How many types of honey are there and how to identify the best ones?

From the eyes of Victor Hugo, Life is like a flower in which love is the honey. In the Bible, honey, along with milk, is a metaphor for happiness and abundance. I would say it is a sign of joy, even tenderness. Bees provide it to us through the playful act of pecking at the nectar of flowers, which they call food. That golden liquid, which transforms from bee to bee, is a treasure for humans. Last week I visited Mercado el 100. On a small shelf, dozens of little jars displayed various labels. They were honeys, and each one had its own name. Do so many exist? I asked Victor Manuel Iglecias, who, along with his wife, Rocío Zelaya, leads the Peregrinas project. According to the US National Library of Medicine, there are three hundred twenty types, but Victor informed me that they currently manage fourteen. What is multifloral or monofloral honey?Victor and Rocío explained to me that the variations between bee species do not imply a different type of honey. The variations relate to the flowers and the seasons in which those flowers emerge from the ground. Hence, honeys carry the surname of the nectar if they are monofloral or are multifloral when coming from an unspecified variety. For Rocío, this last category raises suspicions: People who mention multifloral honey or jungle or forest honey do so because they do not know which flowering they belong to; they are not beekeepers, unlike her, who graduated from the Universidad Autónoma Chapingo with a degree in Agroecology.Currently, their project raises seven hundred hives that feed on fourteen flowerings throughout the year in different regions – hence their brand is called Peregrinas – from March to April, in orange flowerings; from May to July, in flowerings from the coffee-growing area; and from September to November, in those of mozote that grow between pine forests and corn crops.When referring to flowers, the names of the honeys are infinite. There are honeys from rosemary, orange blossom, eucalyptus, acacia, and tajonal. At Peregrinas, they even have one from the avocado flower, from oak, and of course, the melipona, which has multiple therapeutic properties; it is mainly used to slow the growth of cataracts in the eyes and as an aid to combat infections in the respiratory system. It is also a more watery honey than the rest and leaves citrus and deeply sweet flavors in the mouth. Rocío even claims it is fortunate that it is in vogue because until recently, the melipona bee was endangered. Main differences between honeysThe sensory difference comes from the flower. In some honeys, fruity, herbal, citrus, or floral notes will stand out more. There are also differences in quality. Rocío states that it is the moisture that determines this. This is reflected in the consistency. It changes according to the type of crystallization. And that is why there are honeys with textures ideal for every culinary need. There are those that crystallize smoothly, almost like butter, such as those from mozote and cha-chan. Others crystallize almost solidly, like those from mesquite. Some do not crystallize easily, such as orange blossom or melipona, which, due to having more moisture, are quite liquid and perfect for incorporating into beverages. What is honey used for in the diet?When it comes to the benefits of consuming it, there is no doubt: honey has a high nutritional value. It is proven to be rich in antioxidants, reduces metabolic stress, promotes sleep recovery, minimizes allergies, helps treat wounds and bruises, and stimulates the immune system. To maximize the benefits of honey, one must ensure that what we have in front of us is 100% natural, from beekeepers like Rocío Zelaya. Some of the products sold in supermarkets may be diluted or added with sugar and chemicals that transform what nature has already done perfectly. Respecting both honey and bees is part of the global agenda in ecology and sustainability forums. Their presence on earth ensures more than the continuity of a cake recipe: their survival ensures the prevalence of humanity. Honey and, consequently, bees are synonymous with life. No wonder honey resembles love: it is sweet, good for the body, and without it, life withers.