Honey in Pakistani Home Traditions: 5 Easy Recipes

Honey in Pakistani Homes

Honey has a special place in Pakistani homes. It is a Sunnah food, a traditional gift, and a staple of warm drinks and desserts. Every family seems to have its own way of using it. Here are five easy recipes that bring out its flavour.

What Is in Honey?

Honey is mostly natural sugars (fructose and glucose) and water, with small amounts of enzymes, minerals and plant compounds from the flowers the bees visited. Raw honey keeps its natural enzymes and pollen because it isn’t heated.

Raw vs. Processed Honey

Processed honey is heated and finely filtered so it looks clear and stays runny, which strips out pollen and flattens the flavour. Raw honey is unheated and lightly strained, so it keeps the taste of its flowers and crystallises naturally. Read more in our guide to raw, pure and organic honey.

5 Easy Honey Recipes

1. Golden Milk

Warm a cup of milk with ½ teaspoon turmeric, a pinch of black pepper and a small piece of cinnamon. Take off the heat and stir in a teaspoon of honey.

2. Honey-Lemon-Ginger Drink

Steep sliced ginger in hot water for 5 minutes. Let it cool a little, then add lemon juice and a teaspoon of honey.

3. Herbal Honey Tea

Brew mint, chamomile or green tea, and sweeten with honey once it is warm rather than boiling.

4. Honey Cinnamon Drink

Stir ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon and a teaspoon of honey into a cup of warm water.

5. Honey Vinaigrette

Whisk 3 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice, 1 teaspoon honey, salt and pepper. Perfect over a winter salad.

Which Honey to Use

• Bairy Nectar (Sidr) for rich, caramel-like drinks.
• Pureganic Malta for citrus pairings.
• Goldy Palosa for light, everyday sweetness.

Good to Know

• Babies: never give honey to babies under 12 months.
• Diabetes: honey is still a sugar; ask your doctor first.
• Allergies: avoid honey if you are allergic to bee products or pollen.
• Not a medicine: if you are unwell, see a doctor.

Honey in Pakistani Tradition

From sheer khurma at Eid to a jar of honey given at a wedding, honey is woven into Pakistani life. The Quran describes the drink that comes from the bee as “varying in colours”, and honey is counted among the Sunnah foods.

Bring Honey into Your Kitchen

All BuzzinBeez honey is raw, cold-extracted and single-origin. Explore the range.

Related Reading

• Honey & Milk: A Classic Pakistani Pairing
• 5 Simple Ways to Use Raw Honey Every Day in Pakistan
• The Sweet Debate: Honey vs. Sugar in a Pakistani Kitchen