There are types of honey that smell of spring, meadows, and flowers, and there are those that carry within them the scent of the forest after a summer rain.
Forest honey, also known as honeydew honey, belongs to this second group. It is darker, thicker, less sweet, and rich in flavors that are difficult to compare to any other type of honey. In its aroma, one can detect notes of resin, caramel, wood, and even a slight bitterness that makes it particularly prized among honey connoisseurs.
Forest honey (honeydew) is not made from floral nectar, but from honeydew that bees collect from the leaves and needles of trees. Because of this, it is significantly darker, thicker, and less sweet than flower honey.
Its greatest advantage is an extremely high content of minerals (especially iron) and antioxidants, which is why it is recommended for anemic people, pregnant women, and growing children. It is traditionally used for fatigue, physical recovery, and seasonal respiratory ailments.
How is forest honey produced?
If you have ever thought that all types of honey are produced in the same way, forest honey will surprise you. Forest honey is produced in a unique and fascinating way, completely different from flower honey — here, bees almost never visit flowers. Their job this time is much more unusual.
On the branches of oak, beech, fir, spruce, pine, and other trees, tiny insects such as aphids and scale insects live by feeding on plant sap. This sap is rich in sugars but poor in the proteins that insects need. Once they utilize what they require, they excrete the excess sugar in the form of tiny, transparent droplets.
This sweet liquid is called honeydew. Bees collect these sweet drops, enrich them with their own enzymes, and deposit them in the honeycomb where they mature into forest honey. An analysis of the physicochemical characteristics and health benefits of honeydew honey (Food Research International, Seraglio et al., 2019) explains this process in detail and its influence on the final composition of the honey.
This method of honey production is one of the rare examples in nature where the final product was not created from a flower, but from the complex cooperation of the entire forest ecosystem.
Did you know? Bees do not produce forest honey in the same quantity every year. The formation of honeydew depends on weather conditions, the amount of precipitation, temperature, and the abundance of insects that create it. Because of this, some years are exceptionally rich in honeydew honey, while in others, there is almost none at all.
Medicinal properties of forest honey
Thanks to its specific origin, forest honey is a nutritional "bomb." Its dark color is not just an aesthetic difference compared to flower honeys—as a rule, darker honey contains more minerals, phenolic compounds, and antioxidants, which is why they have been the subject of numerous scientific studies in recent years.
Forest honey can boast of exceptionally important properties:
- High mineral content (iron): Forest honey contains up to 13 times more minerals than flower honey. It is particularly rich in iron, copper, manganese, and magnesium. A study on monofloral honeys (Antioxidants, Mărgăoan et al., 2021) confirms that honeydew honey has a significantly higher ash (mineral) content compared to nectar honeys. This does not mean that honey can treat a mineral deficiency, but it can be a valuable part of a varied diet.
- Strong antioxidant activity: Due to its high content of polyphenols and flavonoids, forest honey neutralizes free radicals in the body, protecting cells from oxidative stress and premature aging. An analysis of Spanish oak honeydew honey (European Food Research and Technology, Jara-Palacios et al., 2019) documents the exceptionally high antioxidant activity of this type of honey.
- Protection of respiratory pathways: The thick texture of the honey can temporarily coat an irritated throat lining and soothe the feeling of scratching, while its natural antibacterial properties further contribute to the protection of the oral cavity and throat.
- Antibacterial activity: Forest honey acts as a natural antiseptic, and a review in the American Journal of Therapeutics (Israili, 2014) confirms its effectiveness in suppressing bacterial infections.
Forest honey vs. Flower honey: what is the difference?
At first glance, the difference is obvious—one is almost black, the other golden yellow. But the real difference hides much deeper than color: it is a matter of the raw material (honeydew vs. nectar), which directly influences the taste, color, and nutritional profile of the honey. An analysis via mass spectrometry (Molecules, Quirantes-Piné et al., 2024) shows that honeydew honey contains more phenolic acid derivatives, while flower honeys have more flavonoids.
| Forest honey (honeydew) | Flower honey | |
|---|---|---|
| Raw material | Honeydew | Flower nectar |
| Color | Dark to almost black | Golden yellow |
| Taste | Intense, resinous, slightly bitter | Mild, floral, sweet |
| Minerals | Up to 13× more than flower | Lower content |
| Phenolic acids | High content | Lower content |
| Flavonoids | Lower content | High content |
| Recommendation | Anemia, recovery, immunity | Daily consumption, sleep |
If you find it hard to imagine the difference because you still think "honey is honey," imagine the difference between a light white wine and an aged red wine—both are valuable, but they offer completely different experiences.
Forest honey for anemia and blood count
Anemia (deficiency of red blood cells) is most often caused by a lack of iron in the body, which leads to chronic fatigue, paleness, and a lack of energy. Forest honey is often recommended to people who feel chronic fatigue or want to enrich their diet with natural sources of minerals.
The reason for this is not just its iron content. It also contains copper and manganese—minerals that participate in the normal metabolism of iron and the formation of red blood cells. A review of the health benefits of phenolic compounds in honey (Molecules, Cianciosi et al., 2018) confirms that minerals and antioxidants from dark honeys act synergistically on the recovery of the body.
For best results with anemia, it is recommended to take one to two tablespoons of forest honey per day, preferably on an empty stomach. An excellent way to consume it is to dissolve the honey in a glass of lukewarm water with a bit of freshly squeezed lemon (vitamin C further improves iron absorption).
Forest honey for children and during pregnancy
Growing children and pregnant women have increased needs for minerals and nutrients, which is why forest honey is an excellent choice for these groups.
For children: Forest honey is rich in minerals essential for proper growth and development of bones and muscles. Although extremely healthy, it is important to note that it should not be given to children under 12 months old due to the risk of infant botulism. (For details on honey for immunity, read our article.) Children often like forest honey slightly less than acacia honey due to its more pronounced aroma, but nutritionally, it represents a very interesting choice. It can be part of breakfast, an addition to oatmeal, or a natural sweetener for yogurt.
For pregnant women: Pregnant women are often prone to anemia and energy dips. Forest honey is a safe, natural way to replenish iron and alleviate pregnancy fatigue. Its complex sugars (oligosaccharides) also act as prebiotics, promoting healthy digestion, which is highlighted by a study on new insights into honeydew honey from Italy (Molecules, Mara et al., 2025).
Note: This text is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. For the diagnosis and treatment of health problems, be sure to consult your doctor.
