Honey is one of the most valuable natural products ever presented to humanity by mother nature. Our distant ancestors knew about its unique properties. It contains about 190 different chemical compounds. Dark honey is considered especially beneficial. From which plants of central Russia receive this product, you will learn by reading today's article.
What determines the shade?
Just note that the color of this product is largely determined by the collection time. In addition, the nectar of the plants from which it is extracted affects its shade. So, in the spring they get a lighter product. In late summer and early autumn, dark honey is harvested (from which plants you do this, you will learn later). For example, chicory, buckwheat and heather are recognized by their characteristic brown color.
It is generally accepted that light varieties contain more vitamins, dark ones are rich in trace elements (copper, manganese, zinc) and protein compounds. Therefore, the latter is often recommended for people suffering from anemia.
Key Features for which Dark Honey is Valued
From which plants of the middle strip it is collected, it becomes clear from the names themselves. Despite the fact that each variety has its own unique properties, there are several common characteristics that combine them into a single group.
Usually dark brown honey is collected from flowering plants. Its shade is due to the high concentration of iron and trace elements. It is more viscous and thick compared to light grades. Despite the fact that it is much more difficult to fake dark honey, it is recommended to purchase it exclusively from trusted beekeepers. When buying it, you need to pay special attention to the characteristics inherent in the selected product.
The list of flowers from which brown varieties are obtained
Many people like dark honey. From what plants they collect it, you will find out right now. This list includes heather, chestnut, angelica, eucalyptus, chicory, burdock and buckwheat. Working with these plants, bees get such a valuable product.
In addition to the above varieties, the so-called honeydew is also classified as dark. It is collected not from the flowers themselves, but from the secretions that appear on the leaves of the plants. Due to the fact that this product has a pronounced bitter taste, it is not suitable for consumption. However, it is ideal for outdoor use.
The benefits of dark varieties
From the foregoing, we can conclude that the properties of the product depend on which plant they received it from. But, despite this, there is something that distinguishes them from light varieties.
Dark honey has a thicker consistency. It is characterized by a high content of iron and some trace elements. Just like light varieties, it can be used to treat many diseases. With the help of this product, you can recover from almost all ailments, including malignant neoplasms.
In addition, this product is often used in cosmetology. At home, all kinds of masks are made from it. In industry, factory care products are produced from it.
How to recognize a fake?
Due to the fact that dark honey (from which colors it is collected, we mentioned above) is less common than light honey, it is sold at a higher price. Therefore, on sale you can often find counterfeit. To avoid the disappointment associated with buying a fake product, in the process of choosing it, you need to pay attention to several important factors.
Of course, it is possible to judge how high-quality dark honey is only after conducting appropriate examinations. Therefore, even specialists who are well versed in various variations of this product may not always be able to accurately determine where the original is and where the well-made counterfeit is. In order not to become a victim of unscrupulous manufacturers, we recommend that you purchase it exclusively in specialized stores that have certificates for the goods sold.
Dark honey - from which plants?
Burdock gives a valuable olive shade product with a sharp spicy smell. Burdock honey is often used as a cleansing and diuretic.
Orange is made from orange or tangerine pollen. This product has a dark brown color and a rich citrus flavor.
Hyssop honey also belongs to dark grades. It is collected from the pollen of the same name of a medicinal plant. This product is indicated for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, it has an excellent wound healing effect.
High-grade meadow and forest honey belongs to the same group . The first is obtained from wildflowers. The shade of this product may vary from light to very dark. The second is made from a mixture of pollen from various honey plants growing in forests.
Buckwheat honey
It is considered the most useful of all dark varieties. Its color can vary from yellow with a pronounced red tint to deep brown. This product has a unique bitter-tart taste and spicy aroma. It contains 40% fructose and 36.5% glucose.
This dark honey is rich in essential amino acids, enzymes, antioxidants, protein and minerals. It is he who is considered one of the best sources of iron. It is recommended to use it with low hemoglobin, scarlet fever, measles, mumps, hepatitis, cholelithiasis and kidney stones. This product promotes the renewal of the blood composition, the purification of blood vessels and the enhancement of tissue regeneration.
Regular use of buckwheat honey is indicated for pregnant women, as well as for people who have problems with the gastrointestinal tract. It saturates the human body with valuable nutrients, so it is advisable to take it with flu, colds and vitamin deficiency. Due to its antiseptic, antiviral and antimicrobial properties, this product is useful in the treatment of acne, dermatitis, boils, ulcers and ulcers.
Dandelion variety
You already understood what the properties possessed by this or that dark honey depend on, from which plants (dandelion, buckwheat or chicory) they get it. So, the product obtained from yellow flowers contains 41.5% fructose and 35.6% glucose.
Dandelion honey can be distinguished from other dark varieties by its pungent smell and strongly expressed specific taste. This product is very much appreciated for its antiprotozoal and antimicrobial properties. It is indicated for people suffering from constipation, colitis, gastritis, cholecystitis and many other diseases.
Fresh dandelion honey with a thick, rather viscous consistency. The peculiarity of this variety is that if it is not stirred periodically, then it is very quickly sugared, turning into a fine-grained mass.
Heather honey
This variety can be easily distinguished from other analogues in a unique rare red hue. It is considered one of the best sources of many minerals and proteins. It is often recommended to use to increase appetite.
Another characteristic feature of heather honey is its high viscosity, the presence of bands and the ability to quickly thicken. That is why it is so difficult to extract from bee honeycombs. During long-term storage, this product turns into a jelly-like mass.
Chicory honey
In taste, smell and external characteristics, it is very similar to meadow varieties. It can only be distinguished by a darker shade. This product is greatly appreciated for its unique antimicrobial properties. Chicory honey is recommended for people suffering from hypertension, flatulence, colitis, angina pectoris, inflammation of the kidneys and bladder.
In addition, this variety is indicated for migraines, neurasthenia, depression and insomnia. It also has a beneficial effect on the nervous system and helps get rid of bouts of irritability. Experts assure that those who consume one tablespoon of chicory honey three times a day catch colds less often and receive all vital microelements and vitamins. It is believed that this product has a beneficial effect on the state of the brain, blood vessels and heart muscle. Regularly drinking at night a glass of warm milk with a spoonful of honey from chicory dissolved in it, you will better get enough sleep, improve your general tone and feel a surge of vigor.