Honey

Honey comes from a natural source: It is the nectar collected by bees and deposited in their honeycomb. In addition to its sweetening power, honey also imparts the flavor of the flowers from which it was gathered. Honey is produced in just about every country in the world, and there are hundreds of varieties; most are named for the flower from which the honey derives its fragrance. Popular varieties include orange blossom honey, from Spain, California, and Mexico; sunflower honey, from Greece, Turkey, and Russia; rosemary honey, produced in the Mediterranean countries; and clover honey, which is the type most commonly used in the United States. Honey has been used as a sweetener in cooking far, far longer than sugar. Previous to the nineteenth century, sugar was still considered a luxury for the masses, and honey was one of the most commonly used substitutes.