Introduction to the main varieties of Brazilian honey

According to a report from G1, in supermarkets, the common types of honey are few, usually produced by Africanized honey bees (stinging bees). In many cases, the labels do not even indicate the flower source of the honey—meaning the product is a mixed honey, made from a blend of different honeys. However, the honey produced in Brazil has a vast diversity. The honey varies in color, texture, and taste—from the sweetest to the sourest. The most peculiar examples include bracatinga honey, which is not derived from flowers but from a sugary substance secreted by insects (scale insects); and borá honey, made by stingless bees, with a mild taste and a slight salty flavor reminiscent of cheese. Like borá honey, other stingless native honeys—such as jataí and mandaçaia—are rare and therefore more expensive: according to researcher Fábia Mello from the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), the price can reach up to 600 reais per liter. Africanized honey bees are the most ...