Imagine the sweetness of honey without the stickiness. Honey powder makes that possible.
Honey powder, a dehydrated, ground form of honey, has become increasingly popular among consumers looking to cut their sugar consumption while still satisfying their sweet tooth. Honey powder adds sweetness and smoothness to spirits, snacks, cereals, energy drinks, teas, juices and a variety of foods and beverages. It’s a convenient baking staple and a key ingredient in the confection industry. Combination honey-fruit spreads also are popular, and some researchers believe they offer improved taste and nutrition.
While honey powder may be trendy, honey itself has always been in style. Prized by many ancient cultures, honey’s use as a food, medicine or cosmetic dates back to 6000 BC. The ancient Egyptians considered honey sacred, as did the Islamic prophet Mohammed.
In the United States alone, the nectar used to make honey emanates from more than 300 sources. Clover is the predominant nectar source, though there are many other wild and managed sources. Honey is processed into powder by evaporation and other techniques that preserve its original flavor and texture.
But even sweeter than honey’s taste is its potential health benefits. Honey has been shown to have antibacterial activity, and its anti-inflammatory effects are being studied. Honey is full of phenolic acids, flavonoids, proteins, enzymes, amino acids, vitamins and minerals, and may offer benefit as an antioxidant and prebiotic. Some investigators believe honey may help keep low-density lipoprotein (bad) cholesterol in check and offer cardiovascular benefits.
Because of its antioxidant value, honey also is used in alternative medicine as a topical treatment to treat wounds, burns and skin irritations while providing a moist environment to promote improved healing and reduced scarring.
