Food in the News: The Buzz About Raw Honey

When shopping for raw honey, it's easy to get overwhelmed by some of the lingo. We've simplified things here with a handy list of common terms you may find and their straightforward definitions. 

Raw - Raw honey is not processed, heated or filtered.

Varietal - Varietal honey is honey made with nectar from one type of crop

"Perfect" food - Honey is sometimes referred to as a "perfect" food, as it has an infinite shelf life. Ideal conditions would be stored in a glass jar, at room temperature, away from direct sunlight.

Crystallization -  Most honey will crystallize over time, meaning you can’t see through it anymore, and it becomes less liquid and more solid. This is a natural process for honey, and will happen sooner in some than in others. THIS IS A GOOD THING. It means the honey you bought is raw and of the finest quality. To return honey to a liquid state, take the lid off the jar, put it in a pot of hot (not boiling) water, and violà – it’s back to liquid in minutes.

Colony Collapse Disorder - CCD is a global crisis that has resulted in bee mortality rates of 33% over the last five years. The exact cause of CCD is unknown, causes are thought to include: pesticides, parasites and malnutrition.  Zeke Freeman of BeeRaw honey has a campaign to help save the bees (and their honey!)

Apiary - a place where beehives of honey bees are kept. 

Sources: Burg Bees, Bee Raw, Waxing Kara, Catskill Provisions

Recipe: Fresh Fig Toasts with Lemony Goat Cheese & Raw Honey

It's that time again...fig season!  I have a fig tree in my backyard and grew up with one in my backyard as well.  Both of them were planted by a previous homeowner.  Some family members see the fig tree as a nuisance - if you don't harvest the ripe fruits daily, they will rot, smell a bit strong, and attract lots of insects.  My fiancee went as far as to attempt to have it cut down.  But the arborist we hired refused to chop it...too fine a specimen!  And with that, I'm determined to eat and give away as many figs as possible.  

This fig toast includes the essential fig pairings: goat cheese and honey.  But I tried to mix it up a bit by infusing the goat cheese with lemon juice and adding a brush of lavender olive oil, leftover from a spring fruit salad.  A series of small toasts can be served as an appetizer for sharing, or a single slice of artisanal bread can be served for breakfast with the same toppings.

Fresh Fig Toasts with Lemony Goat Cheese & Raw Honey

• 10-12 fresh figs
• 3-4 slices of a fresh baguette or bread of your choice
• A L'Olivier Lavender Infused Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 8 oz goat cheese
• Juice of 1/2 lemon
• Bee Raw Florida Orange Blossom Honey

1. Toast your bread slices.  Brush with lavender olive oil.
2. Slice fresh figs from top to bottom yielding 3-4 slices per fig and set aside.
3. Mix goat cheese and lemon juice.  (I softened my goat cheese in the microwave for about 25 seconds to make it easier to mix and spread.)
4. Spread goat cheese mixture onto each toast.  
5. Layer with fresh fig slices.  
6. Finish with a drizzle of raw honey.