How to Organize a Honey Tasting Party

Believe it or not, there's more to honey than the honey-filled teddy bear you see at the supermarket. Honey is one of the world's oldest sources of glucose, and can be found in over 300 different varieties in the United States; each one can be infused with different herbs and flowers for flavor, and you can enjoy a variety of tastes for dessert, snacks, or just a for a quick sugar buzz.. The best way to taste and sample these unique concoctions is to host a honey tasting party! Here's what you need to set up your event:

Step 1: Know Your Honey
Before you jump into the flavors and varieties of honey, you'll need to learn about the different types available. The four main types of honey are: comb honey, liquid honey, granulated honey, and chunk honey.

Comb honey is usually the organic kind, completely unprocessed and straight from the bee hive.

Liquid honey is made with a honey extractor that pulls the honey from the beecomb and removes the wax.

Granulated honey is a blend of liquid honey and fine granulated honey that is mixed together then chilled until it hardens; this is the kind you'll often find at craft fairs and some farmer's markets.

Chunk honey is simply comb honey that's been stored into a jar and covered with a thick layer of liquid honey for preservation.

Step 2: Pick 5-6 different regions and sources
Each area of the world produces a distinct version of honey with varying tastes. The most common types in the United States include Orange Blossom Honey (from Texas), Eucalyptus Honey (from California), Tupelo Honey (from northern Florida), and Buckwheat Honey (from the Midwest). You might branch out to European infusion as well, since these are often mixed with flowers and herbs such as lavender, Hungarian wild flowers, and wild thyme.

Step 3: Select the right foods to serve at the honey tasting party
Since honey can be full-bodied, bitter, or super-sweet, you need to limit the flavors of the food you serve the party. Pick simple foods that can keep the palette as 'clean' as possible; some good choices are soda crackers, saltines, gingerbread cookies, and plain oatmeal cookies (no raisins).