Tea is among the most cherished beverages worldwide. Beyond the taste and enjoyment, it also contains vitamins, minerals, essential oils, and anticancer polyphenols.

Other than using processed sugar as a sweetener, many people have switched to honey. Honey is famed for its unique sweet flavor. On top of being used as a sweetener, honey is also stacked with nutrients and minerals that enhance your overall well-being. A blend of these products is a match made from heaven!

Different types of tea can be paired with various types of honey for better taste. The taste, color, and odor of honey depend on its floral origin. There are over 250 different varieties of honey.  

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How much honey to put in a tea?

Honey is better and sweeter in your tea than table sugar. Just as little goes a long way. One teaspoon of honey is good enough to sweeten your cup of tea. If you have a cold or sore throat, it is advisable to go for two teaspoons of honey. 

At what stage should you add honey to your tea?

It is advisable to add honey after the tea has steeped and the water has cooled slightly. Too hot water will destroy the phytochemicals in the honey that are responsible for the numerous health benefits that you are after. It also changes the taste of honey and makes it slightly bitter. You should allow the water to cool down considerably.

This is How to Make a Perfect Cup of Tea with Honey

• Boil a cup of water
• Pour the boiling water into a cup
• Add a tea bag or leaves to the hot water
• Cover it with a lid and leave it to steep for a few minutes(about 3 minutes)
• After 3 minutes, stir the liquid and take out the teabag
• Add a teaspoon of honey after your tea has colled a bit 
• To add more health benefits to your honey tea, you can lemon, cinnamon, or ginger

Why You Should Add Honey to Your Tea?

Adding honey to your tea is an easy and tasty way to obtain honey’s health benefits. It brings out a unique flavor beyond the sweetness. It is also an exceptional alternative to table sugar. Drinking tea with honey will make you feel better when you are sick, but taking it before will help avert sickness. 

The Best Honey Variety for Your Tea

There are diverse varieties of honey. While each variety contains minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and enzymes, the exact percentages depend on the nectar source. These percentages also influence the color and flavor. You can experiment with your tea with various honey pairings to discover the new flavor combinations and find your ideal complementary match. Here are some of the honey pairings for your teas. 

Honey and Green Tea

The sharp or acidic taste and earthy or grassy flavor of green tees can be counterbalanced with more floral honey varieties such as Lavender, Blueberry, Alfalfa, Clover, and Tupelo honey. 

Honey and Black Tea 

There are various types of black teas with diverse flavors. Those with citrus tastes like Earl Grey tea can be paired with orange blossom honey to bring out the citrus flavor. 

Honey and White Tea

White teas such as Silver Needles can pair well with light honey varieties such as acacia, and fireweed, since it is less processed and oxidized than black tea. Its flavor is sweet, soft, and delicate. 

Honey and Rooibos Honey

Rooibos or red tea is a neutral tea with a sweet and nutty flavor. You can pair it with a spiced honey variety such as Meadowfoam or Gallberry to bring out vanilla and cinnamon flavors. 

Honey and Chamomile Tea

Chamomile tea is dear to many tea drinkers especially at night due to its calming effect. Since it is mild, you can pair it with honey such as Sage or Clover to avoid suppressing the chamomile. 

Honey and Herbal Tea

You can pair herbal tea with Eucalyptus, Basswood, Blueberry, or Citrus honey.

You can also amplify the therapeutic attributes of honey by adding other substances such as ginger, cinnamon, and lemon.

Raw or processed for your tea?

Apart from the various honey varieties, there is a significant difference between raw honey and processed honey. 

Raw honey is straight from the honeycombs. Only straining is done to remove the debris such as bee parts, pieces of wax, etc. 

Processed honey has undergone pasteurization to destroy yeast cells, and improve texture, appearance, consistency, and flavor. This procedure destroys some of the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of honey. 

Pasteurization also involves finer filtration which removes bee propolis and pollen which are responsible for the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of honey. Processed honey may also contain other additives such as brown rice syrup or high-fructose corn syrup. 

While purchasing it is advisable to check the list of ingredients. For raw honey go for labels that indicate “raw” honey. It may have some color variations and sugar crystallization taking place but it is safe to eat. 

Why Honey is a Better Choice for Your Tea than Table Sugar

Adding honey to tea is a healthier option than processed sugar. For many people, honey compliments the taste of their tea better than sugar does. 

While processed sugar is 50% glucose and 50% fructose, the composition of honey is different. Only 70% is sugar (fructose + glucose). The other 30 % of honey is made up of minerals, water, pollen, enzymes, and amino acids which contribute to our well-being. Sugar contains zero minerals so no nutritional value. 

The natural sugars in honey also take longer to be digested than processed sugar. This means that your pancreas will not have to secrete much insulin to capture and store the extra sugar. 

Is Honey in Tea Toxic?

Some people argue that honey in tea can be toxic. But people have enjoyed this combination for years. For the toxicity, no official research or study to confirm the speculations. The Ayurvedic medicine (alternative medicine system)  believes only in pure products not to toxify your body. With this in mind, heated honey is no longer pure form, making it toxic to human beings. According to Ayurvedic medicine, heating honey in boiling water changes its molecules, which can clog your body channels. 

What are the benefits of Honey Tea?

Honey and tea is a famed home remedy for cough and cold symptoms worldwide. It also helps to ease congestion and irritation. Other benefits include: 

• Reducing the risk of heart disease and cancer 
• A perfect energy booster
• Reduce menstrual cramps by easing the pain and tightness in the abdominal area
• Helps with seasonal allergies
• Ease abdominal upset
• Boosts your immunity
• Aid wound healing
• Act as an energy booster
• Improves skin health
• Aids in weight loss

It is good to note that to reap the benefits of this product rich in phytonutrients and get a defense against illnesses, you need to be consistent with the uptake. 

At what temperature do the beneficial properties of honey get destroyed?

You should not heat honey over direct heat. The higher the temperatures, the more the damage caused. Here is what happens in the various temperature ranges.

• Heating to 37^oc  cause the destruction of almost 200 components 
• Heating to 40⁰c destroys a crucial enzyme known as invertase
• Heating more than 50⁰c for more than 48 hours changes honey into a caramel

Is there any risk associated with adding too much honey to my tea?

While honey contains numerous health benefits, consuming too much of it can be harmful to your health. Here are some of the risks.

• It can raise your blood sugar level
• It can lower your blood pressure
• It can lead to stomach issues such as constipation
• Can cause dental problems
• It can lead to weight gain since it is high in calories, carbohydrates, and sugars.  
• Some people are allergic to honey and should avoid the product by all means. 

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FAQs

Can l add honey to my coffee? Do they taste good together?

Yes, you can add honey to coffee since it is a better sweetener than sugar. In addition to the pleasant taste, there are many health benefits linked to honey. The combination tastes good together if you enjoy the taste of honey. Honey has a unique and strong flavor that will taste great on many roasts. It can also suppress the acidity in coffee. 

Does adding honey to iced tea destroy the nutrients?

Adding honey to iced tea will have no effects on its nutrients. However, the ice-cold may make honey harder to dissolve. You can use a small whisk to diffuse. 

Does adding honey to hot tea destroy its health benefits?

Yes, adding honey to hot tea ruins most of the beneficial elements. However, processed honey remains the same in hot water because it has already undergone heating.