Rapeseed honey
Monofloral honey from rape nectar: light, moderately sweet and quick to crystallise into a whitish, finely crystalline mass.
Rapeseed honey is a monofloral honey from the nectar of rape (Brassica napus), grown for seed and oil. In Central and Eastern Europe it is one of the most important spring honey sources. The colour is light, the taste moderately sweet and the acidity weak.
International Honey Commission data (715 samples) give a mean colour of 26.2 mm Pfund, a very low conductivity of 0.19 mS/cm, water 17.0 g/100 g and glucose 40.5 g/100 g. Because of the high glucose it granulates quickly; with very small crystals the honey looks whitish or dull ivory. Some European laboratories require a fructose to glucose ratio below 1. A Romanian study noted a strong tendency of rapeseed honey to crystallise quickly.
For this reason rapeseed honey is used as a crystallisation starter to obtain fine granulation in other honeys. The plant name adds no market value, so it is sold unlabelled or blended with multifloral honey. EU law sets no special limits for it.
Why this matters to you: solid white rapeseed honey in a jar is normal, not spoilage. Crystallisation of honey is quick and expected here; if you want a soft texture, look for creamed honey.
Facts
| Raw material | Nectar of rape (Brassica napus) |
|---|---|
| Duration | Quick granulation with very small crystals |
| Sweetness | Glucose 40.5 g/100 g; water 17.0 g/100 g (715 samples) |
| Colour | Light, 20–34 mm Pfund; whitish and dull once crystallised |
How it connects to Honey & beekeeping
Rapeseed honey → kind of → Blossom and honeydew honey → kind of → 🍯 Honey
Links
- Part of
- Monofloral honey, Blossom and honeydew honey
- Similar and different
- Honey crystallisation, Langnese Rapshonig, Magyar Méz Manufaktúra Repceméz, Breitsamer Rapshonig, Svensk Honungsförädling Svensk rapshonung, Langnese Im 6eck-Glas, Breitsamer Klassische Sorten, Spring honey, Fruit blossom honey
- In other topics
- Honey plants
- Which plants it comes from
- Rapeseed
Frequently asked questions
What is rapeseed honey made from?
From the nectar of rape (Brassica napus), a key spring honey source in Central and Eastern Europe.
Why does it crystallise so fast?
Because of its high glucose content: 40.5 g per 100 g on average.
What does it look like once crystallised?
With very small crystals it looks whitish or dull ivory.
Is it true that hard white rapeseed honey has gone bad?
No, quick crystallisation is a natural property of this honey.
Why is it added to other honeys?
It is used as a crystallisation starter to obtain fine granulation in other honeys.
What to read next
- Rapeseed — Rapeseed (Brassica napus) is an oil crop widely grown in Europe for its seed; it is very attractive to bees for both nectar and pollen.
- Honey plants — Plants from which bees collect nectar and pollen: black locust, lime, buckwheat, sunflower, rapeseed, chestnut, heather, lavender.
- 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.
- Langnese Rapshonig — A creamy, delicate white rapeseed honey by Langnese in a 500 g jar.
- Fruit blossom honey — Fruit blossom honey is a monofloral honey from the nectar of apple, pear, plum and cherry trees in bloom; light, faintly fruity, with fine, creamy crystals.
Similar
Dandelion honey · Orange blossom honey · Phacelia honey · Coriander honey · Lychee honey · Mesquite 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)
- Physicochemical and Sensory Evaluation of Romanian Monofloral Honeys from Different Supply Chains. Foods 2025, 14(13):2372