Honey is often acclaimed as having health benefits and is a necessary part of a healthy diet. But do you know that there are various kinds of honey? Buckwheat honey is the name you should keep in mind among that vast list.
What is so special about buckwheat honey? It can be called the highly meritorious one among the whole honey group. Buckwheat honey, made from buckwheat flowers, offers abundant nutritional qualities and benefits.
This article will examine the potential benefits of buckwheat honey and how it can be effectively incorporated into your daily life to amplify your health.
What Is Buckwheat Honey?
As the name suggests, buckwheat honey is made from the flowers of buckwheat, a pseudocereal which means it has grain-like characteristics rather than being a member of the grass family.
Like manuka honey, buckwheat honey is also considered a superfood because of its immense health benefits. It is a kind of monofloral honey produced as a result of harvesting and converting buckwheat nectar into honey by bees. It has a distinct taste, dark color, and brown sugar-like flavor.
The darker the honey is, the higher the buckwheat content in it. Abundant with antioxidants, buckwheat honey has properties that can fight off free radical damage in your body. It also has many important vitamins and amino acids that can positively affect your overall health.
How is buckwheat honey produced?
The process of producing buckwheat honey happens while harvesting buckwheat for the seeds. During this time, the farmers will invite beekeepers to position near the field. Because in this method, bees are the main pollinators of the honey.
The actual process of creating buckwheat honey occurs when bees collect the nectar from the flowers and it gets mixed with an enzyme in their mouth. Known as ‘bee enzyme’ this is an invertase enzyme secreted from the glands of bees.
After the process, the bees will return to their hives and deposit this buckwheat honey into their wax cells. During this time, the water content in it will be still high and the bees will fan their wings above the wax cells which will help the water to evaporate further.
Potential benefits of buckwheat honey
Buckwheat honey is a powerhouse of nutrients and can offer multiple health benefits for your body.
- Improves antioxidant functions- This kind of high-quality honey often contains phenolic compounds such as flavonoids that are antioxidants in nature. It can ward off the free radical damage in your body that will save you from several life-threatening conditions. A research published under ACS Publications had explained the role of buckwheat honey in increasing serum antioxidant capacity in humans.
- Increases immunity and ward off infections- Traditionally, honey has been used to treat infections and wounds as it has healing capacities. Buckwheat honey has antibacterial and antiviral properties that can help you recover from infections and improve your immune functions.
- Provides relief from cough and cold- Honey is a natural cough syrup that can help you alleviate respiratory problems. There have been research studies that claim that buckwheat honey is more beneficial than over-the-counter medicines for treating cough. Research published by NIH supported these claims by finding that buckwheat honey could reduce mucus production and reduce cough in children.
- Supports skin health- Another crucial benefit of buckwheat honey is that it can reduce wrinkles on the skin and maintain its pH balance. Research published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology elucidated this as honey has antimicrobial properties and can be effective for skin protection.
- Helps to lower cholesterol levels- There are studies available that prove that buckwheat honey can lower cholesterol levels in the body. It can also reduce triglyceride levels which is connected with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. According to a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, buckwheat honey was found to have cholesterol-lowering properties.
How to use buckwheat honey?
You can use buckwheat honey both for culinary and medicinal purposes. Here are some ways through which you can make the most out of this special honey.
Culinary uses:
- Add as a natural sweetener- whether it be tea, coffee, or any natural juices, you can add buckwheat honey as a natural sweetener.
- Mix with dressings and sauces- adding buckwheat honey to your dressings and sauces can enhance its flavor.
- Enhance dairy taste- as a dairy enhancer, you can add honey to milk or yogurt and surely it will be a delightful addition.
- Add to your meat dishes- Buckwheat honey can be added to your meat dishes which will give it a tangy flavor.
Medicinal uses:
- Treating wounds and burns- you can apply buckwheat honey directly to your wounds and burns.
- Cold and cough remedy- you can soothe a sore throat or cough by simply adding the honey to a glass of warm water or black tea.
- Incorporate into your skincare routine- Adding buckwheat honey to skincare masks can reduce inflammation and acne.
- Ease up digestion- You can take the honey with warm water to improve digestion and gut flora.
- Sleep and energy aid- Buckwheat honey can be consumed before your bedtime to enhance your sleep quality. It also can be taken as an energy booster or a pre-workout snack.
Downsides of buckwheat honey
So even though there are no considerable downsides to consuming buckwheat honey, this does not apply to everyone alike. Certain groups of people should refrain from consuming this honey. They are given below:
- Diabetics – People who have high blood sugar levels need to be cautious before taking buckwheat honey. As any kind of honey contains sugar, it can raise the risk of increasing blood sugar levels.
- Liver Cirrhosis patients- Even though honey has hepatoprotective properties, some experts warn that buckwheat honey intake might aggravate liver cirrhosis.
- Infants under one year of age- Buckwheat honey might contain certain impurities that can act as toxins in the baby’s body.
Buckwheat honey vs. Regular honey
There are certain differences between buckwheat honey and regular honey. The differences are mainly based on its color, flavor, source, viscosity, and nutritional content. The details are given in the form of a table below:
| Honey | Buckwheat honey | Regular Honey |
| Color | Darker, deep reddish to black | Typically light ranging from pale yellow to amber |
| Flavor | Stronger, robust, and earthy flavor | The mild, sweet flavor |
| Source | Made from the nectar of buckwheat flower | Made from the nectar of a variety of flowering plants |
| Nutritional Content | Higher levels of nutrients such as antioxidants and vitamins | Have nutrients, but not as much of buckwheat honey |
| Viscosity | Slightly thicker and more viscous | Less thicker and more viscous than buckwheat honey |
Conclusion
Buckwheat honey is a superfood honey made from the flowers of buckwheat, a pseudocereal plant. It differs from regular honey in terms of color, flavor, nutritional content, source, and viscosity. Unlike regular honey, buckwheat honey is not that sweet and has a darker color. It is abundant with nutrients and has many claimed health benefits.
According to research, buckwheat honey has more antioxidants and can be effective in treating many health conditions. It can be applied topically to treat infections and wounds. The honey is also known for controlling cholesterol levels and is ideal for skincare uses. Daily consumption of buckwheat honey both for culinary and medicinal purposes is ideal but if you have a medical condition, consult a doctor before doing so.
FAQs
Buckwheat honey is good for treating cough, wounds, and irritations, lowering cholesterol levels, supporting skin health, etc.
Yes. It is not as sweet as regular honey and has more nutrients than the latter.
Yes. As the buckwheat plants have a shorter flowering season, it is difficult to cultivate. Compared to other flowering plants, the nectar production is limited for buckwheat honey.
This honey is made by bees that pollinate the flowers of buckwheat and hence it is called buckwheat honey.
Buckwheat is generally considered safe for consumption every day as it is rich in fiber and doesn’t contain any gluten.
The dark color of buckwheat honey is derived from the presence of polyphenols, the same compounds found in red wine, tea, cherries, etc.
