The Best Honey for Baking, Tea, and Cheese Boards
Not all honey is created equal — and not all honey works equally well in every application. Here's how to use our two varieties to get the most out of every jar.
The Two Honeys
We produce two varieties at Stafford Hill Farms:
- Sourwood Honey — Light, buttery, floral. Notes of caramel and warm spice. Seasonal and limited.
- Wildflower Honey — Bold, complex, earthy. Varies batch to batch with the season's blooms.
For Tea
Best choice: Sourwood
Sourwood's light, clean sweetness dissolves beautifully in hot tea without overpowering the flavor of the tea itself. It's particularly good in green tea, chamomile, and Earl Grey. Add it after brewing — not while the water is boiling — to preserve the natural enzymes.
Wildflower works well in stronger teas (black tea, chai) where its bolder flavor can hold its own.
For Baking
Best choice: Wildflower
When honey is baked into breads, muffins, granola, or glazes, the subtle nuances of a premium varietal like Sourwood get lost in the heat. Wildflower's bold, assertive flavor holds up better through cooking and is the more economical choice for high-volume baking.
Use Sourwood as a finishing drizzle on baked goods — over warm cornbread, biscuits, or a honey cake — where its flavor can shine without being cooked away.
For Cheese Boards
Best choice: Sourwood
Sourwood is the definitive cheese board honey. Its buttery, caramel notes pair beautifully with aged cheddars, blue cheeses, brie, and goat cheese. Drizzle it directly over the cheese or serve it in a small ramekin alongside. It's also the honey that makes people ask "what is this?" — which is exactly what you want at a dinner party.
Pairing suggestions:
- Sourwood + aged cheddar — Classic. The sharpness of the cheese and the sweetness of the honey are made for each other.
- Sourwood + brie — Warm the brie slightly and drizzle Sourwood over the top. Serve with crackers.
- Sourwood + blue cheese — The sweetness cuts the intensity of the blue. Surprisingly good.
- Wildflower + goat cheese — The earthiness of Wildflower complements the tang of fresh chèvre.
For Drizzling and Finishing
Best choice: Sourwood
Yogurt, oatmeal, pancakes, waffles, roasted vegetables, pizza — anywhere you want honey to be the star, reach for Sourwood. Its clean finish means it enhances without overwhelming.
For Everyday Use
Best choice: Wildflower
For your morning toast, PB&J, or daily spoonful, Wildflower is the workhorse. It's bold, satisfying, and available year-round. Save the Sourwood for moments when it can shine.
The Bundle
Can't decide? Our Sourwood & Wildflower Honey Bundle gives you both — with free shipping included. It's our most popular option and the best way to experience both varieties side by side.