What is Purple Honey and how does this rare honey get the unique colour

According to Ayurveda, honey, as the nature’s nectar is known for its many health benefits and has both internal and external uses. This orange-to-dark brown liquid is extremely effective for throat congestion, thirst, phlegm, hiccups, asthma, diarrhea, wound healing, and other ailments. While we know about regular honey, have you ever heard of purple honey? Well, North Carolina took the limelight for a jar of purple honey in February 2023. Scroll down to read the details. (Image: Instagram: officialmbf)

A picture of the unique nectar was shared on Twitter now X, and the dark purple liquid in a glass jar grabbed all the eyeballs. If we go by social media reports, it was an exclusive discovery from the Sandhills of North Carolina, where bees create it. "In the Sandhills of North Carolina, bees produce purple honey. "It is the only place on Earth where it is found," read the caption of the photo. The tweet was posted by the handle @jimrosecircus1. After the tweet went viral, the state’s Department of Natural and Cultural Resources commented that the delicacy continues to intrigue beekeepers and scientists alike.

According to a BBC report, till date no body has been able to crack the reason what causes purple honey. As per experts, there are speculations that the alkalinity of the soil changing the honey's colour as it does hydrangeas from blue to pink; that it's wild berries surrounding the bee's territory; and, the one that sparks the most vociferous debate among locals, that it's the deep violet flower of the invasive (and wildly reviled) kudzu vine. And as per some other experts, the colour is the result of bees feeding on aluminum-rich nectar or sourwood plants, while others believe that it comes from kudzu or southern leatherwood flowers. (Image: Instagram/saifuddinekram)

The same BBC report also states that for sellers it is impossible to pre-sale this rare honey, as no one knows how much, or even if, the bees will deign to colour the combs in plum or in the customary amber. (Image: Instagram/mr.unique.sam)

If we talk about the regular varieties of honey availbale in the Indian market, it includes clover, buckwheat, acacia , manuka, wildflower, alfalfa,Eucalyptus, sage, lavender, rosemary, jamu, sourwood, linden , blueberry, and avocado. Have you tried any of these? (Image: Instagram/will_a_bee_market)