The Secrets of Honey Episode 7: A Flavor Guide to Taiwan, China's True Honey and Recommended Ways to Enjoy It
Last time we introduced the distinctive beekeeping techniques of individual beekeepers, whose efforts and persistence have brought many rich and varied honey flavors to our tables.
There is another little-known point of pride when it comes to honey: the humidity of an island climate means the honey contains more pollen grains and richer nutrients, much like the widely known New Zealand honey. Taiwan, the island where we live, thanks to its four-season changes and its rich diversity of terrain and climate, is suited to the growth of many species, allowing us to harvest not only honey of good quality but special honeys with deeper, more profound flavors.
Just remember "do not heat it, do not exceed 50 degrees C," and every kind of honey can find its perfect match among ingredients. Starting from the foods you like every day, the most common toast or baguette paired with a honey of special flavor will bring you unexpectedly delicious moments. If you like a smooth, silky texture, pairing with unsweetened yogurt or douhua is also highly recommended. If you share our spirit of adventurous tasting, here are some combinations we have tried that turned out very well: boiled eggs, cured pork, prosciutto, wild rice stem... The true essence of deliciousness is doing it yourself!
Ternstroemia Baguette
The woody aroma of ternstroemia honey goes especially well with wheat products. The chewy, resilient texture of French baguette, mixed with woody notes and wheat aroma, becomes more flavorful with every chew. Hundred-herb honey with lightly toasted bread is tasty too.
Camellia Honey / Cinnamon Honey / Osmanthus Honey Butter Toast
Spread unsalted butter on freshly toasted, piping-hot toast, wait for the butter to soak in, then add honey. The crisp bread has a rich, sweet, smooth texture -- that is the taste of happiness!
* Advanced version: drizzle with a little fruit-flavored liquor for an elegant transformation into a sophisticated grown-up dessert.
Series articles:
From how the human body absorbs sugars, to an introduction to common sugars in daily life, and a guide to appreciating natural honey
The Secrets of Honey (1) Why do humans need to eat sweet things?
The Secrets of Honey (2) Sugar: eat the tasty kind, and eat the good kind
The Secrets of Honey (3) Only natural honey is nutritious
The Secrets of Honey (4) How to tell natural real honey from synthetic honey
The Secrets of Honey (5) How to judge whether honey quality is good
The Secrets of Honey (6) The craft and wisdom of Taiwan's beekeepers