Executive Summary:
- Raw honey and pure honey are not the same.
- Raw honey is lightly filtered and the closest you can get to honey fresh out of the hive.
- Pure honey contains nothing but honey and is pasteurized and filtered multiple times.
- The filtration process for pure honey can eliminate some of its beneficial nutrients, making raw honey a go-to for many health-conscious individuals.
Raw Honey vs. Pure Honey: Unveiling the Differences and Benefits
While “raw” and “pure” might sound like mirrored descriptors, they’re far from the same. Each term refers to a distinct type of honey that is considerably different than the other. While raw honey is the closest you can get to honey fresh out of the hive, pure honey is more processed to create a uniform appearance.
Each option has its perks and is best suited to different situations than the other. So, in this article, we delve into the world of honey and what separates raw versus pure honey.
What is Raw Honey?
Raw honey hasn’t been excessively heat-treated or pasteurized. It’s essentially the same as it came out of the hive, as it hasn’t undergone extensive processing to create a uniform result.
Instead, the only processing raw honey goes through is light filtration. The filtering process helps eliminate pieces of honeycomb and other debris left behind after extracting the honey.
Benefits of Raw Honey
The nutrients in raw honey offers a remarkable range of health benefits that make it a go-to pick for many consumers, including:
- Gut health support: Compounds in honey, like glucose oxidase and catalase, found in Manuka honey, support gut and digestive health.
- General immune support: The antioxidants in honey offer general immune support and may offer natural energy-boosting properties.
- Neurological support: Studies show that nutrients in honey may offer antidepressant, anticonvulsant, and anti-anxiety benefits.
- Antifungal, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties: The compounds in various types of honey can offer antifungal, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties, making them an excellent addition to a healthy lifestyle.
What is Pure Honey?
Pure honey, as the name implies, is pure honey with no additives. While pure honey hasn’t been cut with corn syrup, rice syrup, sugar, or similar ingredients that dilute it, it isn’t the same. Unlike raw honey, pure honey undergoes pasteurization and finer filtration.
The purification process can vary from one seller to the next, but the constants remain the same. Pure honey is pasteurized, meaning it has been heated above 118 degrees Fahrenheit. After pasteurization, sellers filter the honey once, if not twice or more.
The resulting honey is still pure, but the appearance is more uniform than raw honey.
Benefits of Pure Honey
Pure honey has plenty of perks, including:
- Uniform appearance: The filtration and pasteurization processes eliminate air bubbles and other small particles that might be left over from the hive, resulting in a smoother, more uniform appearance.
- Excellent alternative to processed sweeteners: While pure honey has been lightly processed, it’s a far cry from the heavily processed sweeteners on the market. This makes it a solid option for those seeking a more natural sweetener.
- Affordable: Pure honey is often considerably more affordable than raw honey, making it a good choice for those on a budget.
Comparing Raw and Pure Honey
Understanding the differences between raw and pure honey is essential for choosing the best fit for your needs. So, here are a few notable differences to keep in mind:
- Price: The cost of raw versus pure honey is often significant, with raw honey far surpassing the cost of pure honey. If you choose a specialty, premium raw honey, like Manuka honey, you can expect to pay even more.
- Appearance: Raw honey hasn’t been processed beyond light filtration, so the appearance might be more bubbly and inconsistent than pure honey. The filtration and pasteurization processes help create a more uniform, grocery-store-like appearance many folks are familiar with in pure honey.
- Health benefits: Since pure honey has been pasteurized, the beneficial nutrients in it may be diminished or nearly eliminated. In contrast, raw honey hasn’t been heated to a temperature that eliminates the beneficial compounds, so it still offers sought-after health benefits.
- Nutritional content: The nutritional content is similar in both types of honey. Most types of honey have approximately 60 calories and 17 grams of sugar.
Choosing the Right Honey for You
Both raw and pure honey have a place in the honey world. For example, if you’re looking for an affordable option to use as a natural sweetener but aren’t seeking the beneficial nutrients of honey, pure honey might be an excellent fit.
In contrast, if you’re consuming honey for its nutritional health benefits, raw honey is your best bet, as it still contains its beneficial compounds. Of course, the best fit ultimately hinges on your unique situation.
Comparing each option and its benefits to your needs and preferences can help you make the right choice.
Manukora’s Commitment to Quality
At Manukora, we’re committed to providing premium, authentic Manuka honey products that cater to health-conscious customers.
Our entire process focuses on quality and providing honey that supports a healthy lifestyle, from placing the hives in remote forests of New Zealand to our minimal processing steps. We skip the excessive pasteurization, heat treatments, and ultra-fine filtration processes to deliver a product that is just the way nature intended—raw like it comes out of the hive.
These processes ensure you can enjoy the full range of nutritional health benefits this sweet treat has to offer, from gut health support to natural energy boosts.
Final Thoughts
At first glance, “raw” and “pure” might appear to be the same type of honey. Upon closer inspection, you’ll discover the notable differences between the two. Understanding the intricacies of these differences and how they impact the final result can help you make an informed decision on the option that is right for your home.
Consider exploring our Manuka Honey 20+ MGO850, a premium choice for those discerning the finer details in their honey selection. Understanding the benefits and unique characteristics of Manuka honey is essential, and our Manuka Honey Collection provides a variety of options to suit different preferences.
Whether you're new to this world or a long-time honey enthusiast, our Manukora Dose Spoon is an innovative tool to help you measure and enjoy your honey in the most effective way.
To further enrich your knowledge, our blog offers a wealth of information, from delightful recipes like the Spook-tacular Peanut Butter Banana Ghosts to essential guides like the Manuka Honey Babies Guide, Manuka Honey FAQs, and tips on How to Get Rid of Bees Without Killing Them.
Learning about raw and pure honey is just the tip of the iceberg. The world of honey and its nutritional benefits is fascinating.
As you shop, remember to look for markers that indicate good-quality honey, especially if you choose raw honey for its nutritional health benefits. Ultimately, it's essential to choose high-quality honey from a reputable brand, like Manukora, to ensure you're getting the most out of every jar.
