Honey

Honey is a thick, golden syrup produced by bees from flower nectar. It tastes intensely sweet with floral notes and a lingering warm aroma. Its high viscosity and acidity help brown and glaze, while its humectant nature keeps baked goods moist. Cooks use it to sweeten drinks, whisk into dressings and marinades, bake, and glaze roasted meats; it is sold as liquid or creamed, raw or pasteurized.

Humans have harvested honey since antiquity across North Africa, the Middle East, and Eurasia, with beekeeping traditions spreading worldwide. It features in Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, South Asian, and East European cuisines, and modern apiaries manage production at regional and industrial scales.