What Is Raw Irish Honey?
“Raw” usually describes how honey has been handled after the bees make it, not a special ingredient or a guaranteed health benefit.
Start with the bees and the place
Honey is made by bees from plant nectar or other plant-derived sources, then stored and matured in the comb. The EU honey directive defines honey and sets standards for its composition and labelling. “Irish” should tell you where the honey comes from; to understand a particular jar, ask the producer about its apiaries and harvest.
What does raw mean here?
There is no need to treat “raw” as a guarantee of a particular temperature or pollen count. Mil Chonamara describes its own honey as unpasteurised, lightly strained and minimally handled. Light straining can remove larger bits without justifying a claim that nothing at all has been filtered. We do not claim exact processing temperatures or laboratory-tested floral proportions.
Can raw honey crystallise?
Yes. Natural sugar balance, temperature and tiny particles can all affect when crystals form. Crystallisation alone cannot prove that a honey is raw, pure or superior. Read our guide to crystallisation for more.
Which local honey should I choose?
Our summer blossom honey is light and golden; our autumn heather honey is rich and aromatic. Seasonal batches may differ. Neither is a medicine or a promise of a specific health outcome.