Honey Types according to Origin
The Codex Alimentarius, or “Food Code” is a collection of standards, guidelines and codes of practice adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The Commission, also known as CAC, is the central part of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme and was established by FAO and WHO to protect consumer health and promote fair practices in food trade. The Codex Alimenterius sets international food standards, guidelines and codes of practice contribute to the safety, quality and fairness of this international food trade. Consumers can trust the safety and quality of the food products they buy and importers can trust that the food they ordered will be in accordance with their specifications.
The Codex Alimenterius states that
“Honey may be designated by the name of the geographical or topographical region if the honey is produced exclusively within the area referred to in the designation. Honey may be designated according to floral or plant source if it comes wholly or mainly from that particular source and has the organoleptic, physicochemical and microscopic properties that origin.”
Honey and Floral Source
Generally, honey is classified by the floral source of the nectar from which it was made. Honeys can be from specific types of flower nectars or can be blended after collection. The pollen in honey is traceable to floral source and therefore region of origin.
Most honey can be classified as blossom honey as the bees gather the nectar from flower sources.
Some plants can produce honeydew honey. Honeydew is a sugar-rich sticky liquid, secreted by aphids and some scale insects as they feed on plant sap. Honeydew is collected by certain species of birds, stingless bees and honey bees, which process it into honeydew honey.
Monofloral Honey
Monofloral honey is made primarily from the nectar of one type of flower. Different monofloral honeys have a distinctive flavour and colour because of differences between their principal nectar sources. To produce monofloral honey, beekeepers keep beehives in an area where the bees have access to only one type of flower.
Polyfloral Honey
Polyfloral honey is derived from the nectar of many types of flowers. Wildflower honey is an example of polyfloral honey as the honey bees gather the nectar from several floral sources.