel da Serra da Lousã, Mel das Terras Altas do Minho, Mel de Barroso, Bihophar, Serramel, Sądecki Bartnik Miody świata
- In other topics
- Honey plants
- Which plants it comes from
- Heather (ling)
Frequently asked questions
What is heather honey made from?
From the nectar of ling heather (Calluna vulgaris), a late-summer source in northern and western Europe.
Why is it jelly-like?
Because of thixotropy caused by colloidal proteins; extraction needs special needle tools.
What moisture is allowed?
Up to 23 g per 100 g, higher than the general EU limit.
Is it true that thick heather honey contains a thickener?
No, the thickness is natural; nothing may be added to honey.
What is forbidden for Miód wrzosowy z Borów Dolnośląskich?
Filtering, creaming, pasteurising and artificial warming.
What to read next
- Heather (ling) — Heather, or ling (Calluna vulgaris), is an evergreen dwarf shrub and one of the most important late-summer honey plants.
- Honey plants — Plants from which bees collect nectar and pollen: black locust, lime, buckwheat, sunflower, rapeseed, chestnut, heather, lavender.
- Meli Kissouri — Greek autumn heather honey with a protected designation of origin (PDO) from the municipality of Karistos at the southern end of Evia: dark with red-copper tones and slightly bitter.
- Sądecki Bartnik Miód wrzosowy — Heather honey from northern Spain in the Miody świata collection from Sądecki Bartnik.
- Honey crystallisation — The natural process in which glucose in honey forms crystals: honey thickens, turns lighter and becomes solid or creamy; it is not a sign of spoilage or fake honey.
Similar
Lavender honey · Chestnut honey · Sunflower honey · Rapeseed honey · Buckwheat honey · Raspberry 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
- Persano Oddo L., Piro R. (2004) Main European unifloral honeys: descriptive sheets. Apidologie 35 (Suppl. 1) S38-S81
- Council Directive 2001/110/EC relating to honey (consolidated text, EUR-Lex)
- Application summary Miód wrzosowy z Borów Dolnośląskich, OJ C 179, 1.8.2007 (EUR-Lex)
- FAO, Krell R. (1996) Value-added products from beekeeping, Chapter 2 Honey