Lavender Honey

Lavender honey is the emblematic honey of Provence. Harvested in high summer, when the fields of lavender and lavandin colour the plateaux of upper Provence, it is prized the world over for its gentleness, its delicate floral fragrance and its fine texture. Ours is an authentic lavender honey harvested in Provence: gathered locally, unpasteurised, with no blending and no imported honey.

The signature honey of Provence

Lavender flowers from mid-June to early August. The hives are placed as close as possible to the flowering fields, and the honey supers are taken off as soon as the honey flow ends, to guarantee a monofloral honey with its characteristic fragrance. It is this closeness between hive and flower that gives lavender honey its incomparable aroma, and explains why a genuine one is so hard to find in supermarkets. Our article Lavender honey in Provence: where to find the best harvests? tells you all about the lavender terroirs.

Colour, texture and flavour

Lavender honey is pale, golden blond in colour, turning ivory as it crystallises. Its natural crystallisation is fine and quick, which gives it that creamy texture so pleasant to spread. On the palate it is gentle, rounded and very floral, with fruity notes and a hint of elegant acidity. It is the perfect honey for discovering terroir honeys: everyone loves it, from children to the most discerning palates.

The benefits of lavender honey

Lavender is known for its calming properties, and in Provençal tradition its honey inherits them:

• soothing the throat: along with thyme honey, it is one of the honeys recommended for a cough or irritation;
• encouraging relaxation: a spoonful in an evening herbal tea is the Provençal ritual par excellence;
• caring for the skin: lavender honey is traditionally used to soothe minor burns and in homemade cosmetics.

We go into all of this in our article on the benefits of lavender honey.

How to enjoy it

On fresh bread, in a yoghurt or fromage blanc, to sweeten an infusion, or in cooking: lavender honey lifts a panna cotta, a warm goat’s cheese or roast poultry. Find our ideas in the Recipes section.

Why choose our lavender honey?

Because it is harvested in Provence and jarred without pasteurisation: a raw honey that keeps its aromas, its enzymes and its pollen. No blending of honeys from various origins, no heating: simply the work of the bees and of the beekeeper. See also all our honeys harvested in Provence.

Storage

Keep your jar at room temperature, away from light. The creamy crystallisation of lavender honey is natural and part of its charm; a gentle bain-marie (below 40 °C) will make it liquid again if needed. More details in our article does honey go off?

Further reading

Why our honeys are never pasteurised, where exactly they come from (the honey terroirs of Provence), and which honey to give to whom.

Frequently asked questions

What does lavender honey taste like?

A gentle, very floral flavour, with fruity notes and a lovely roundness. It is a delicate honey, never harsh, that the whole family enjoys.

Is your lavender honey pure, and is it harvested in Provence?

Yes: it is harvested in Provence while the lavender is in flower, then jarred without blending and without pasteurisation. The fine, creamy crystallisation you see is the hallmark of an authentic, unheated lavender honey.

What is the difference between lavender honey and lavandin honey?

Lavandin is a hybrid of lavender, more productive and widely grown in Provence. The two honeys are similar; true lavender (lavande fine) honey is slightly more delicate and rarer. Provençal honey flows often combine both, as they grow side by side.

Is lavender honey suitable for children?

Its gentleness makes it one of children’s favourite honeys (from 1 year old, as with all honeys). Our article which honey to choose for children? will guide you.