Discover how to identify real honey in Kenya and the best places to buy it, including sourcing tips from local farmers and trusted regions
Honey. That sweet, golden nectar that’s somehow both medicine and dessert, depending on how you feel that day. But here’s the thing: if you’ve only ever tasted the honey sold in supermarkets, I’m sorry to break it to you, but you haven’t really tasted honey.
That’s not honey; that’s some generic sugary goo that’s been through so much processing it probably shouldn’t be called “honey” anymore. So, if you’re after the good stuff, let me save you some disappointment—you won’t find it in your average supermarket aisle.
The Secret to Getting Your Hands on Real Honey
Do you want the real deal? You need local, raw honey—unprocessed and unapologetically real. Sure, those jars in the store will proudly shout “PURE HONEY” on their labels, but let’s be honest, that’s marketing BS.
The only way to know your honey is pure is to make friends with a beekeeper or someone from a beekeeping region. Pro tip: Makueni and Kitui? Absolute honey gold mines. So, if you’ve got Kamba friends, be sweet to them (pun intended). They might just hook you up with the good stuff.
To find real honey in Kenya you have to get it from a honey region, same way to get the purest pishori you need to get it from the Mwea region
Navigating the Local Honey Market
Now, let’s say you’re fresh out of beekeeper pals and no one’s willing to bring you honey from upcountry. Your next best bet is the local market. But tread carefully—it’s like a honey minefield out there.
Sure, you’ll be offered samples that taste great, but surprise! The actual honey you take home might taste like a watered-down version of that sample. Infact most vendors mix honey with sugar and water to make it “go further.” It’s one of those uniquely Kenyan hustles—stretching honey like it’s elastic.
Sometimes, you’re better off with the supermarket honey than risking that, because most brands care about their reputation compared to a no-name vendor who will scam you and move on to a different market.
So, here’s my advice: find a vendor you can trust, but don’t go all in on the first jar. Buy small, taste, repeat. If the honey’s consistently good, then maybe you can commit to buying the larger container. Trust isn’t built in a day, especially not in the honey business.
Why Commercial Honey Will Never Be the Same
Now, let’s get into the bees themselves because, believe it or not, the bigger African bees make thicker, richer honey. But the trick is in the harvesting process.
Honey extracted manually or at hive temperature keeps all its natural goodness. Commercial honey, on the other hand? They heat that so high, it loses flavor faster than you can say “unprocessed.”
That’s why nothing beats honey straight from an upcountry farmer—it’s as close to nature as you’ll get without getting stung.
If you’re feeling extra purist, try comb honey—the honey is still in the waxy comb. No processing, no filtering, just you and nature’s sweet creation.
The only commercial honey I can recommend is Vitrac, some Egyptian brand honey, It is clover honey, so it is light colored and not that thick and is mild tasting, darker honey like manuka is the better option but I can’t find a good brand for that yet
How to Spot the Real Honey
Let’s debunk a myth here: the label that says “pure and natural” on honey jars? It’s about as meaningful as calling yourself a marathon runner after jogging for five minutes.
Real honey will crystallize in cooler temperatures—it’s a sign that it hasn’t been tampered with.
Supermarket honey? It’s been processed and stabilized to stay liquid for the long haul, probably diluted with water or some other mystery liquid to keep it runny at room temperature.
If you’re serious about honey, stick to the small-scale farmers. They’re less likely to mess with your honey, mostly because they care more about their reputation, and they mostly have a personal relationship with their customers
What Makes Honey Taste Different?
Now, about the taste—ever wondered why honey from one jar tastes different from another? It’s all about the flowers, babe.
The bees’ source of nectar makes all the difference. One batch might come from acacia flowers, giving you a light, delicate flavor, while another might have been harvested from wildflowers, giving it a rich, bold taste.
And yes, supermarket honey tastes generic because they blend hundreds of barrels together to make it all taste “average.” So, you end up with honey that tastes like… well, just something like honey.
If you want to experience the real spectrum of honey flavors, stick to the local honey. The more natural, the better. Trust me, you’ll never go back to that supermarket-branded honey again.
In conclusion, honey is a magic nectar, but only if you know where to find the magic. So, get yourself some real honey and taste the difference—it’s sweeter on the other side.
