2023 is finally here! For many of us, this time of the year is a time for restarts, resolutions and reimagining the way we do things to help better ourselves and the world around us. Whether your new year goal is to live a more natural life, help the planet or support local farmers, our African Bronze Honey might just be the answer you’re looking for. Our honey is considered to be the gold standard of honey, even boasting 2x the antioxidants of manuka honey!
While you’re probably aware of how good our honey tastes, did you know that there are numerous other uses for natural forest honey in every aspect of our lives? Keep reading below to discover our top 12 uses for African Bronze Forest Honey!
But First, Why Choose African Bronze Honey?
At African Bronze Honey, we take the sustainability of our honey seriously. Very seriously, in fact. Our wild forest honey is harvested using regenerative practices by more than 10,000 beekeepers in Africa, providing sustainable economic support for entire communities of farmers and their families. Our honey is certified organic by EcoCert, so you can rest easy knowing our honey has no pesticides, no chemicals - just pure, high-quality, ethically sourced honey.
In addition to our global-conscious approach, African Bronze wild forest honey packs a mighty punch when it comes to flavour and overall benefits. Our honey is raw, unpasteurized forest honey and comes from the forests of southern Africa, giving it a unique floral taste you just won’t find in commercially manufactured honey! This floral taste comes from honeydew, a sugary nectar-like liquid that comes directly from the sap. Tree-dwelling insects produce this honeydew nectar, and it’s stolen by the bees, adding a nutrient-rich element to the honey.
Because our honey is sold to our customers in its most natural state, compared to mass-manufactured commercial honey, the health benefits of our honey (think antioxidants, prebiotics and antimicrobial properties) are far greater.
Our Top 12 Uses for Wild Forest Honey
Keep reading below for our 12 favourite (and maybe slightly unexpected ways) honey can be used for the entire family.
1. Cleanse and protect sensitive or dry winter skin
If you have dry, sensitive skin, or are just looking to add all-natural skincare to your winter routine, try ditching the face wash and switch to washing your face with raw honey. Cleansing your face with raw honey can help to rebalance the skin’s natural moisture, reduce acne (due to its antimicrobial properties!) and normal sebum production (the oils in your skin). Raw honey can even soothe the driest of skin or skin prone to eczema or skin irritation.
You can also add a few tablespoons of honey to your evening bath to help soften the skin and relax the mind with a blissful honey scent.
2. Boost nutrients and shine by washing your hair with honey
Washing your hair with honey helps to rebalance your scalp’s natural oil production and pH balance for shinier, healthier hair. The added bonus? Honey leaves your strands extra smooth and silky, all while smelling delicious!
3. Try a new (unexpected) recipe with honey
If your new year’s goal was to cook more at home, look no further than your very own pantry. From Honey and Goat Cheese TikTok Pasta to Salted Honey Caramels and Homemade Honey Dog Treats, our African Bronze Honey is the perfect staple ingredient for all sorts of delicious recipes. Visit our Recipes page for more classic and creative recipes using our African Bronze forest honey. You also can use our honey in any recipe you might have at home or as a natural sweetener in your desserts, baking or even your lemonade!
4. Naturally remove parasites and balance your gut biome
As an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent, wild forest honey promotes wellness from the inside out and can help boost healing and overall health. Honey is packed with pre and probiotics, so it is great for those of us with stomach and digestion issues. Many folks swear by a bit of honey in hot water every morning to kick-start digestion.
5. Fight wintertime colds with a soothing honey cough syrup
Honey is a natural antimicrobial, making it nature’s disease and germ fighter! These properties, combined with honey’s smooth texture and soothing feeling, make for the perfect all-natural cough syrup for both kids and adults. Check out one of our favourite recipes here from WellnessMama.
6. Preserve your fruit
Love the taste of fresh summertime fruit? Bottle up that summertime feeling with a natural honey preserve. Cover your berries or other fruit with 1 part honey to 10 parts water and you have a natural honey sauce preserve.
7. Lose weight
Maybe you’re trying to lose weight or make healthier choices in 2023. By simply swapping out traditionally processed sugars with our African Bronze wild forest honey, you can help to balance your blood sugar, fight cravings and reduce cravings for sweets throughout the day.
8. Get a healthy night's sleep
Do you frequently wake up in the middle of the night or struggle to get to sleep after a long day? Honey might just be the all-natural sleep aid you didn’t know you needed. Experts have long studied honey as a natural hormone aid for stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. To manage these hormones, and avoid middle-of-the-night wake-ups, just add a little bit of salt and honey to your tongue and get ready to fall back asleep quickly!
9. Boost your body’s natural disease-fighting abilities
Studies have shown that when applied to the skin, honey has been shown to heal wounds, burns and inflammation due to its antimicrobial properties. These antimicrobial properties help to fight infection by fighting the microorganisms that can cause these infections. So go ahead, and slather any burn, infection or rash in honey!
10. Help manage blood sugar levels
If you are diabetic, or just watching your blood sugar levels, honey is a great alternative to traditional sugar. Honey has even been shown to boost levels of a compound in the body called adiponectin. Adiponectin is a hormone that reduces inflammation and improves blood sugar regulation naturally, helping you reach your wellness goals.
11. Make an all-natural, at-home lip balm
Have you ever noticed that many lip balms have honey as one of their primary ingredients? That’s because honey is a natural moisturizer! Skip the expensive markup and make your own lip balm at home with three simple ingredients: almond oil, beeswax and honey! You could even add a bit of natural sugar to make a lip balm/lip scrub combo.
In addition to its antimicrobial benefits, honey also makes your new at-home lip balm taste and smell amazing. Or, watch our site for our new lip balm, in a compostable dispenser… coming soon!
12. Add a little pep to your step
Many folks believe that the naturally occurring sugars in honey can help boost energy levels and even improve athletic performance. Next time you’re headed to the gym, swap your pre-workout with a spoonful of honey and prepare for that extra oomph of energy.
