(Newswire.net — May 6, 2020) — Honey plays quite a good role as a sweetener when we use it along with other foodstuffs. Some people actually refer to it as the predecessor of sugar. This is because this natural and original sweetener was used before the invention of sugar. Up to this date, some people prefer to use honey in place of sugar. The reason is that it is a natural sweetener which means it is less harmful than sugar. There exist a wide range of honey types and it comes in different compositions and colors from various sources. Of the 20 000 bee species that exist, only six to eleven types facilitate the production of honey. The process is a simple one that involves the transformation of nectar into honey when it is mixed by the bees with salivary enzymes in their honey sacs. Therefore, honey is a processed form of nectar where the medium used for the process is a bee. It brings with it a lot of minerals like Vitamin B, Vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, etc. The leading producers of honey are Turkey, United States, China, Argentina, and Ukraine. In this article, we are going to look at the Turkish honey including its types and benefits.
Honey production in Turkey
Turkey is one of the leading honey producers in the world. It produces over 90 000 tons per year giving it the second position for the most honey-producing country. It has a record of millions of beehives from over 50 000 beekeepers. From its West Mediterranean and South Aegean regions, it manufactures over 90 % of the world’s pine honey. Due to the many species of the world’s types of bees that are found in Turkey, beekeeping is a major part of its agricultural system. This agricultural practice is practiced in almost every region of Turkey. In addition, Turkey is very rich in flora which allows it to produce amazing and unique honey flavors such as the licorice-flavored honey.
Types of Turkey honey
Due to various sources from which it can be produced, Turkey honey comes in different types. The types include pine honey, flower honey, cotton honey, sunflower honey, chestnut honey, citrus honey, and thyme honey. The world’s best and healthy Turkish honey is the anzer honey which contains valuable ingredients from five hundred different plants. The following are examples of Turkey’s honey types in detail.
Turkish pine honey
This type of honey mostly comes from Turkey’s West Mediterranean and South Aegean regions. The honey is produced by the collection of honeydew from insects whose habitat is the sap of pine trees. It can also be referred to as forest honey and generally contains less water than other honey types. Turkey’s pine honey comes with more amino acids and other minerals. It can be used to improve iron deficiency cases. In addition, it’s a good nutrient source for growing children.
Turkish flower honey
Many flower types are used in the manufacture of this honey type. These include coneflowers, lavender, and coriander. Honey bees collect nectar from these flowers and facilitate the process in their honey sacs. Turkish flower honey comes in different types and colors according to the flower used. The nature of the taste is also highly dependent on the flowers used. The major benefits of flower honey are that it helps in reducing triglycerides, it boosts cholesterol and it has many antioxidant and nutrient properties.
Turkish citrus honey
This honey is made by bees from the nectar that they collect from fruits like oranges, grapefruit, limes, and lemons, etc. It is popular for its ability to improve the quality of your sleep; it reduces the effects of alcohol intoxication and also has a good aroma. This type of Turkish honey contains high Vitamin B and C and comes in a light color with no bitter taste.
Turkish chestnut honey
This type of Turkish honey contains a slightly bitter taste and possesses a good aroma. The bees attain nectar from the white and pink flowers of the chestnut trees after they bloom. This honey is of great advantage in providing antimicrobial action in the intestines. It also contains some disinfecting and healing properties.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the honey produced in Turkey proves to be of great quality hence it can be quite expensive. However, Turkey exports only a small percentage of its honey as most of it is consumed in the country.