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Honey varieties

Buckwheat honey

Bees make this dark honey from the nectar of buckwheat, a crop that farmers grow for its grain-like seeds.

  • Photo of Fagopyrum esculentum from an iNaturalist observation.Buckwheatnectar

Buckwheat honey

Color class not documented

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The honey

Color

Dark purple, almost black. The color varies by region. [1][2]

Aroma

A typical pungent smell. [1]

Flavor

Sharp, sweet, and slightly biting, with marked molasses and malt flavors and a lingering aftertaste. [1][2]

Crystallization
Not documented

Where it comes from

Blossom (nectar)Botanical variety

  • Buckwheat

    Fagopyrum esculentum

    primary source · nectar

    Published honey references and standards name this source. In other regions, the honey can come from more or different species.

Documented in
United States, Canada, Poland, Ukraine, China

The catalog names these countries. Honey of this type can come from other regions too.

Piermario Maculan published the photo of Fagopyrum esculentum on iNaturalist under CC0 1.0: iNaturalist observation 238658378.

Evidence

Supported Profile

At least one peer-reviewed study of this honey from a relevant region supports the color and a taste or smell value.

A peer-reviewed study of pollen-checked buckwheat honeys from four countries gives the color, aroma, and flavor. The U.S. National Honey Board adds the flavor notes.

Studies

  1. Melissopalynological and Volatile Compounds Analysis of Buckwheat Honey from Different Geographical Origins and Their Role in Botanical Determination

    Panseri, S., Manzo, A., Chiesa, L.M., Giorgi, A.

    Journal of Chemistry, 2013

    Pollen-checked buckwheat honeys from Italy, Poland, Russia, and Nepal, with their aroma compounds.

    DOI: 10.1155/2013/904202 · Open the source

  2. Honey Varietals

    National Honey Board

    The U.S. National Honey Board describes the color, aroma, and flavor of seven U.S. honey varieties.

    Open the source

References

  • Main European unifloral honeys: descriptive sheets — International Honey Commission
  • Standard for Honey CXS 12-1981 — FAO / WHO Codex Alimentarius
  • Council Directive 2001/110/EC relating to honey — European Union
  • Criteria for identifying monofloral and multifloral manuka honey — New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries
  • United States Standards for Grades of Extracted Honey — United States Department of Agriculture
  • Honey for nutrition and health: a review — Journal of the American College of Nutrition

We reviewed this record on .

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