Raw Honey Reviews

Tag: Honey

Amazon’s Happy Belly Raw Wildflower Honey Review
Amazon has just about everything under the sun packed in warehouses across the globe. They started their own in house grocery brand Solimo. They took out some of the grocery items and rebranded it Happy Belly. I decided to order a 32oz Jar of Happy Belly Wildflower Honey for $8.95. With Amazon prime, it showed up the next day in Austin, Texas. Curious if Amazon’s Honey is legit or if it even taste decent? Read on for my review.
- Honey: Heated, treated and stripped of anything unique.
- Flavor: Sweet
- Aroma: Faint floral scent
- Color: Amber Tan
- Texture: Tacky and Gummy
Happy Belly Raw Wildflower Honey

As a self proclaimed “Honey Purist” I thought I’d never purchase a blend of Honey from Amazon. A once was book retailer now with a million different brands under their Umbrella.

Amazon has bought tons of startups and brands over the years. For this particular product, they took their exclusive Solimo line and rebranded the Honey under Happy Belly.

About Happy Belly (Solimo)

Not much details can be found about Amazon’s in house brand. It’s just one of the many, there’s also amazon basics and several others as well. Solimo is still a functioning brand for Amazon. You can find Vitamins, Beauty Products, Health Care Products, Hand Soap, Beverages like Coffee and more.

Happy Belly prioritizes in the grocery department. They offer an expansive product line from things like; Snacks, Spices, Beverages, Cookies, Honey and Nut Butters, and even Milk.

You’re only going to find 2 types of Honey with Happy Belly. Wildflower and Clover. They plan to expand their in house brands even further to rival the retail giants Walmart and Target.

Nutrition and Source Details

See that foam at the top? That’s normal. That’s air being released from the Honey from temperature fluctuation.

The term raw has nothing to do with filtration; it refers to pasteurization.
Raw honey isn’t pasteurized and can be either filtered or unfiltered.

Honey that hasn’t been pasteurized will say “raw” on the label.
If it hasn’t been filtered, the label will say “unfiltered.”

Local Honey is often raw and unfiltered and not organic.

True Source Certified, Distributed by Amazon out of Washington.
This is a blend of Argentina, Canada and USA Honey.
That’s a typical trio for commercially processed and imported budget Honey.

For all we know, Amazon only provides the plastic bottles and outsources the Honey to farmers in Argentina and imports it through Canada then to the USA to distribute it.

Price

I paid about $7 for the Wildflower, It’s currently $11 which is overpriced. It fluctuates, I’ve seen it as low as $6, sometimes even as high as $12. The Clover comes in a 16oz, no 32oz option ( also odd ) for $7.

Unstable pricing isn’t very trustworthy in my opinion.

One review said that the Clover tasted better than the Wildflower.
Yet another stated that the Clover tasted like the Wildflower.

I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s the same thing with different labels.

I reached out to Amazon customer support about their Happy Belly brand, but I was referred to product returns. It’s really hard to find any real proof of this Honey’s source or claims.

If You’re Desperate

I did discover that people who make mead prefer this Honey as it’s cheap in bulk and readily available with prime and they aren’t worried about using a budget honey with their recipe. They come in squeeze bottles, but you take the risk of Amazon packing this in an empty box and them breaking.

Try These Instead

Organic Great Value Raw Honey – Walmart, better choice.

Kirkland Texas Raw Unfiltered Honey – If you’re able to shop at Costco.

Happy Belly Wildflower Honey Review
The Honey Reviewer
Honey
Flavor
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Review Summary
I’d rather get the Kirkland Signature Honey for a bulk Honey because you get more for about the same price. Happy Belly Wildflower Honey can be used as a sugar substitute or even in mead recipes.

On it’s own it offers nothing unique, and there is no proof or details on the processing of Happy Belly’s Honey.

This falls under Honey Packer commercial Honey, and it’s the only time I’d condone killing the Honey by heating it with Hot Tea or Baking with it.

Maybe experiment with some Hot Honey with this, or try infusing some Herbs and give them as gifts.

It’s unlikely I’ll ever purchase this Honey again. I didn’t like the consistency. I found it was tacky and gummy. The Honey was overly sweet and didn’t smell like anything. I can typically always smell the wood in Honey. You won’t find that here.

I don’t really trust Amazon to handle honey efficiently and it shows in other reviews as well. I’m not a fan of the inconsistent pricing or the lack of varietal honey. Plus its the most basic two.

Look, everyone does Wildflower and Clover, it’s just a simple way of saying it’s Polyfloral Honey.

Which essentially means totally random or whatever the bees could forage Honey.

Also don’t feed your Bees Bezos Honey!
1.5
July 29, 2022
Tree Hive Maple Syrup Honey Review
Tree Hive Maple Syrup Honey is a delicious blend of pure Vermont maple syrup, Texas honey, Madagascar bourbon vanilla and cinnamon. Tree Hive is handcrafted in Austin, Texas. Spoiler: It’s one of my favorite Honey products I’ve ever tasted.

This is my review and thoughts of their Maple Syrup + Honey below.
- Honey – Maple Syrup and Infused Honey from Austin, Texas.
- Color – Rich Maple and Cinnamon tones.
- Aroma – Maple and rich Madagascar vanilla and bourbon
- Flavor – Simple and decadent. Maple, Bourbon and Vanilla with subtle Cinnamon.
- Texture – Silky and Smooth. No Crystallization or separation. Chill if you’d rather have a thicker texture.
About Tree Hive

Honey and Maple Syrup together in one Bottle. Tree Hive was started by Mary Claire and her Husband Eric, in Austin, Texas in 2013. It was a morning ritual with their family to have breakfast, and often they’d mix syrup and honey together. The end result was Tree Hive Syrup + Honey.

I love that they include an address on the side label with a contact email. Always a good sign!

I came across Tree Hive Maple Syrup Honey by chance at Walmart in East Austin, Texas. This was one of those hidden treasures you’d find by accident.

Price

It cost me just under $9 for a 17.5 oz bottle.

Nostalgia Every Day

I spent several years growing up in Vermont. I’ve always loved maple flavors. Maple is probably my favorite doughnut flavor with a heavy sprinkle of Bacon on top.

Honestly, I wasn’t even that crazy about doughnuts until I had a Maple Bacon after my Hospital recovery.

Apparently, I am a lover of saps and nectars. In time, I came to discover that I really love Honey as well.

A bottle of Tree Hive Maple Syrup Honey is still in rotation at our house. We always keep a bottle in stock. It’s a favorite with Coffee, Hashbrowns or Oatmeal. It’s super light, and has perfect sweetness and consistency. This is such a balanced mix and there isn’t a week we don’t crack open the bottle.

A Tale of Two Sweeties

Tree Hive Maple Syrup + Honey is a unique product that combines the sweetness of maple syrup with the health benefits of honey. We make Maple syrup by harvesting sap from maple trees and then boiling it down to concentrate the sugars.

Next, they add our beloved Honey to the syrup, which helps to preserve the natural vitamins and minerals.

The final result is a delicious, all-natural sweetener that can be used in a variety of ways.

Tree Hive Maple Syrup + Honey can be used to sweeten coffee or tea, drizzled over pancakes or waffles, or even used as a marinade for meats or vegetables.

It’s such a versatile product that can help add a touch of sweetness to any dish. Plus, it’s a great way to support local beekeepers and maple producers. If you purchase Tree Hive Maple Syrup + Honey, you’re getting a delicious product that also helps to support sustainable agriculture.

Tree Hive has great customer service and social media presence.

They even shouted out this review! The owner Eric is really nice and appreciated my input.

Breakfast is love

They have a Pancake and Waffle mix out as well. I highly recommend them if you’re a big breakfast person, Coffee and Tea drinker. Check out Zest Tea if you need a good boost in the morning. They’re my favorite Tea Company.

Tree Hive Maple Syrup Honey is a delightful blend of honey from Texas and pure Vermont maple syrup that is sure to please everyone at the table. Eric and Mary recommended Parker’s R e al Maple Butter too as you explore recipes! Sounds like both of these would go great in my Homemade Bread.

Try it on pancakes, in tea or coffee, or even on oatmeal or Cheerios. You can use this syrup as a great sugar substitute for baking, thanks to its naturally complex sweet flavor. You’ll find Tree Hive Maple Syrup and Honey at Walmart, Whole Foods Market, H-E-B, Gelson’s, Central Market, Erewhon, Natural Grocers, Con’ Olio, and more.

You can head over to Tree Hives website which also has a direct to customer shop. Check it out HERE.

Tree Hive Maple Syrup Honey Review
The Honey Review
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Final Thoughts
You can find so many good uses for Tree Hive Syrup. Whether it’s baking, breakfast, or a touch of sweet to your favorite meat marinade. They have a simple refined product and it’s a pretty reasonable price, considering how expensive Honey and Maple Syrup can be on their own. Nothing is imported, they use the best maple in the world (in my biased opinion) from Vermont and real Texas Honey.

Tree Hive’s Syrup also contains less sugar since they substituted Honey into the mix. Surprisingly you’d find this less sweet than Log Cabin or Aunt Jemima. That’s where the Vanilla comes in. I can’t rave about this product enough. It’s incredibly well balanced. I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of it. I would buy bourbon barrels of this stuff if I could.
4.8
June 22, 2022
Green Bee Honey Soda Review | Lemon Sting
Summertime is the perfect time of year for enjoying cold, refreshing lemonade. But this summer, why not try something new like this Green Bee Lemon Sting Honey Soda. Made with sweet honey and fresh lemons, this unique drink is perfect for quenching your thirst on a hot day.

Skip the Sodas that leave you feeling dehydrated and give Green Bee Lemon Sting Honey Soda a try. If you’re curious about other refreshing Honey products check out Zest Tea, Torie and Howards Hard Candy and more.
- Honey: Smooth, lovely citrus and lemon, honey forward
- Flavor: Honey forward with Lemon that sits on the tip of your tongue.
- Aroma: Fresh Rosemary, Fresh Peeled Lemon
- Color: Light Pale Yellow, Gets darker towards bottom of glass
- Texture: Carbonated, light and subtle bits of sediment on the bottom of glass.
“Our vision for the future is sustainable growth that allows us to share our
natural, healthier, bee-friendly soda with everyone. ”
-Chris Kinkade, Green Bee Founder

I found Green Bee Honey Soda at the local Rhino market here in NoDa within the city of Charlotte, NC. Rhino market carries lots of local products like beer, coffee, snacks and made to order sandwiches. They have fantastic management that will order new products like Green Bee Honey Soda for customers to try out.

Rhino Market & Deli off N. Davidson, Charlotte, NC

Okay, so let me tell you, the Honey Soda was so good, I asked the manager to order some more. She was excited that I liked it and the staff chimed in and said they really liked it too.

So, today I walked in and noticed the shipment had already arrived and with a new flavor as well.

Green Bee Lemon Sting Honey Soda Lemon Juice with Honey & Rosemary

Lemon Sting was Green Bees’ first flavor and it started right in the Owner Chris’s Kitchen. He decided to utilize Honey from his hives and mix it with juice and herbs and his kids loved it. Once they kept asking about it, he decided to create Green Bee.

They opened up a manufacturing facility in Brunswick, Maine and I’ve been lucky enough to try it here in North Carolina. It should be available in more areas throughout the mid-Atlantic region since their expansion in 2020.

Flavors Available:

Ginger, Wild Blueberry and Lemon Sparkling Waters.

Also, Lemon Sting, Ginger Buzz, Green Tea, Honeycomb Cider and Blueberry Dream Honey Sodas. I can’t wait to try their other flavors and products. They even have some fun collaborations they released and you can reach out with your beverage idea and email them here: info@drinkgreenbee.com

Price

You can order them online for $2.59 per Honey Soda or buy a dozen for $2.45 each. I found them at my local neighborhood market for $2.50. If you want a sample, order the case with one of each flavor for $12.89 directly from Green Bees via WellBees.

Just Four Ingredients

Carbonated Water, Honey, Lemon Juice and Rosemary. For a simple beverage, they list simple ingredients. That reflects in the taste. It’s real, and taste Homemade. Only 110 calories per bottle and I don’t feel bad about the 26g of Sugar because it’s from Honey and Lemon Juice. Not HFCS.

Perfect For Summer

Green Bee Honey Sodas are a real treat with temperatures hitting upwards of 100 this season. The cool refreshing taste of honey and lemon in a smooth, cool carbonated beverage has been perfect for sitting out on the patio. I cut back on Soda consumption years ago and now I tend to stick to seltzers if I want something carbonated and fruity. I had never even heard of Honey Soda until I found Green Bees and I’m so glad I did. Each flavor I’ve tried has been really delicious. My favorite so far being the Honeycomb Cider.

Green Bee Honey Soda Review
The Honey Review
Honey
Color
Aroma
Flavor
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Final Thoughts
Honestly, I’m crazy about these Honey Soda’s. I’ll likely treat myself to this quite a few more times and I will definitely be ordering the 12 pack Sampler. What a unique product. And I love the fact it started with his kids, for his kids, from his bees to a bottle. Some may wish there was more fruit flavor to these.

Remember that these are Honey Sodas, not fruit soda with Honey so, they are all Honey forward. It will be the first thing you taste. I love it. The ending notes are where you’ll find lemon and subtle rosemary.

It could be stronger on the lemon side, but that’s just personal preference. I’ll eat a lemon plain. $2.50 may get you an entire 2 liter of Minute Maid Lemonade, or Sprite. But they have nothing to do with bees, they are mostly sugar syrup and loaded with artificial flavors.

Everything about Green Bees Honey Soda is true to source and you’ll definitely be able to taste it. Don’t forget to slow roll the bottles to free up any sediment that has settled on the bottom. This is absolutely one of my favorite products so far this year. Don’t miss out on this one!
4.3
June 19, 2022