The honey is a natural contact-antimicrobial, effectively reducing the number of certain bacteria it comes into direct contact with and preventing the spread of the infection. Like many other honey varieties, it too is recognized for its effectiveness in managing and helping treat respiratory tract infections, especially coughs and flu. Moreover, it has a tonic, energizing action thanks to its vitamin, mineral and other nutrient content and mild prebiotic effects due to its generous content of natural sugars. Taken on an empty stomach, ivy honey is believed to help calm digestive discomfort and support gastritis healing.
The common ivy produces nectar-rich, small, yellow-green, umbrella-like flowers. The nectar is particularly appealing to honey bees because it’s sweet and found in generous amounts and because it’s available from the end of summer till the end of autumn when other food sources for honey bees are scarce. It is not uncommon for ivy to have flowers during winter if it’s particularly warm. If the honey is left in the bee combs during winter, it will most likely crystallise, becoming difficult to remove. Even when harvested in time, it crystallises in as little as 2 weeks (it contains up to 80% glucose).
However, for us to enjoy its therapeutic benefits, ivy honey needs to be consumed raw, unheated and utterly unprocessed. Producers and some beekeepers are known to cream the honey to make it more convenient but pay attention to their methods. Heating at higher temperatures especially can take away all of its beneficial properties. Also, if you are allergic to either ivy pollen or bee enzymes (needed to make the flower nectar into honey), then you need to avoid ivy honey and, in the second case, all bee products, including bee bread, propolis, royal jelly etc.
What does ivy honey look like? The freshly harvested and not yet crystallized honey has a medium dark amber colour (a brownish yellow). As it granulates, it loses its vivid pigment and takes on a paler colour: a milky-yellow with beige-whitish undertones. The creamed varieties have a milky-yellow colour and a softer texture than the naturally-crystallized honey, which forms rougher crystals and is difficult to use as it is. Irish ivy honey is ivy honey produced in Ireland and has the same properties and health benefits as the ivy honey produced in other parts of the world.
What does ivy honey smell and taste like? Ivy honey is known to have a disagreeable taste and smell initially, but the strong flavour and scent usually fade in months, leaving behind a pleasant-tasting and smelling honey. The freshly harvested honey has a slight ivy-like smell, faintly acidic. The taste is also unpleasant initially, with a strong herbal flavour, almost like a bad-tasting medicine, but with a moderate taste intensity and persistent aftertaste.
What are the health benefits of ivy honey? This particular variety is highly regarded for its therapeutic action. It has been suggested that the honey gets its medicinal effects from the ivy plant, which is known to possess expectorant, cough-relieving and antimicrobial properties. Here are 7 great uses and benefits of ivy honey:
1) Natural antiseptic and antibacterial. Ivy honey prevents bacteria growth and actively reduces bacteria numbers, exercising a natural antimicrobial action. Such effects result from its hydrogen peroxide content, strong antibacterial, and acidic pH, which does not allow for bacteria growth and spread. Research is currently focusing on developing honey-based wound dressings that could significantly improve wound healing time.
Also, ivy honey generally contains 98% ivy pollen and pollen is known to have immunomodulating properties such as increasing white blood cell numbers for better immune system response. This is a characteristic of ivy honey that further adds to its antibacterial action, although, for those allergic to the pollen, it is more reason to avoid it.
2) Good for respiratory tract infections. Eating raw, unheated and unprocessed ivy and other types of honey can help improve symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections. The honey can be eaten or added to room-temperature tea (heat destroys its beneficial properties). It is important to let the honey exert its action, which is why it is recommended to avoid eating and drinking anything for at least an hour after taking it.
3) Calms cough and soothes a sore throat. Ivy honey can help calm a cough and soothe a sore throat. Its naturally thick texture, rich in natural sugars, forms a sort of protective coating over the throat lining, protecting the sensitive mucous membrane from further irritation and stopping the spread of the infection by reducing bacteria numbers. The variety may also have expectorant properties, especially when taken in tea with lemon juice, but it should be consumed raw for the best benefits. The expectorant properties of ivy honey are believed to be passed down from the plant itself, which is known to be the source of some very efficient cough syrups and other cold and flu medicines.
4) Source of vitamins and other nutrients. Like all kinds of honey, ivy contains small amounts of several essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, B vitamins, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc etc. It also contains other elements with nutritional value, such as pollen particles or propolis, but also antioxidants.
5) Tonic action fights fatigue and prevents hypoglycemia. The nutritional value and high sugar content of ivy honey make it a great natural tonic with energizing properties. The variety helps fight fatigue and low energy levels and prevents low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia). However, diabetics should talk to their doctor about whether or not honey is a good food for them.
6) Prebiotic effects. The natural sugars in ivy honey are food for the good bacteria in our intestinal tract, having prebiotic effects. By supporting a healthy gut flora, the honey contributes to better transit time and digestive health.
7) Soothing on the stomach. Ivy, like other kinds of honey, is soothing on the stomach, helping calm irritation of the stomach lining and possibly improving gastritis symptoms by encouraging healing. However, gastritis is a sensitive condition whose treatment relies heavily on a strict diet, and any other remedy falls second to eating right.
Conclusion
Like many varieties, ivy honey too is often at the whim of seasonal and climate factors and can become pricey. Moreover, its rather unpleasant taste and extremely quick crystallization time add to the difficulty of enjoying it. Nevertheless, raw honey remains a prized therapeutic food with some interesting medicinal uses, notably contributing to managing and treating respiratory infections and their symptoms, promoting digestive health and maintaining good energy levels.