Best honey flavors for apple-dipping
This Rosh Hashana, why stick with boring old clover honey when there are so many exquisite flavors to choose from?
In celebration of Rosh Hashana and National Honey Month in the United States, Shalom Life has compiled a list of 10 unique honey flavors that pair beautifully with apples and will guarantee a year filled with sweet experiences, relationships, and memories.
Wishing you a Shana Tova and good eatin’!
Traditional apple and honey (Photo: Shutterstock)
1. Blueberry honey
Blueberry honey has a light tang and fruity flavor, gathered from the tiny white flowers of wild blueberry bushes. It has a deep flavor profile that goes well with everything from desserts to sauces and salad dressings.
Best apple match: Honeycrisp
2. Coffee honey
Coffee honey is quite dark in color, similar to the hue of freshly brewed coffee. It carries a rich, deep flavor, and is best served with a tart accompaniment or on toast.
Best apple match: Granny Smith
3. Macadamia nut honey
Macadamia nut honey has a very unique and distinctive flavor and aroma. Nutty and sweet, with floral accents, it is best served with desserts, tea, or on toast, biscuits, or muffins.
Best apple match: Pink Lady
4. Sourwood honey
Sourwood honey, harvested from the Sourwood or "Lily of the Valley" tree, has a caramel or maple syrup-like texture and buttery flavor. It couples well with tea, toast, and sugarless desserts.
Best apple match: Razor Russett
5. Sage honey
Sage honey is a mild honey, with balanced sweetness. It’s very versatile and is used in everything from desserts and tea to marinades, spreads, sauces, and salad dressings.
Best apple match: Red Delicious
6. Tupelo honey
Tupelo honey manages to be sweeter than most other honey varieties, yet extremely palatable, mild, and balanced. It is best served with tart fruits, yogurt, and toast.
Best apple match: McIntosh
7. Wildflower honey
Wildflower honey is derived from the nectar of many different types of flowers, giving it a multi-layered and complex flavor profile. Its flavor changes from season to season, depending on which bloomings are prevalent, but is consistently light, fruity, and floral. It tastes wonderful in tea and coffee, with desserts, and savory dishes as well.
Best apple match: Royal Gala
8. Orange blossom honey
Orange Blossom honey is almost as widely available as clover honey, but be sure to carefully read the bottle before purchasing. Many of the orange blossom honeys sold at conventional supermarkets are artificially flavored. Genuine orange blossom honey is mild, sweet, and citrus-scented, and is best served with tea, fruit, yogurt, or fresh salads.
Best apple match: Jazz
9. Alfalfa honey
Alfalfa honey is a light, spicy, delicate honey gathered from the nectar of alfalfa blossoms. It has a high nutritional value, and is best served in smoothies or savory dishes.
Best apple match: Ambrosia
10. Acacia honey
Acacia honey is almost transparent in color, with clean floral and vanilla flavor accents. It is often used as a sweetener, but also lends well to beverages, fruit salads, fruity teas, and salad dressings.
Best apple match: Braeburn
Reprinted with permission from Shalom Life
