Does vegan honey exist?

Why honey is not vegan?

Honey is made by worker bees which collect nectar from flowers, and on the way back to their hives and digest it and then regurgitate it sealing it into beeswax honeycomb. They do it to store the food for winter. When humans take the honey they are taking food the bee colonies would otherwise use through the colder months, thusly affecting their overall life-existence.

Many of you are probably wondering: how can I replace honey when following a plant-based diet?

Well, it used to be challenge in the past, but these days you can easily find honey substitutes when following a plant-based diet. You can replace honey with a number of plant-based syrups, sweeteners, and molasses and even proper vegan versions of honey that mimic its flavour and properties.

We've listed several plant-based options can replace honey offer the looks and feels like honey.

What are the most popular vegan honey alternatives?

1. Bee-free honey.

Vegan Honea is a bee-free vegan honey alternative that offers a fresh yet decadent flavour of the southern Mediterranean. Produced locally and ethically in the UK, the product is available in different flavours just like the real honey, from dark and amber to light. This honey alternative has an aromatic profile with a natural honey-like flavour offering refreshing aftertaste. Available in four flavours: Original, Orange Blossom, Rose and Lavender.

Vegan Hunny - vegan honey-substitute. A delicious alternative to honey for those who do not like the idea of exploiting bees. The “regular” hunny is intended to be a direct honey substitute whether that be in baking, in your morning coffee, or other hot drinks, or drizzled on some cookies.

Honey Alternative by Cocofina - Organic Coconut Nectar is a plant-based sweetener with a huge variety of uses including cooking, baking, decorating, and adding to warm drinks. Packed full of nutrients, low GI and tastes delicious. Best of all, it releases energy slowly, saving you from the dreaded mid-day slump.

2. Agave.

Whenever you might have once used sugar or honey, you can now use agave. Agave is an organic sugar and honey replacer, extracted from the blue agave plant of Mexico. Known by the Aztecs as 'nectar of the gods' is high in fructose and a bit runnier than honey. Available in different versions and mild flavours, from light to dark, this palm oil free and fat free sweetener is for hot or cold foods and drinks. It is ideal as an all purpose sweetener, great for cereals, toasts, tea, coffee and vegan baking recipes. As is it has a mild sweet taste it can enhance other flavours, not mask them. Plus, it has 25% less calories gram for gram than refined sugar and is one and a half times sweeter. With its naturally low GI it provides a slow and steady energy release, as opposed to refined sugars which can cause frantic highs and exhausting lows. Try these products and pick your favourite:

The Groovy Food Company - Light Amber & Mild Agave Nectar 

The Groovy Food Company - Rich & Dark Agave Nectar

Geo Organics - Organic Light Agave Sweetening Syrup

3. Maple syrup.

Maple syrup is made from the sap of the maple tree. It is a natural and great tasting honey replacement. It is rich in several vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Maple syrup provides more essential nutrients such as calcium, potassium, zinc, manganese and riboflavin (vitamin B2).  It can be used for tea, it is perfect as a topping for your vegan treats, or in your vegan recipes.

We recommend St Lawrence Gold - Pure Organic Maple Syrup Grade A Amber. It is pure maple syrup - a healthy organic alternative to honey. The product is low in fat, sugars, and salt, palm oil-free and GMO-free. Perfect as a delicious sweetener for all your vegan kitchen creations.

4. Blackstrap molasses.

Molasses is a natural by-product of the cane sugar refining process.  It's a thick, dark-brown liquid that remains from boiling sugar cane juice three times. All the nutrients from the sugar and its residue are extracted, leaving you with a rich, sweet molasses. It has a lower sugar content than any other sugar cane product and contains essential vitamins and minerals just like real honey. It is also rich in iron, calcium and potassium. This unrefined syrup sweetener is perfect for vegan baking, morning vegan porridge and more many savoury vegan recipes. Check this product: Biona - Organic Blackstrap Molasses.

5. Natural fruit syrups

These sweeteners made from apples, dates, just offer fruit sweetness and can be a good source of fibres. They can be flavoured or neutral and perfect for all your sweetening and baking needs. Syrups are a great honey and sugar alternative with less calories.

Sweet Freedom is a UK brand offering a wide range of syrups that a healthier than refined sugar. These syrups are produced from fruits, without using chemical processing, contains no preservatives and GMOs. You will find them here (click on the link). The Light Syrup is neutral and can be used in hot drinks, sweet and savoury vegan dishes while the Golden Syrup is the Great Taste Award winner for 2019 and is perfect for drizzling over your porridge or pancakes.

Just remember all of these honey substitutes are still sweeteners ands contains sugars (lower but still) they should be used in moderations.