If you’re anything like us, you’re always looking for a new culinary adventure and to try new flavors, especially in beverages. In a time when new beverages are always coming to market, we are seeing more restaurants and brands discovering the multitude of functional benefits honey provides their offerings, and by extension their customers. From coffee and smoothies to craft beers and spirits, honey plays a pivotal role in meeting consumer demands for beverages that provide comfort, guilt-free indulgence, or functionality.
But you don’t have to be a big brand to take advantage of these benefits – you can get the same experience at home in your very own liquid concoctions! And honey’s versatility makes it an ideal ingredient for any beverage recipe.
In addition to being an emulsifier for marinades and dips, a humectant for baked goods, and an all-natural sweetener in many recipes, honey works in beverages in functional and unique ways.
As an all-natural sweetener, honey simple syrup is a great base for any cocktail, mocktail, or general beverage. As its name suggests, honey simple syrup is easy to make and store for all your beverage mixing needs! Simply heat 2 parts honey to 1 part hot water in a saucepan over medium-low heat until the mixture reaches a simmer. Remove from heat and cool. Store at room temperature or refrigerate as desired.
In addition to adding the perfect amount of sweetness to your favorite drinks, honey also adds depth to the most complex beverage recipes by balancing and enhancing flavor profiles of other ingredients. Make sweet and sour a little sweeter and mask bitter tastes - all with honey!
But we would be remiss if we didn’t mention all the ways honey varietals allow you to play with flavor. Because of their varying flavor profiles, honey varietals offer new and exciting ways to experience the subtle nuances that honey brings to beverages, all while adding complexity and flavor. With more than 3,000 varietals of honey found worldwide, there is an entire world of flavor to be tapped into. A prime example of this is found in the citrus notes of the orange blossom honey in our Honey-Hibiscus Orange Punch.
So, whether you enjoy your beverages hot or cold, honey is ready to make them do more for you. To get you inspired to add honey to your next glass, we’re sharing a few of our favorite honey-inspired drink recipes – cheers!
