The Kitchen · Ingredient Library

Raw Honey

In one line

Nature's sweetener, barely touched — a little goes a long way and it does more than sweeten.

Why I love it

A drizzle finishes Greek yogurt, tea, a cheese board or a vinaigrette. Raw and local, it has character the plastic-bear kind never will.

Buying it

Look for raw, unfiltered, ideally local honey — it's cloudy, not clear, and hasn't been heated. Local honey carries the character of where you live.

Storing it

Room temperature, sealed, essentially forever — honey doesn't spoil. If it crystallizes, warm the jar gently in warm water; never boil or microwave raw honey.

Using it

Drizzle over yogurt and granola, stir into tea or a dressing, glaze roasted vegetables, or finish a board.

A little nutrition

Still sugar, so a little — but raw honey carries trace enzymes and antioxidants, and a small drizzle satisfies where refined sugar doesn't.

Gina's tip

Keep raw honey raw — don't add it to anything scalding, which kills the good in it. Warm, not hot. And no honey for babies under one year.