National Honey Month: A Sweeter Way to…

September is National Honey Month—a time to slow down, savor something naturally sweet, and discover just how much honey can bring to the table. From its golden color and distinctive flavors to its ability to enhance everything from breakfast to dinner, honey is far more than a sweetener. It’s an ingredient with remarkable versatility, natural characteristics and a world of flavor waiting to be explored.

National Honey Month was officially established in 1989 through the National Honey Board and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. September was chosen because it’s when the majority of honey is harvested in the United States.

So, this September, let’s celebrate honey for all the delicious ways it can make everyday moments a little sweeter.

A Natural Source of Energy

There’s something wonderfully simple about honey: it delivers sweetness and energy in one naturally occurring ingredient. One tablespoon of honey provides 17 grams of carbohydrates and 64 calories, making it an easy source of energy to incorporate into your daily routine.

Try drizzling honey over whole-grain toast, swirling it into yogurt, adding it to oatmeal or pairing it with fruit, nuts and other nourishing foods. It can turn an ordinary breakfast into a golden, feel-good start to the day.

And honey doesn’t have to be reserved for breakfast. Keep it close whenever you’re looking for a simple way to add natural sweetness and energy to meals and snacks.

More Than Sweet: Honey’s Natural Benefits

Honey has some wonderfully useful characteristics that go beyond its flavor.

In baked goods, honey acts as a humectant, helping attract and retain moisture. Its antimicrobial properties can also help delay spoilage and extend the shelf life of foods such as cookies, cakes, granola bars and breads.

That same ability to hold onto moisture can work its magic in savory cooking, too. When used with roasted, grilled or smoked meats, honey helps retain natural juices, resulting in dishes that are beautifully juicy and tender.

It’s a small ingredient with a surprisingly big role—helping food taste better while bringing useful functionality to the kitchen.

A World of Flavor in Every Jar

One of the most delightful things about honey is that no two varieties taste exactly alike.

There are more than 3,000 honey varietals worldwide, each with its own character and flavor notes. Those differences come naturally from the plants honey bees visit as they gather nectar. For example, Orange Blossom honey offers bright citrus notes reminiscent of the orange groves where it originates.

That makes exploring honey a little like traveling without leaving the kitchen. Some varieties may be delicate and floral, while others are richer, warmer or more robust.

Try tasting several varietals side by side. Drizzle them over cheese, fruit or warm bread and notice how each one changes the experience. A simple honey tasting can become an invitation to slow down, share, discover and savor.

And while there are more than 3,000 varietals worldwide, the United States alone has more than 300 unique varietals to explore.

Honey Belongs Everywhere

Perhaps honey’s greatest gift is its versatility.

It can add a gentle sweetness to coffee or cider, balance flavors in cocktails and complement both sweet and savory ingredients. Honey doesn’t simply make something sweeter—it can add its own distinctive flavor while helping other ingredients shine.

Use it in a glaze for vegetables or meat. Stir it into a salad dressing. Spoon it over a bowl of fruit. Bake it into bread or granola. Add a touch to your favorite beverage.

Honey can move effortlessly across the menu, from the first sip of morning coffee to dessert at the end of the day.

Make Room for a Little More Golden

National Honey Month is ultimately an invitation to enjoy the simple pleasures of food—and to appreciate an ingredient that can make everyday cooking feel a little more special.

Host a honey tasting with friends. Build a cheese board featuring several varietals. Bake something warm and share it with someone you love. Try honey in a favorite savory recipe. Or simply drizzle a little over breakfast and take a moment to enjoy it.

Because sometimes celebration doesn’t need to be complicated. Sometimes it’s golden, naturally sweet and waiting in the pantry.

And Yes, Honey Helps the Bees, Too

While honey itself deserves the spotlight, its story naturally leads back to the honey bees that make it possible. Honey bees visit flowers to gather nectar, and the plants they visit contribute to the distinct flavors and characteristics found in different honey varietals.

Supporting the honey industry by purchasing and enjoying honey can also help fund research focused on honey bee health and solutions to challenges facing the industry.

It’s a beautiful connection: enjoying something delicious can also help support the people, industry and research behind it.

Celebrate National Honey Month

This September, find your own reason to fall in love with honey.

Explore a new varietal. Try a new recipe. Share a honey-inspired meal with friends. Swap your usual sweetener for honey in a favorite drink. Or simply enjoy the familiar comfort of a golden drizzle over something warm and delicious.

However you celebrate, make it joyful. Make it delicious. Make it your own.

Happy National Honey Month!