California Honey Varieties

I've become a "honey snob" since moving to California. After sampling local honey varieties available from farmer's markets in California, there's been no going back to buying ordinary grocery store honey.

I'd like to tell you about some of the California honey varieties I've enjoyed.

Avocado Honey

To produce this honey, bees gather nectar from the blossoms of California's avocado groves.

Of all the honey varieties I've tried so far, avocado honey is by far my favorite. This honey has a brown sugar-y flavor; it is richer than any of the other California honey varieties I've tried.

Avocado honey is my favorite choice for making peanut butter and honey sandwiches. It's an outstanding topper for bagels, English muffins, and other breads.

I occasionally use avocado honey to sweeten blender drinks if necessary, for example if I made a batch of berry shakes that turned out to be too tart. Avocado honey is a flavorful way to sweeten oatmeal and similar hot cereals.

Orange Blossom Honey

Orange groves are plentiful in California. When bees gather nectar from the blossoms of orange trees, the result is an exquisite honey known as "orange blossom honey" or sometimes simply "orange honey."

I've tried orange blossom honey from many different farms, and I've noticed a wide variety of differences in the flavor. Some of these honeys taste like ultra-sweet oranges. Some have a mildly citrus-y or fruity flavor. Some taste more "flowery" than fruity.

In any case, every orange honey I've tasted has been delightful. It is light and delicately sweet. I enjoy pairing it with flowery herbal teas such as chamomile tea, but it's delicious enough to eat plain.

Other California Honey Varieties

I've also tried eucalyptus honey, sage honey, and raspberry honey, all of which were produced locally in California. They were all delicious and well worth trying. Eucalyptus is native to Australia, (source) but grows well in California.

This is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all possible California honey varieties. California farmers are producing some of the most innovative and creative agricultural products available, and I'm likely to have overlooked some fine examples of California honey varieties. If you've tried other California honey varieties not mentioned here, please be sure to leave a comment in the comments area below. I'd love to know which varieties are your favorites. Thanks for your interest!