For many people, honey sticks are a fun, tasty treat to have on hand for school lunches, get-togethers, and gifts. However, many people forget that these portable straws can do more than offer a natural sugar-boost in your daily routine. After all, honey is a very versatile ingredient that can be used in anything from soothing teas to healthy meals to homemade skincare products.
Historians have found that honey has been deeply ingrained in human culture for thousands of years. Whether for its sweetening properties or for medicinal use, the ancient Greeks and Egyptians started managing the production of honey as far back as 2400 B.C. They fully recognized the value of this sweet substance and organized early practices of beekeeping.
However, credit should be given where credit is due. While humans discovered the value of honey early on, honeybees have always been the masterminds of making this sweet nourishment. Honey is, after all, the sustenance that keeps bees alive. It’s made from the nectar of flowers, mixed with enzymes and thickened by evaporation. Bees store this nutritious substance in their honeycombs so that it remains fresh for the winter months.
Honey is made up of water, protein, minerals, and sugar. It has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antibacterial properties that make it appropriate for topical use as well as for consumption. Filled with antioxidants and exposed to pollen, all-natural honey is also routinely used to minimize allergy symptoms. So, while you can use your honey sticks for tea or enjoy them as a snack on their own, there are so many different ways to enjoy these portable straws.
Honey Sticks for Food
If you want to add a depth of flavor to your meals, consider using your honey sticks as a condiment. Try adding this ingredient to vanilla yogurt, fruit, and granola for a delicious homemade parfait or creating a sweet and savory avocado toast with fresh-cut tomatoes and a light drizzle of all-natural honey. For more adventurous eaters, you can experiment with different flavored honey sticks like cinnamon, orange, sour lemon, and peppermint to satisfy a more diverse palate. Honey sticks can also be used as a sugar substitute in deserts or to complement acidic balsamic dressings and marinades.
Honey Sticks for Beauty
Many people don’t realize that honey can also be used as an ingredient in homemade beauty products. For a moisturizing hair mask, try mixing egg, coconut oil, and honey. If you want an all-natural face mask to brighten and cleanse your skin, you can combine avocado, honey, and lemon. Honey is known for its antibacterial properties as well as its ability to smoothen and soften hair and skin. It’s the reason you see so many honey-based beauty products like chapsticks and lotions on the market!
Honey Sticks for Health
Tea and honey is one of the first remedies that people think of when they’re not feeling well—and for good reason! Honey can relieve sore throats and minimize coughing symptoms as well as help fight bacteria. If you’re ever feeling nauseous, you might try some honey in a ginger tea to soothe your belly. Honey has many medicinal uses. There is also something to be said about its ability to lift our spirits with its sweet, comforting flavor. Even when the honey itself is not doing all the work, it’s certainly making us feel better from the inside out.
Honey can be enjoyed in so many ways and, with all-natural honey sticks, you can conveniently carry and store this delicious treat wherever you go!