Planet Honey
Planet Honey: the world's honeys, region by region
Every landscape on Earth tastes different through its honey. Here is a tour of the great honeys of each continent, who produces the most, and how honey moves around the world.
Updated 2026-11-10 · Fact-checked against the sources listed at the end.
A world tour of honey
North America
| Honey | Where | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Tupelo | Florida & Georgia, USA | Buttery, slow to crystallize |
| Orange blossom | Florida, California, Texas | Fresh and citrusy |
| Sourwood | Appalachian USA | Caramel and anise |
| Clover & alfalfa | U.S. Plains, Canada | Mild table honeys |
| Buckwheat | New York, Canada | Dark and malty |
| Melipona honey | Yucatán, Mexico | From stingless bees; runny and tangy |
Central & South America
| Honey | Where | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Ulmo | Chile | Floral, creamy |
| Eucalyptus & wildflower | Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay | Big exporters of everyday honey |
Europe
| Honey | Where | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Acacia | Hungary, Romania | Clear and very mild |
| Thyme | Greece | Intense, herbal |
| Pine (honeydew) | Greece, Turkey | Mineral, less sweet |
| Chestnut | Italy, France | Bitter-edged, bold |
| Heather | Scotland | Jelly-like, aromatic |
| Lavender | Provence, France | Floral |
Africa & Middle East
| Honey | Where | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Sidr | Yemen | Prized, very expensive |
| Ethiopian white honey | Ethiopia | Africa's largest honey producer |
| Wildflower & forest | East Africa | Often from traditional log hives |
Asia
| Honey | Where | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Longan & lychee | Southeast Asia, China | Fruity |
| Giant honey bee (wild-harvested) | South & Southeast Asia | Hunted from cliff and tree combs |
| Linden | Northeast China, Russia | Light, minty |
Oceania
| Honey | Where | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Manuka | New Zealand, Australia | Graded by MGO/UMF |
| Leatherwood | Tasmania | Spicy, distinctive |
| Rewarewa & kanuka | New Zealand | Malty, rich |
Who makes the most honey
China is by far the world's largest honey producer, and other major producers include Turkey, Iran, India, Argentina, Ukraine, Russia, Mexico, Brazil, Ethiopia and the United States, according to UN Food and Agriculture Organization data. Rankings shift year to year with weather and markets. Worldwide there are more than 100 million managed beehives.
The United States imports most of the honey it eats. That's one reason honey authenticity testing and country-of-origin labels matter so much. How to avoid fake honey →
Honey terroir
Like wine, honey reflects its place: the plants, soil, climate and season. Two jars of "wildflower" honey from different valleys can taste completely different, and the same hive gives different honey in spring and fall. Experts identify a honey's flower source by studying the pollen in it under a microscope, a science called melissopalynology, along with its chemistry and taste.
Honey traditions around the world
- Honey hunting: in Nepal and India, honey hunters still climb cliffs to harvest combs of giant honey bees.
- Honeyguides: in parts of Africa, people work with a wild bird, the greater honeyguide, which leads them to bee nests; in return the bird eats the leftover wax. Scientists have confirmed the birds respond to specific human calls.
- Tej: Ethiopia's traditional honey wine. More honey drinks →
- Rosh Hashanah: apples dipped in honey for a sweet new year.
- Maya stingless beekeeping: the Maya have kept Melipona bees in log hives for centuries.
Frequently asked questions
Which country produces the most honey?
China is the world's largest honey producer by a wide margin, according to UN Food and Agriculture Organization data.
What is the rarest honey?
Rare honeys include Yemeni sidr, cliff honey from giant honey bees in the Himalayas, and honeys from single short-blooming plants. Rarity and price vary with each year's harvest.
Sources
- UN Food and Agriculture Organization, FAOSTAT livestock primary data: honey production and beehives
- National Honey Board, varietal honey guide
- Spottiswoode, C. N. et al. (2016), reciprocal signaling between humans and honeyguides, Science
- International Honey Commission, melissopalynology methods