Learn Why Honeycomb is a Must-Try Food in 2020
By Chelsea Vincent
It’s a funky time of year. The weather can’t make up its mind, most of us are tired of being cold, and plenty of people are still down and out with illnesses.
So, while trying to stay proactive in my tea-and-honey winter health regimen, which has become a relaxing daily treat for me, imagine my total shock when I found out you can eat honeycomb. I’m dead serious.
As a kid, I loaded up on the sugary cereal of the same name, but I never dreamed that you could eat the real thing (which is infinitely healthier). Well, friends – the impossible is possible. After years of feeling guilty for awkwardly scooping around the honeycomb in the jar, I am a new, comb-loving person.
After a bit of research, it turns out there are several reasons eating honeycomb is something you should try in 2020. And hey, you only live once, right?
It’s Totally Safe to Eat
Honeycomb, which worker bees create while storing honey to nosh on later, is totally safe for human consumption. Although honeycomb may be slightly waxy, it is in no way dangerous to consume, and people have been doing so for hundreds of years. Honestly, the texture has even grown on me, and I now find it to be very satisfying.
Of course, everything is best in moderation, as it turns out eating too much honeycomb can clog your intestines, which sounds like an unfortunate experience. But as long as you’re enjoying appropriate serving sizes, you should be good to go.
It’s the Old-Fashioned Way
Full confession: I’m an old soul at heart. So when I found out that people used to look for actual pieces of honeycomb instead of jars of honey, I was delighted to step back into a time-honored tradition.
It turns out that many honey products used to add corn syrup, so eating honey straight from the comb meant you were getting the real deal, pure and simple. As we’ve culturally shifted more toward natural, whole foods in the past decade, no wonder honeycomb in jars is popping up in stores and in farmers’ markets!
It Helps Freshen Up Recipes
Not only does honeycomb look like modern art, but it also adds impressive flair to once-simple standards. Cut-up chunks of honeycomb these and multiple other dishes can add a touch of elegance, while also providing rich flavor and a straight-from-the-hive, natural appeal.
If you’re looking for ways to make boring recipes more inviting or appealing, honeycomb may do the trick. Try some honeycomb on a sandwich with brie, toss it in a salad with fresh fruits, greens, and feta, or make it the star of a charcuterie board at your next gathering. So. good.
I’m a try-anything-once kind of girl, so when I decided to give eating honeycomb a shot, I wasn’t expecting much. And now, a little nibble of it is honestly the perfect afternoon pick-me-up. The next time you’re feeling like a walk on the wild side, whip out a fork, and give it a go. Let us know your reactions to trying honeycomb below!
