Why Does Natural Honey Change Colour?

If you buy natural honey more than once, you may notice that one jar looks lighter or darker than the last. This is normal for natural honey.

The flowers bees visit The colour of honey depends largely on the nectar sources. Different flowers and trees produce nectar with different natural compounds, which can lead to honey ranging from pale gold to deep amber.

Season and region What is in bloom changes through the year. Honey collected in one season may differ from honey collected in another, even from the same region.

Time and temperature Honey can gradually darken with age and with exposure to warmth. Crystallised honey also tends to look lighter and more opaque than liquid honey.

What this means for you Colour variation is part of the character of natural, raw honey. It is not, on its own, a sign of quality or of a problem.