Honeycomb is nature’s gift to us. It is safe to eat honey and the waxy hexagonal containers of the honeycomb.
But what does raw honeycomb taste like?
While honeycomb is more expensive than honey, its taste is worth every penny.
Below is a taste description of the honeycomb and its nutritional information. We will also share our favorite ways to eat honeycomb.
What is Honeycomb?
A honeycomb is a mass of colorful wax that contains the honey of honeybees. According to Wikipedia, the honeycomb structure is natural and has a hexagonal pattern.
Beekeepers harvest the honeycomb and extract the honey with an extractor to prevent damage to the comb. This process is important to return the honeycomb to the hive. However, some beekeepers also sell fresh honeycomb.
Can you eat raw honeycomb?
Yes, honeycomb is edible and is a natural product made by bees to store their honey. The whole honeycomb is edible, including the crystallized honey and surrounding cells. You can also eat raw beeswax, which has a similar mouth feel to chewing gum.
What Does Honeycomb Taste Like? Does Honeycomb Taste Good?
Fresh honeycomb has a sweet and refreshing taste. The honey is sweet and delicate without being overpowering.
The honeycombs have a flaky texture at the beginning. However, it gets chewy as you move it around in your mouth, almost like chewing gum.
Although honeycomb has a unique taste, the underlying flavor will differ from one honeycomb to another.
The flowers that the bees visit varies from one region to another. So the nectar of the flowers affects the taste and color of the honey and honeycomb.
Does raw honeycomb taste like honey?
You’ll notice that the honey inside your honeycomb may be crystallized a little bit, so it tastes sweeter than regular honey. Also, honeycomb has a crunchy texture, lending a chewy mouthfeel.
Our Favorite Ways to Eat Raw Honeycomb
The key is to keep honeycomb pairings simple and delicious. Pure, raw honeycomb is delicious, but some food combinations can enhance the flavors. The following list of foods pair well with honeycomb and honey:
Honeycomb and Cheese
Honeycomb and cheese are a heavenly duo. Place honeycomb on any cheese platter, appetizer, or charcuterie board to enhance visual appeal. Honeycomb pairs well with cheeses including Pecorino Toscano, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and Manchego. You can also try pairing blue cheese and goat cheese with honeycomb.
Honeycomb and Chocolate
Honeycomb and chocolate are a delicacy. In wintertime, nothing’s better than cozying up to a fire with hot chocolate milk and a slice of raw honeycomb.
Additional Tips to Serve Honeycomb
You can eat honeycomb in a variety of ways.
- Make an excellent honeycomb spread for warm bread or English muffins.
- Use honeycomb as a sweetener in homemade desserts — on top of pancakes, oatmeal, or yogurt.
- Add a chunk of honeycomb to your oatmeal. You can place it on rice pudding or warm tapioca as well.
- Stir some chopped honeycomb into plain Greek yogurt. If you don’t like Greek yogurt, you can also try mixing it into soft vanilla ice cream.
- Make a salad with some chicken and almonds, and add honeycomb and goat cheese chunks.
- Eat honeycomb alongside fruit, charcuterie, or aged cheeses.
Where to find honeycomb?
You can find honeycomb at your local health food store, though you can also get it online.
Here’s our tip for buying honeycomb:
Choose a honeycomb with darker honey because it’s richer in beneficial compounds such as antioxidants.
Is Honeycomb Healthy For You?
Honeycomb Shelf Life
Honeycomb has a long shelf life. That’s because honey is a sugary product and is hygroscopic. In simpler words, honey doesn’t have moisture available for microbes to grow.
Plus, the pH of honey is around 3-4.5, making it unsuitable for bacteria to grow. It gives honeycomb a very long shelf life.
Note: Keep honeycomb away from sunlight to increase its shelf life.
How to store honeycomb?
The best way to store honeycomb is at room temperature in an airtight container. However, if you arent planning on eating the honeycomb right away, it is best to store it in the fridge.
When storing honeycomb in the fridge, place it in an airtight container not to absorb any moisture from the air.
FAQs
Does honeycomb taste like wax?
No, honeycomb doesn’t taste like wax. The taste of raw honeycomb is sweet and refreshing with a crispy texture. Some people say it tastes like a chewy candy.
Is it OK to eat honeycomb while pregnant?
There is no obvious answer to this question. Some people think eating honeycomb while pregnant can benefit the mother and baby. However, other people think that pregnant women should avoid raw honey because it may cause food-borne illnesses.
If you are pregnant, it is best to ask your doctor before eating a raw honeycomb. Alternatively, you can stay away from eating anything raw except fruits and veggies.
Can you eat honeycomb with braces?
Yes, eating honeycomb with braces shouldn’t be a problem for you. However, you shouldn’t eat the wax comb in which the honey is stored. The comb could get stuck in your braces and be difficult to remove.
To eat honeycomb with braces, cut off a small piece and chew it slowly. Always brush your teeth afterward.
Final Thoughts
Honeycomb is a natural bee product featuring hexagonal cells which contain raw honey.
Honeycomb is edible and offers numerous health benefits, such as fighting infections and improving cardiovascular health. It can also boost liver function and serve as a sugar alternative for people with diabetes. However, honeycomb remains rich in sugars, so you should consume it in moderation.
