Thursday, January 19, 2017

How to Eat Honeycomb

honeycomb


If the only honey you have ever had is from a bear-shaped jar at the grocery (you poor thing!) then honey in its natural state (in the comb) might intimidate you a bit. You are going to be a big fan.

Trust me.

honeycomb


When people ask about how to use honey that has the comb in it, my first response is just to tell them to eat it out of the jar. One of my favorite things is a crisp tart apple, most likely a Granny Smith, and a piece of sharp cheese. The sharper the better. All that tangy and sharp cuts the sweet and makes it even more enjoyable. But better yet get yourself some hives so you can eat it right off the frame. That is actually my most favorite way.

So far this week we've had it on yogurt. And oatmeal. Okay, and spoons.

honey cocktails


While I think of filtered honey as a sweetener to add to something else, like tea or cocktails, I appreciate honeycomb as real food. A food that is amazing paired with other things I like to eat. The wax isn't noticeable this way the way it would be if bits of it are floating on top of your afternoon chai. There really isn't any wrong way to enjoy honey except using if for cooking. All beekeepers and honey lovers frown upon that because heat destroys some of the magical natural properties of the honey and wax.

If I want to use a natural sweetener that will be cooked I use maple syrup instead of honey.



While honey is chemically sugar and should be treated as such if you are eliminating all sugar from your diet, it has some beneficial properties. It is these enzymes, probiotics, and antioxidants that are destroyed when honey is heated.

Everyone always wants to know if you can eat the wax. The answer is yes. It's easiest to consume along with food but you can also chew it until it loses it's flavor and then spit it out like gum. This was a common and fun thing for kids to enjoy before chewing gum became popular. I cannot tell you how the faces of older people light up when asked about honeycomb. I love hearing stories that start with "Oh, my uncle had some hives..."

honey on frame


If you are new to honeycomb here's your starter recipe:

Oatmeal cooked in apple cider. If you are ready to up your oatmeal game check out some of the delicious crockpot oatmeal recipes on Pinterest. I made a pumpkin one for the holidays and it was a hit.  Add a pat of the best butter you can afford or a dollop of coconut oil. Top with diced apple, pumpkin seeds, and walnuts. Place your beautiful chunk of honeycomb on top. Enjoy the most delicious bowl of oatmeal you have ever had.

Now you are ready to look for some honey with comb in it at your farmer's market or online. There is a whole sweet dimension to honey you have been missing. \

Are you a fan of honeycomb? What's your favorite way to eat it? 













2 comments:

  1. Like you, my favourite way to eat it is straight out of the hive from brace comb, all warm and fragrant on a hot summers day.

    ReplyDelete

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