Romanian researchers have identified a unique type of honey-produced from forest trees rather than flowering plants-that demonstrates remarkable medicinal properties. Dubbed “honeydew honey,” the substance is not only comparable to, but in some instances surpasses, the famed Manuka honey in antibacterial potency, according to a new study from “Ștefan cel Mare” University of Suceava.The findings, published in scientific journals including Nature and Scientific Reports, suggest a possibly more accessible and affordable natural remedy with broad health benefits, particularly for fighting antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Initial tests show promising results against common pathogens like golden staphylococcus, salmonella, and E. coli.
A unique honey produced in the mountainous regions of Romania is proving to be a remarkable natural remedy, rivaling and even surpassing the famed Manuka honey in its potency. Scientific studies have also demonstrated its effectiveness, in some cases exceeding that of common antibiotics.
Researchers studied the properties of honeydew honey. PHOTO Cosmin Zamfirache
Hidden in the forests of Romania lies a remarkable natural discovery: a unique honey with potent healing properties. Known as honeydew or forest honey, Romanian researchers have found it to be even more powerful than the celebrated Manuka honey, and at a fraction of the cost. The findings, backed by scientific studies, suggest this “forest honey,” particularly from the mountainous Bucovina region, can effectively neutralize pathogens, including golden staphylococcus. Researchers from the Faculty of Food Engineering at “Ștefan cel Mare” University of Suceava explained the study’s conclusions and the reasons behind the honey’s remarkable qualities.
A Forest Honey with Unique Properties
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Honeydew, or “forest honey,” is a unique apicultural product. Unlike floral honey, produced from nectar collected by bees, honeydew results from the collection of secretions from trees, often occurring when a plant is injured and releases sap. Bees also gather the sugary secretions from aphids feeding on tree sap, transforming it into a mineral-rich, antioxidant-packed honey with a less sweet, forest-like flavor and superior therapeutic properties to floral honey. Honeydew is primarily produced in forested areas of Romania, especially in the mountains. In Bucovina, collecting honeydew honey is a cherished tradition. The honey differs in taste and color from other types of honey, boasting a distinct aroma and a dark amber hue, and remaining relatively liquid.
Mountain Honey Rivals the World’s Most Popular Luxury Honey
Given this tradition in Bucovina, researchers at the Faculty of Food Engineering at “Ștefan cel Mare” University of Suceava conducted a two-year study comparing honeydew honey to the globally renowned Manuka honey. The study involved biologist Liliana Luca, engineers Daniela Pauliuc and Florin Ursachi, and was supervised by university professor Mircea Oroian.
The results were astounding. Honeydew honey proved more potent than Manuka, exhibiting a greater antibacterial effect, particularly against Manuka MGO 100, 200, and 550 (methylglyoxal being the main active element in this honey). “In the study we conducted, we used 55 samples of honey from local producers. We purchased honeydew honey, Manuka honey, and compared mountain polyfloral honey and honeydew honey with Manuka honey. The results showed that honeydew honey is, for some bacteria tested, even better than Manuka, and had similar results for others,” explains engineer Daniela Pauliuc.
Essentially, honeydew honey demonstrated a strong antibacterial effect against dangerous pathogens, especially for individuals with compromised immune systems, including golden staphylococcus, salmonella, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
“In the study, we also included a section comparing the action of the honey samples against these pathogens with antibiotics. Classic antibiotics such as gentamicin and tetracycline. We observed that some honeydew honey samples had better activity than some antibiotics,” adds Daniela Pauliuc. The study’s findings have been published in prestigious scientific publications worldwide, such as Nature and Scientific Reports.
“Medicines” of the Romanian Mountain Meadows and Forests
Honeydew honey is produced by bees in forested areas. “Honeydew” can be collected by insects in both plains and hilly areas, from deciduous forests, as well as in mountainous areas, from coniferous forests. Experts say that both types of biomass offer honeydew honey with exceptional properties. However, the best and most potent honeydew honey comes from bees collecting “honeydew” from coniferous forests in mountainous regions.
University Professor Mircea Oroian and Engineer Dr. Daniela Pauliuc. PHOTO Cosmin Zamfirache
“In the case of honeydew, which is a secretion from trees, that secretion itself contains beneficial substances for our bodies. These are then transformed by the bee and found in this apicultural product. Honeydew honey can be produced in both plains and hilly areas, from deciduous forests, as well as in mountainous areas, from coniferous forests. All studies show that coniferous forest honeydew is better. The color is more intense, a brown towards brick red. Over time it will crystallize and take on a lighter shade. The aroma is more intense compared to floral honey, like acacia honey, for example,” explains Mircea Oroian.
Additionally, in the mountainous region, there’s another type of honey with extraordinary properties for human health. That’s mountain honey. “In the case of mountain polyfloral honey, during foraging, the bee goes to many medicinal plants and takes active principles from there, which are then found in the honey,” adds University Professor Mircea Oroian.
Incredible Health Benefits at Affordable Prices
Honeydew honey is special, especially due to its nutritional composition and exceptional benefits for human health, experts say. It’s renowned for supporting digestive health, the respiratory system, and the health and beauty of the skin. It was traditionally used by mountain villagers or those near forests to soothe coughs and sore throats, as well as stomach pains. These beneficial effects are due to the high levels of minerals in its composition, such as calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, zinc, manganese, and phosphorus. Furthermore, honeydew honey is rich in polyphenols and prebiotics.
The antioxidants in honeydew honey also help prevent cell mutations and, consequently, the onset of serious diseases. Manuka honey, included in the study’s comparison, is well-known worldwide, likely the most popularized honey for its miraculous health effects. Manuka honey is produced by bees collecting nectar from the Manuka bush, a plant native to New Zealand and partially found in Australia.
Bees can only collect nectar for a few weeks each year, during the plant’s flowering period. The nectar is processed in a complex way by the bees in the hive, resulting in an aromatic and dense honey. Manuka honey has a darker color than known floral honey and a more intense taste. What makes Manuka honey special is a compound with a strong antibacterial effect called methylglyoxal. This honey has high concentrations of this substance, making it unique in the world. It’s used for both respiratory infections and digestive problems or immune deficiencies. As studies show, honeydew honey is as potent, or even more potent, than Manuka honey as an antibacterial agent. It also shares a similar color. Not to mention that honeydew honey is much cheaper, around $60-70 per kilogram.
