We get this question a lot at markets and on farm days:
“Is there a difference between your honey and what I buy at the store?”
Short answer? Yes. Long answer? It’s a beautiful little miracle of nature that’s worth slowing down for.
What Is Honey, Really?
At its core, honey is a simple mix of natural sugars—mostly fructose and glucose—plus trace enzymes, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and organic acids. But that simplicity hides a whole world of beauty. It starts with wildflower nectar, foraged by bees and gently transformed inside the hive.
What you’re left with is one of the most stable, naturally preserved foods on the planet. (They’ve found edible honey in ancient Egyptian tombs—yes, really.)
At Bee. honey+hive, we keep our honey raw and unfiltered, so it’s just as the bees made it.
Why Raw Honey?
Raw honey hasn’t been pasteurized, ultra-filtered, or blended with corn syrup like much of what you’ll find on store shelves. When you buy from us, you’re getting honey that’s:
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Packed with active enzymes like glucose oxidase, which can support digestion
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Full of local pollen, which some say helps with seasonal allergies
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Unique in flavor—each harvest reflects the floral profile of our Southern Appalachian nectar sources
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Naturally crystalized over time—a sign of the real thing
Our local honey from Western North Carolina is handled with care to retain all of those good things. No shortcuts, no high heat, no fillers.
Honey & Your Health
We’re not here to make medical claims—but raw honey has long been loved for its gentle, supportive properties. Over generations (and in growing scientific research), it’s been shown to:
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Soothe throats and coughs – A spoonful can calm irritation and support restful sleep
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Aid digestion – Thanks to those natural enzymes
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Deliver antioxidants – Which may help reduce inflammation
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Boost energy naturally – The mix of glucose and fructose gives a steady, crash-free lift
Local Honey & Seasonal Allergies
A lot of folks turn to local raw honey to help with allergies. The idea? Regular exposure to tiny amounts of local pollen—naturally found in unfiltered honey—may help the body become less reactive over time. It's not a magic cure, but it’s a way of staying attuned to your environment, and for many, it seems to make a difference.
More Than Just Sweetness
When you eat raw, local honey, you’re not just enjoying something sweet. You’re tasting a landscape. A season. The nectar of tulip poplar and sourwood, blackberry and clover, brought together by bees right here in Transylvania County.
You’re supporting healthy pollinator populations, sustainable beekeeping, and a food system that honors place and pace.
And maybe most importantly—you’re feeding your body something real.
Thanks for loving this work. And thanks, always, to the bees.
