At Nature Nate’s Honey Co., we believe that raw honey is one of nature’s incredible gifts. It’s full of nutrients, pairs well with so many foods and tastes amazing! We’re here to tell you the top 10 things you need to know about raw honey. We know you’ll love too!

1. Completely Real

Raw honey is 100% real, natural honey. When at the grocery store, make sure you’re getting raw and unfiltered honey that’s 100% pure. That means it was gathered by beekeepers. Beekeepers make sure to preserve the natural qualities of honey when extracting and bottling raw honey. These responsible beekeepers also make sure to take care of their bees along the way for natural, sustainable honey. Nature Nate’s only partners with beekeepers who believe in taking care of the bees and their bounty, not just profiting from them. We have formed lasting and trustworthy relationships with our beekeeping partners across North America. With their help, we keep our honey completely natural while supporting the health of our beloved bees.

2. Raw, Not Pasteurized

Pasteurization is the process of heating honey at high temperatures to make it easier for bottling. But this process also kills the nutrients naturally found in honey like vitamins and enzymes. Raw honey is never, ever pasteurized. After our honey undergoes rigorous testing to make sure it’s top-quality honey, we gently and slowly warm our honey in order to bottle it for you!

3. Full of Nutrients

There are numerous benefits of natural honey like vitamins, nutrients, antioxidants and enzymes. Because of these wonderful perks of raw honey, it works as the perfect processed sugar replacement. Processed sugar has zero benefits and comes with a crash. Raw honey doesn’t. But vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants are only preserved in raw honey. Honey that’s been pasteurized ends up being just another processed sugar! So when you’re choosing a natural sweetener, opt for delicious raw honey to keep those nutrients intact.

4. Strained, Not Filtered

Because raw honey isn’t processed and is kept as the bees made it, raw honey can occasionally contain leftover bee parts and chunks of wax. That’s why at Nature Nate’s, we gently strain our honey to remove these larger, unwanted pieces from the beehive but we keep all the other goodies inside.

5. Pollen Present

Raw and unfiltered honey contains pollen, which is a good thing! Pollen allows us to trace our honey back to its source and ensure it is 100% real honey. A high pollen count allows us to know what type of flower the honey is derived from and what region of the country it hails. Nature Nate’s tests the origins of the pollen in the honey to ensure it’s not from overseas.

6. No Hidden Ingredients

With raw honey, you know exactly what’s inside: honey! Sometimes, honey can have added corn syrup or other additives that imitates honey in order to fill more bottles and save costs. At Nature Nate’s, our honey undergoes extensive testing to make sure it’s natural, high-quality honey. We test for a clean read free of common pesticides, herbicides and antibiotics. We also test for gluten, lead, color consistency, acidity and sugar all to guarantee that the honey you’re getting from us is 100% pure. Only the best honey achieves a bright orange Nature Nate’s label.

7. It’s Delicious!

In preserving honey as it is, we also preserve honey’s delicious taste! At Nature Nate’s, we have a carefully crafted blend to ensure a consistent taste. Our honey tested extensively and we make sure that only top-quality honey finds its way into our blend. We incorporate different types of honey like clover and wildflower to make a custom blend. When you open your new orange-labeled bottle, you can trust that your favorite taste will be consistent!

8. Fuel Source

Raw honey contains natural nutrients that help propel you forward throughout the day. Raw honey also has a low glycemic index, which means your body processes the sugar content slowly. Aka, no sugar crashes! Next time you need to refuel, ditch the stuff with all the additives and go straight for the real deal: Have some raw honey from Nature Nate’s convenient honey packets.

9. No Expiration Date

If properly preserved, raw honey doesn’t expire. In fact, The National Honey Board says that honey can remain stable for centuries if kept in closed containers. While natural honey will undergo normal processes like crystallization, that doesn’t mean it’s gone bad!

10. Crystallization

Because raw honey is completely natural, it contains normal amounts of glucose, fructose and pollen. This means that your honey will undergo a natural process called crystallization. You can see this happening as your honey develops white flecks in it or begins to turn solid. If you prefer to enjoy your honey in a drizzling, smooth state, place your bottle of honey in bowl of warm water for about an hour.

Ready to try some? Find Nature Nate’s at your nearest store that sells groceries here.