Granular honey is ground dried honey. It has a crunchy texture and lacks the viscosity and stickiness of raw honey. You can use honey in this form to add a sweet flavor to barbecued meats, hot beverages, and chili powder-honey rubs.
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What is granular (granulated) honey?
Granular honey is liquid honey dried and ground into coarse grains or crystals.
Also called granulated honey or honey granules, the rare product is obtained when honey is dried in a microwave, drum roller, freeze dryer, food dehydrator, or vacuum dryer. The dried honey is then ground into coarse grains.
| Origin | Common in Moroccan, Asian, Greek, Turkish, Chinese, Middle Eastern, and American cuisine |
| Appearance | Lighter than liquid honey |
| Flavor profile | Can be sweeter than regular honey |
Origin
People have been using liquid honey as a culinary ingredient for ages. History indicates honey has been in use since 2100 BC.
The idea of drying liquid honey is more recent, and it has made it possible to have honey in different forms. You can now use granulated honey, powdered honey, honey flakes, or honey sheets.
Granulated honey is common in Moroccan, Asian, Greek, Turkish, Chinese, Middle Eastern, and American cuisine.
Appearance
Granular honey has a lighter color than liquid honey. It’s usually cream to pale yellow, depending on how much heat was used to dry it and how long it was exposed.
It has a crunchy texture and is rough on the tongue. The stickiness of raw honey is absent, making the product easier to handle.
The honey is usually packed in clear glass or plastic jars with tight-fitting lids to prevent it from reverting to a liquid state since honey is hygroscopic.
Flavor profile
Granular honey has the same sweet honey flavor as raw or liquid honey. It retains the floral hints of raw honey but develops hints of nuttiness because of the heat treatment.
You’ll find granular honey sweeter than unfiltered or unprocessed honey. Drying fresh honey makes its natural sugars more concentrated. Commercially prepared honey granules usually have artificial sweeteners.
Nutritional Benefits of granular honey
Granular honey offers the same health benefits as raw honey. It contains:
- Enzymes
- Amino acids
- Healthy sugars
- Potassium
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Calcium
- Vitamins A, B, C, D, and E
The antioxidants in honey, such as phenolic compounds, may help reduce oxidative stress and free radicals.
Honey has anti-inflammatory properties and may help with gastroprotection against gastric ulcers. It may decrease ulcers and protect the mucus of the lesions from further disintegration.
Taking granular honey can also help manage upper respiratory tract infections and the sleep problems associated with the infections. For example, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization recommend honey as a natural remedy for coughs in children.
Is granulated honey real honey?
Granulated honey is real honey, especially if it’s homemade.
Making honey granules at home gives you more control over the ingredients and quality. Simply dry all-natural honey in a food dehydrator or microwave, cool it and grind it into coarse grains in a food processor.
Store-bought granular honey has additives like gums, anti-caking agents, sweeteners, and filler materials like lecithin, wheat starch, soy flour, and bran.
Some versions may be a mixture of roughly 93% cane sugar and only 7% pure honey.
Granulated honey vs. honey powder
| Granulated honey | Coarse honey crystals, shelf life of 3 years |
| Honey powder | Finer, like flour, shelf life of 1-2 years |
Both granulated honey and honey powder are dried and ground versions of liquid honey. While granulated honey is ground into coarse honey crystals, honey powder is finer, like flour. Both versions are packed in clear, airtight glass or plastic containers and kept in a cool, dark, and dry place.
The shelf life of high-quality commercial granulated honey is usually 3 years, while the powdered version lasts 1-2 years. (It’s easier for the honey powder to absorb atmospheric moisture and turn into liquid honey.)
The sweetness levels of both granulated honey and honey powder should be similar since they are both dry. However, store-bought versions may have varying degrees of sweetness depending on the added sugars and filler materials.
Both honey powder and granular honey are rare. You can find these great products via Amazon and other web-based spice retailers. The honey powder is easier to find because it’s easier to produce.
Granulated honey vs. crystallized honey
Granulated honey shouldn’t be confused with crystallized honey. While the former comes from dried honey, the latter happens through natural granulation — a hallmark quality of great honey. Crystallized honey is thick and grainy. Its crystals are small and smooth, almost “sandy.”
10 granulated honey recipe ideas
You can use granulated honey in most recipes that call for dried honey. It works great in sweet-heat BBQ chicken, fish, and pork blends. These blends are a mixture of honey granules for the sweet flavor and chili powder for the heat.
Here are 10 recipe ideas you can try with this natural sweetener: