Plus Answers to all Your Honeycomb Questions
When people ask if honeycomb is edible, it’s often the wax they’re concerned with. We know honey is edible. But is honeycomb edible? The answer is also yes. Honeycomb is nature’s great delicacy. It is perfectly safe (and delicious) to consume both the honey and the waxy hexagonal containers of the comb. In fact, the added chewy texture of the comb is a bonus.
Honeycomb varies in taste (just like honey) depending on the environment and which flowers the bees predominantly pollinated to produce nectar.
So how do you eat it?
Raw Honeycomb Pairings (Basically, How to Eat Honeycomb)
The best way to eat honeycomb is to keep it simple. Pure, raw honeycomb is delicious all on its own, but there are several combinations that truly enhance the flavors. Even the simplest honeycomb combinations are sure to impress and delight! The following are the favorite honeycomb pairings at the Asheville Bee Charmer hive.
Honeycomb and Cheese
Honeycomb pretty much levels up any cheese, appetizer, or charcuterie board, with taste and visual appeal. Honeycomb pairs well with a variety of cheeses (we’ll write about that more in the future, but for a cheese board, we recommend hard salty cheeses like Pecorino Toscano, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and Manchego. Blue cheese and goat cheeses are also good! Add nuts, fruits, berries, bread, and chutneys to your cheese board and test every honeycomb flavor option.
Honeycomb and Chocolate
Honeycomb and chocolate is a heavenly duo. In the winter, nothing is better than cozying up to a fire with a steaming cup of hot chocolate and a slice of raw honeycomb to dip in it.
Honeycomb on Toast
Because why not? The best thing about honeycomb on toast is that your fingers won’t get sticky (although that also means you don’t get to lick the sweet goodness from your fingers after a bite). Prefer to make a honeycomb sandwich instead? Try toasted cheese, tomatoes, basil, avocado, and a slice of honeycomb to melt the whole mix together. Gooey lunch goodness for the win.
Your Honeycomb Questions Answered
We get a lot of questions about honeycomb on location at our honey tasting bar. Here are the most frequently asked questions our beekeepers and Bee Charmers answer at our hive.
How long does honeycomb stay good for?
Honey and honeycomb do not expire. Ever. Unless the honeycomb is stored improperly or moisture is introduced to the container. Store honeycomb at room temperature in a sealed container or jar and your honeycomb will keep as long as it takes you to eat it (not long for a bee charmer). Honeycomb within a honey jar may cause your honey to crystallize more quickly, so check out our tips on how to prevent raw honey from crystallizing and how to decrystallize honey when it happens.
Can you freeze honeycomb?
Yes. If you don’t plan on using your honeycomb for years, or you’ve simply run out of pantry space, freezing honeycomb is an acceptable storage method.
Is honeycomb vegan?
That depends on who you ask. Most vegans say honey is not vegan since honey is technically an animal product, and vegans do not consume animals or animal products.
Is eating honeycomb good for you?
Yes! Honeycomb and honey have been shown to have many health benefits including contributing to higher metabolisms and reducing bad cholesterol. Learn more. As is the case with all remedies, moderation is essential.
Where to Buy Honeycomb
When considering which honeycomb to purchase, we always recommend supporting responsible beekeepers. Asheville Bee Charmer works with more than 15 beekeepers across the country to source the highest quality, 100% pure, raw honeycomb. Our queen bees, Jillian and Kim, even produce their own honeycomb, with the help of their bees, of course.
If you’re currently in the market for some honeycomb, try our 12-ounce Wildflower Honeycomb.