Types of honey and how to appreciate them ?

What are the types of honey ?

There are 2 types of honey:

- Single-flower honey is made by bees collecting pollen mostly (minimum 80%) from one type of flower, such as the flowers of heather, thyme, colza, hawthorn or acacia or chestnut trees. All these honeys are very different. Some people prefer the lightness of acacia honey, others the power of the chestnut variety, still others the finesse of pale white rosemary honey.

- Multi-flower or polyfloral honey is often chosen for its provenance. In France the following labels (PGI, AOC, PDO) guarantee the origin of various honeys:
- Honey from Alsace (PGI)
- Alsatian pine honey
- Vosges pine honey (AOC)
- Honey from Provence (PGI)
- Lavender and multi-flower honey from Provence
- Honey from Corsica (PDO)
- Honey from the Cevennes (PDO)

How to taste honey ?

Honey should be tasted like wine.
First we observe the honey--its colour, texture and overall appearance. Is it shiny, limpid, clear or dark?
An olfactory examination then reveals the aromas of fruit (blackcurrant, cherry, peach, apple, banana...), flowers (roses, peonies, acacia...), herbs and spices (pepper, cinnamon, bay leaf, thyme...).
Lastly, we taste the honey to determine its length in the mouth, along with its flavours and their intensity. Is the honey creamy, liquid, granulous, fragrant?