There are many different types of honey, depending on the plant that the bees use for their nourishment. Heather is an excellent plant for honey production, simply because it has some unique properties that benefit human health. These properties are naturally passed on to the honey, which is why its popularity has increased dramatically in recent years, and more and more people are searching for it in the market.

Heather (Erica manipuliflora, the spiky heather) belongs to the family Ericaceae. As a herb, it contains:

• alkaloids
• arbutin
• citric and fumaric acid
• volatile oil
• tannins
• carotene

It has been widely used as a medicinal plant in the mountainous regions of Europe, where it grows wild over vast areas.