Food
Fact-checked

At DelightedCooking, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What Is Buckwheat Honey?

A.E. Freeman
A.E. Freeman

Buckwheat honey is made from pollen collected by bees who visit the buckwheat plant. Unlike other types of honey, it is very dark in color. It also has a much stronger flavor than other varieties. The dark color usually means that it has more minerals and antioxidants than other types of honey. It is also said to help suppress coughs better than cough syrup.

The term buckwheat in this use may be confusing because it has no relation to wheat, and is instead a flowering plant. Usually, the plant produces pink flowers that attract bees. The seeds of buckwheat may be used to make flour or as if they were a cereal. Buckwheat honey is generally produced in several northern U.S. states as well as in Canada. The buckwheat plant is no longer grown as much as it once was, so many honey producers in states like Ohio and Pennsylvania grow it specifically for honey production rather than for use as a flour.

Honey.
Honey.

Another name for buckwheat honey is black honey, due to its very dark color. It is not actually black but a very dark amber or copper hue. With honey, a darker color usually means it contains more antioxidants, minerals, and flavor than lighter-hued honeys, such as tupelo or clover honey.

The flavor of buckwheat honey is closer to molasses than other honey varieties. It has a rich taste and is not as sweet. Some people may think that buckwheat honey tastes more bitter or malt-like than other honeys.

Piece of a honeycomb with buckwheat honey.
Piece of a honeycomb with buckwheat honey.

A 2007 study of 105 children with coughs found that buckwheat honey was more effective at suppressing cough than a pharmaceutical cough syrup. The honey reduced coughing throughout the night and allowed children to sleep better that the over-the-counter syrups. Honeys made from buckwheat may be most effective at treating coughs due to the antioxidant and mineral content. It is possible that other honeys also work in this way.

Buckwheat is often used as a food plant for honey bees.
Buckwheat is often used as a food plant for honey bees.

Many people prefer to buy raw honey for its health benefits, mineral content, and taste. Some honey is pasteurized, which means it has been heated. Pasteurization may remove some of the antioxidants, however. Additionally, some buckwheat honeys are not made purely of buckwheat. A person can tell that the honey is pure buckwheat by looking at the color. It should be very dark and almost opaque. A honey that is lighter in color is commonly made from a blend of plant sources, and is not 100% buckwheat honey.

Discussion Comments

anon994745

Privately harvested honey that is raw and organic is far superior to the store bought often corn syrup laden product. If you want to alleviate or reduce allergies eating raw honey with pollen preceding allergy season helps. I try to only buy independent honey growers honey and encourage others to do so, as well.

Vincenzo

@Logicfest -- All true, but bear in mind there is nothing in the world wrong with mass produced, supermarket honey. It is a dandy sweetener, although it does lose a lot of the health benefits of raw honey through pasteurization.

But, some of that is very good. People with allergies, for example, might want to get a honey where a lot of the pollen has been pasteurized out of the product.

Logicfest

@Logicfest -- I think buzzwords such as organic honey and raw honey do mean a lot to people because there are some advantages to them. those labels actually do mean something.

Mead makers, for example, want raw honey and there are those who swear that the health benefits of organic honey are hard to ignore.

Do raw and organic honeys cost more than the typical, grocery store stuff? Yes, but that is just because you are dealing with generally small batches of honey that take a lot of time and effort to gather.

Melonlity

This stuff costs a bit more than most honey you will run across in your local supermarket, too. That is because it is a bit of a specialty. Most honey is made from bees that have collected pollen from wildflowers and that is typically what you will find in those "mass produced" honeys.

Buckwheat honey, on the other hand, is more expensive because it is so specialized and is quite often touted as organic honey or raw honey (a couple of buzzwords that mean a lot to people).

That's the thing about honey. The pollen from which it is made has a major influence on its flavor.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Honey.
      Honey.
    • Piece of a honeycomb with buckwheat honey.
      Piece of a honeycomb with buckwheat honey.
    • Buckwheat is often used as a food plant for honey bees.
      By: artist_as
      Buckwheat is often used as a food plant for honey bees.
    • Buckwheat honey is known for its dark color.
      By: Tombaky
      Buckwheat honey is known for its dark color.