What it Means to Be Raw and Local

These days you can go just about anywhere and grab honey - from your local supermarket to a farmer’s market - but is it all the same? Let’s break it down to truly understand what it means to be raw and local.

What is Raw Honey?

When we say honey is raw, we mean it’s as close to the hive as possible. Raw honey is:

• Unfiltered: We strain our honey to remove large bits of wax or debris, but we don’t ultra-filter it. That means it still contains beneficial pollen, enzymes, and antioxidants.

• Unpasteurized: We don’t heat our honey. This preserves all the natural nutrients and flavor compounds that are destroyed during high-heat pasteurization.

The result? A honey that’s rich in nutrients, full of complex flavor, and as natural as the bees intended.

What is Local Honey?

“Local” honey means it’s produced by bees working within your own region—pollinating the same trees, wildflowers, crops, and plants you see every day. In Central Virginia, that includes tulip poplars, clover, goldenrod, wingstem, and more.

Buying local honey supports:

• Your immune system: Many believe local honey may help the body build tolerance to regional pollen allergens.

• Local agriculture: You’re supporting nearby farmers, beekeepers, and healthy ecosystems.

• Pollinator health: You’re contributing directly to the care of honeybee colonies that are pollinating your local environment.

What to Avoid When Buying Honey in the Supermarket

Not all honey is created equal. A lot of what you find on store shelves—especially from big national brands—is far from raw or local. Here’s what to watch out for:

Ultra-Filtered Honey

This honey is heated and pressure-filtered to remove all traces of pollen. Without pollen, it’s nearly impossible to trace the origin of the honey—and you lose all the added health benefits that come with it.

Blended or Imported Honey

Some supermarket honey is blended from multiple sources, often from outside the U.S. It may be mixed with cheaper honeys (or even syrup substitutes) from countries with little regulation. The honey might look clear and perfect—but it’s far from pure.

Honey with Added Corn Syrup

Watch for additives like high-fructose corn syrup or glucose. These are used to cut corners and reduce cost, but they drastically change the quality, flavor, and integrity of the product. Most often, this won’t be listed on the ingredients list.

Overly Clear, Light-Colored Honey

While some honeys are naturally light, if it looks perfectly clear and always the same, it’s probably been pasteurized and filtered. Raw honey naturally varies in color and crystallizes over time—that’s a good thing!

How to Find the Good Stuff

When buying honey, look for labels that say:

• Raw

• Unfiltered

• Produced in your state or region

• Harvested by local beekeepers

Better yet—buy directly from the beekeeper.

At Evans Honey Company, we pride ourselves on bottling honey straight from our hives in Powhatan and the surrounding counties of Virginia. It’s raw, unfiltered, never heated, and always harvested with care.

Bottom line: raw and local honey isn’t just tastier—it’s more nutritious, more sustainable, and better for the bees.

Whether you’re buying honey for allergy support, natural sweetness, or to support your local economy, always look beyond the label and know where your honey comes from.

Want to try some truly raw and local honey?

Check out our shop to see what’s in stock today.

Thank you for supporting local!