An evergreen shrub strewn with purple and blue flowers is called common heather. You can meet this in different regions of Russia. The territory of Scotland is also rich in it. During the flowering period, this plant is very attractive to bees. Noticing this, beekeepers began to produce heather honey.
“Every man to his own taste”. These words of a popular saying describe the attitude of people towards this product. It differs from others in its taste characteristics. A bit bitter and has an unusual aftertaste. But gourmets and other connoisseurs consider this feature spicy.
Description of heather honey
Each variety is different from the other. Heather honey contains a complex of trace elements that are not found in the rest. This gives it qualities that are suitable not only for the kitchen, but also for medicine and cosmetology.
Appearance
Depending on where the shrub grows, there are two types of heather honey. One is obtained from a pollinated common wild plant, and the other from a botanical species such as Erica.
Wild heather pollen honey is considered natural. They call it Scottish, Summer and Spring. It is quickly recognizable by specific features:
- After inhaling the scent, you might think that this is a strong-smelling flowering plant.
- The color has brown, brown and yellow shades.
- The taste is bitter, which intensifies during storage.
Heather honey is unique in its structure. The crystallization process in it is slowed down. This is due to excess protein.
Attention!
During storage, honey becomes jelly-like. This problem is solved by stirring. The sweetness regains its liquid consistency.
Composition and calorie content
The composition is varied. It includes many salts, namely zinc, potassium, calcium. The value of heather honey is in the abundance of vitamin B6, thiamine, riboflavin. In addition, it is unique in terms of the percentage of protein. All types of honey go through a crystallization process. This makes it difficult to eat it. Heather, thanks to the proteins, mixes quickly.
The calorie content of such a product in terms of its nutritional properties is 111 calories per tablespoon, that is, about 36 grams.
Useful Properties
Heather honey is not a favorite among beekeepers. Its properties, perhaps, do not quite compensate for the merits. Many nuances contribute to this attitude of stringiness, bitter taste, and a slow crystallization process. But this sort of individuality is recognized by everyone.
Product value:
- “Scottish” honey is the official medicine for rheumatism and gout. Easily copes with lung diseases.
- Those suffering from gastrointestinal diseases use heather honey as an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial agent.
- Normalizes the level of acidity in the stomach.
- Promotes the restoration of immunity, increased appetite.
- Regulates the activity of the nervous system, improving sleep, relieving convulsive conditions and headaches.
- If you take a teaspoon of heather honey, your sleep will be long and restful. And the morning awakening will become vigorous, without negative accompaniments.
Heather honey is also used for cosmetic purposes. It is included in various masks, cleansers, ointments, balms. Any cosmetic product with it has a beneficial effect on the skin.
At what diseases is applied
Medicine uses this ingredient because of its specific qualities.
- Antiseptic
- Antiviral
- Anti-acid
- Antimicrobial
The variety of properties of such honey gives doctors the opportunity to prescribe it as a medicine.
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Digestive disorders, diarrhea, constipation, lack of appetite, heartburn.
- Bladder disease, renal failure.
- Nervous disorders, sleep problems, stress, increased anxiety.
- Rheumatism and related diseases.
- Asthma, lung problems
Attention!
This variety is effective for cleaning purulent wounds. It promotes their early healing.
The positive effect of this sweetness can be enhanced by the addition of accompanying elements related to beekeeping products. It can be royal jelly, pollen.
How the treatment is carried out depends on the purpose. Wounds are treated externally, internal systems are influenced through the intake of tea. Rubbing the body with ointment with heather honey or drinking tea with it, the body will receive an equally tangible effect. The result from the way you use your strength will not diminish. There are many folk recipes with this main ingredient.
For example, if a patient has a confirmed sore throat, stomatitis or other inflammation of the oral mucosa, then rinsing with a liquid containing such a remedy will be useful. To do this, it is thoroughly stirred in a glass of water.
To ensure a restful sleep, get rid of nervous disorders, you need to eat a spoonful of the product at night. And for appetite, it is enough to eat a mixture with walnuts for breakfast. This will energetically fill the entire body with strength, provide a mood. To prepare it, you need to take two large spoons of honey and half a glass of nuts.
Противопоказания
Honey is one of the most common allergens. Most of the world’s population suffer from congenital intolerance to this type of product. Therefore, along with medicinal properties, it can be dangerous. He has his own contraindications. It is undesirable to give to small children.
Attention!
Before adding honey to your daily diet, you need to get tested for allergic reactions. Be careful!
Recipes
Heather honey is equally common in all countries. It is not considered a separate national product. Honey is used in the preparation of dishes in many countries. There are a lot of recipes for dessert dishes in which heather honey has become an important ingredient. This food is both healthy and tasty.
Recipe for improving the functioning of the digestive system.
200 gr. walnuts must be crushed and mixed with 300 gr. raisins. The same amount of dried apricots is also added here. An obligatory component is lemon. These 2 sour fruits are added to the mixture.
In a meat grinder or blender, these products are crushed until smooth. Heather honey is added to it in the amount of 200 gr. Having prepared this mixture, a rich vitamin complex is obtained from natural natural ingredients. The natural remedy restores bowel function and improves the digestion process, has a healing effect on every organ of the digestive tract. This can be achieved with 1 tablespoon of the product. It should be consumed 3 times a day.
Beekeeping products have been known for a long time. People know that it is delicious and do not forget about the medicinal properties of honey. Therefore, this product has always been in the hostess’s pantries.
Each country has its own recipe for the drink, which is prepared on the basis of heather honey. On the one hand, honey ale tastes good. It also fills the human body with energy. He was credited with healing properties and was called “the nectar of the Gods.”
Still scottish liquor, cooked at home, is loved by gourmets. Cooking takes a maximum of one hour.
This will require 50-100 grams of cream, 2-4 tablespoons of oatmeal, 1 glass of whiskey, 2 tablespoons of heather honey. Combine cream with flakes and beat until you get a mass similar in consistency to thick sour cream. Whiskey is curled here and honey is added. Using a different recipe, the cream is replaced with hot water. The result is the chance to enjoy a pleasant, nutritious drink that energizes the body.
Listen to RL Stevenson’s ballad “Heather Honey”
How to distinguish real honey from fake
When purchasing such a product from a distributor, it is very easy to run into a fake. Therefore, it is important to be able to distinguish it from the present. The main thing is to know the basic properties of heather honey: aroma, color, etc. With a simple step, you can test your guesses.
Attention!
To do this, open the container lid and put it on its side. If after 2 – 3 minutes the contents flowed, then this is a fake. If left in place, then a natural product.
Heather honey is common. It is known about him even in the most distant corners of the earth. The value of the product is increased by its beneficial properties and piquant taste. It can be combined with many gastronomic dishes. It can be used as a dessert, as an addition to the first, and as a medicine.
