The Benefits of Raw Honey & A Honey Latte Recipe
Updated: May 2, 2022
The Benefits Of Raw Honey
I am un-bee-lievably excited for today's post! (Had to do it, but it's true.)
Honey is one of my favorite things to cook with, one because it is so so yummy and sweet, and two because it is a simple, easy way to make things a little bit healthier.
I suggest honey in a lot of recipes, but the most common place I use it is definitely in my beverages—like this tasty and easy-to-make latte that we're about to get into—to minimize the use of refined sugars and processed creamers.
Not all honey is made the same way though! And there are actually numerous benefits of raw honey instead of the typical honey bought at the store. In this post, I want to share more about the benefits of raw honey and why you might consider using it in more of your recipes.
What You Need To Know About Honey
I'm saying it now and I'll say it again: honey is still sugar!
Replacing table sugar in your diet with honey does not mean you're replacing sugar. This can be a common misconception when thinking about the benefits of raw honey.
However, a little honey goes a long way. Plus, when it's raw, there are some added health benefits that make it a great natural substitute for processed sugars.
We all know that consuming too much sugar can have some negative health effects. But, it's important to understand that sugar is a naturally occurring substance in foods like:
fruits
dairy
meat, and
bread
Natural sugar in these whole foods is a part of nutrition and a source of energy—they don't have to be avoided!
The real problems occur when we consume too much added sugars and processed sugars.
We can go on and on about how bad processed sugar is for the body, but cutting it out isn't really realistic for everyone.
Sugar is added to many things for flavor, preservation, and more.
And it's labeled differently on products, which adds to the confusion (and my annoyance). Here are some other names for added sugars to look out for:
high-fructose corn syrup
cane juice
can syrup
fruit juice concentrate
This certainly makes it a little difficult to watch for all of the time.
Sometimes you just need a donut though. I'm not here to tell you to stop eating sugar!
The Benefits Of Raw Honey
I used raw honey to make this sweet and simple honey latte right at home. And you should too, so you can get those benefits of honey in the morning!
It is the perfect morning pick-me-up on a chilly fall day and a healthier alternative to most store-bought lattes.
So what are the benefits of raw honey? Let's take a quick look.
Raw honey is just one option to help lower your intake of refined sugars.
Like I said, replacing sugar with honey does not mean you're not eating sugar, but it does have a stronger flavor profile, meaning you might need less to get the sweet flavor you desire.
It's delicious.
Another benefit of raw honey is that it is not heated, so no healthful properties/enzymes are destroyed. Which happens in normal honey processing.
Raw honey is unprocessed, or as close to natural as you can get, which means full of natural, healthy benefits.
Raw honey has several varying vitamins based on its origin, antioxidants, and minerals such as zinc, iron, and magnesium.
Processed honey also loses the bee pollen it naturally holds. Hear me out on this one, but bee pollen is actually good for you!
What's in bee pollen that makes it good for you?
amino acids
essential fatty acids
antioxidants
vitamins
micronutrients
Quick & Easy Honey Latte Recipe
This sweet, simple latte can be made in a matter of minutes right at home. Skip the processed creamers and use raw honey with your milk of choice to have a healthy and delicious warm mug of coffee that's perfect for the Fall weather!
For this recipe, all you need is
Espresso or Coffee
Raw honey
Milk of Choice
Mason Jar with a top or a pan and stove
How To Make A Latte With Raw Honey:
The first step is to brew coffee or make espresso, this choice is up to you and your taste preferences.
If you're at home and only have a coffee maker available, brewing a strong cup will work just as well as espresso. I make at-home lattes like this all the time.
While your coffee or espresso is brewing, put a scoop of raw honey into the mug you will be using to enjoy your latte.
Remember, a little goes a long way, and the more you use the sweeter your latte will be.
Heat the milk, either in a microwave-safe jar in the microwave (one that you can put a lid on after, like a mason jar) or on the stove.
If you use the stove, simply stir the milk as it heats until it begins to get frothy. For the microwave, cover the jar and shake for 60 seconds or until milk starts to froth.
Add your coffee/espresso to the mug of honey.
Then, using a spoon to block the froth, pour milk into coffee. Scoop froth on top (see image below) and add toppings as desired! Cinnamon is always a great topping for a fall latte.
Enjoy!
