Honey (optional)
Description
Honey (optional) is a natural sweetener with a smooth, sticky consistency and a color ranging from light golden to dark amber, with aromas varying from subtly floral to caramel and flavors depending on the nectar. It is intensely sweet, easily dissolvable, and different varieties introduce subtle herbal, citrus, or spicy notes. Nutritionally, honey mainly provides easily digestible carbohydrates — fructose and glucose — as well as small amounts of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that may support immunity and have antibacterial properties. In the kitchen, it is used as a natural sweetener for tea, yogurt, muesli, sauces, marinades, meat glazes, and desserts, as well as for pairing with cheeses or bread. It should be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place; crystallization can be reversed with gentle heating, and it should not be given to infants under 1 year of age.