Honey Earns “Flavor of the Year” Award

Honey was named Flavor of the Year by Firmenich, the world’s largest privately owned fragrance and flavor company, and is being recognized for its unique flavor and its versatility as an ingredient. In honor of National Honey Month, the National Honey Board (NHB) continues to bear the good news and raise awareness about honey and its many culinary uses.

Firmenich chose honey for this award because it believes honey has the potential of becoming a “classic” flavor. Honey may well be on its way to joining the likes of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry in this prestigious category, and consumers seem to agree. 

According to a recent Consumer Sweetener Usage & Attitudes Study Report fielded by the NHB, six out of 10 consumers agreed that foods sweetened with honey taste better than foods made with other sweeteners. In addition, 46 percent of total consumers say they have used honey in the past month, adding to the continued growth and demand of honey on menus and in households.

“We are thrilled to be named Flavor of the Year for 2015. We have seen honey grow exponentially in its use with chefs, manufacturers and consumers over the last few years, especially with yogurt, craft beers and baked goods,” explained Catherine Barry, NHB director of marketing. “With consumers’ preferences leaning toward artisanal, natural and clean-label ingredients, we believe consumers are realizing the potential of honey as a premier ingredient in foods and beverages.”

Product developers and chefs have discovered how versatile honey is and have included it in combinations with many different flavor profiles. From craft beers, cocktails and functional beverages to baked goods and snack bars, among others, Firmenich took notice that honey is becoming a sought-after flavor option.

“Product developers are realizing what a fantastic and versatile flavor honey is in regards to combining it with other tonalities, making honey an easy choice for Flavor of the Year,” said Patrick Salord, senior flavorist at Firmenich.

“Crafted from the nectar of flowering plants, honey’s unique flavor profile is unlike any other,” shared the experts at Firmenich when making the announcement. With more than 300 varietals in the United States, ranging in flavor and appearance, this iconic sweetener pleases all taste preferences. Honey can range from lighter colored honeys, which are milder in flavor, to darker honeys that tend to be more robust, making it easy to choose the right kind of honey for a recipe.

Beyond taste, honey has a multitude of functional benefits for both cooking and baking. Honey attracts and holds moisture, enhancing freshness and shelf life, and it acts as a binder and thickener for sauces, dressings and marinades. Honey adds a rich golden or amber touch to finished recipes, can be used as a substitution for granulated sweeteners, or can serve as a simple syrup in cocktails or beverages.

The NHB is an industry-funded agriculture promotion group that works to educate consumers about the benefits and uses for honey and honey products through research, marketing and promotional programs.