Dark amber

Definition

Brown to near-black honey, higher in minerals and phenolic compounds and correspondingly strong, savoury or bitter. Includes buckwheat, chestnut and most honeydews. Darker honeys measure higher in antioxidant activity in the laboratory, which has not been shown to translate into a health benefit.

Honey records that discuss this

• Chestnut honeyAromatic, woody and unmistakably bitter — sweetness first, tannin second, and a long dry finish.
• Banksia honeyStrong, malty and savoury with a burnt-caramel depth and a distinctly salty-mineral edge.
• Chinese jujube honeyRich and dark with dried dates and burnt caramel, and a genuine bitterness on the finish that sets it apart from its Middle Eastern relatives.