Each September, we honor honey bees, the hardworking beekeepers, and, of course, the sweet golden product that the buzzy pollinators make for us—National Honey Month, which is now kicking off across the country! Turquoise, CNSS. Founded in 1989 by the National Honey Board, this annual celebration brings awareness to honey as a natural sweetener and its historical significance to humanity and agriculture through pollination.
Pollinators like honey bees enable many of our food crops — from almonds and apples to blueberries and avocados — and the value of those crops is worth billions of dollars in the U.S. alone. The month also focuses on discovering types of honeys, how to support local beekeepers, and how to use honey in the kitchen and in natural medicine. In this article, I will discuss the history of National Honey Month, how to celebrate, honey facts you probably never heard before, as well as the importance of beef and why we should help them to ensure we always have food.
When is National Honey Month 2025?
September 1–30 is celebrated as National Honey Month every year. For 2025, it runs from Monday, September 1, through to Tuesday, September 30. The month of September was selected, since this is the month in which honey harvesting is at its peak and marks the end of the active beekeeping season in a lot of areas. It also affords time for beekeepers to prepare hives for winter, along with an opportunity to provide freshly harvested honey to consumers.
Throughout the month, events, tastings, and educational programs focus on the culinary uses and nutritional value of honey and honey bees’ contribution to the pollination of crops. A time to relish the many forms of honey and join the cause to save our pollinators.
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History of National Honey Month
Celebrated since 1989, the National Honey Month was established by the National Honey Board with the purpose of providing more attention to the U.S. honey industry and the benefits of honey. We chose September since that hews to the end of the beekeeping season in most of the country. Honey went through millennia of use as food, medicine, and even money (as we all know from ancient Egypt, China, or Rome, to name a few examples).
While effective cultivation, or beekeeping, began in the 17th century with European settlers in the Americas, Indigenous peoples in these regions had been using wild honey millennia earlier. Now, National Honey Month celebrates honey, its rich historical contributions, and continued importance to agriculture, nutrition, and cultural traditions.
How to Celebrate National Honey Month 2025
There are multiple ways you can support beekeepers and indulge in this natural sweetener during National Honey Month. Purchase honey from local producers to support small operations and local pollinators. Substitutes in recipes from baked goods to marinades. Replace the refined sugar with honey. Organize or attend a honey tasting to taste honey from various floral sources, such as orange blossom or buckwheat.
Be far: A great way to learn about honey harvesting, as well as the role of bees in pollination, is to visit a bee farm. Post #NationalHoneyMonth facts, recipes, and photos to social media and start conversations to raise awareness of honey’s environmental and culinary value.
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National Honey Month Activities
There are plenty of places to enjoy it, as well as learn about it, during National Honey Month. Join a beekeeping tour, where you will see hives in the vicinity and learn about the honey process. Baking honey bread or a honey dessert such as baklava. There are rare varieties, like manuka or purple honey; sample a few to really gain an appreciation for the different flavors. Organise a workshop for kids on bees and pollination with activities such as building bee hotels.
Take part in community events promoting pollinator-friendly gardening. All of these events focus not only on honey, but on the need to conserve bee populations for generations to come.
Health Benefits of Honey
Not just a natural sweetener, honey also has some nutrients and bioactive compounds that can provide health benefits. It supplies antioxidants, which fight the impact of oxidative stress, and has trace amounts of vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, calcium, and potassium. Honey can be used for wound healing and sore throat relief due to its antibacterial properties against raw honey.
In children over one year old, honey has been found in multiple studies to be as effective as or more effective than over-the-counter cough medication. In addition, it has a prebiotic effect by feeding the good bacteria in your gut, supporting digestive health. Just remember to practice moderation since honey is still a natural sugar and natural calories.
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Popular Types of Honey and Their Flavors
- Acacia Honey – Light in color, soft floral flavor; remains in liquid state longer compared to other types.
- Manuka Honey – From New Zealand, it has a strong taste, and people describe its antibacterial properties.
- Orange Blossom Honey — This honey is fruity and citrusy and is produced in warmer climates.
- Wildflower Honey– Tastes vary relative to the location and season, and wild flowers with complex notes.
- Clover Honey– Common table honey in the U.S., somewhat sweet and mild, easy to find.
- Buckwheat Honey – This honey is dark, strong, and full of antioxidants.
- Eucalyptus Honey – Herbal with an aromatic flavour, commonly known for its medicinal use.
- Blueberry Honey — Light amber with a slight berry finish.
Fun Facts About Honey and Bees
- In its lifetime, one worker bee makes about 1/12 teaspoon of honey.
- Up to 20,000–23,000 bees may be needed to produce one jar of honey.
- First, honey is an extremely unspoiled substance due to its low moisture content and high acidity.
- Digging deeper, it was in Georgia (Eurasia) that the oldest honey known to science, dating back more than 5,000 years, would be discovered.
- Honey color is dependent on the nectar source and can vary from almost colorless to dark amber.
- In certain areas in the southeastern United States, however, beekeepers have discovered a curious purple honey, the cause of which scientists still do not understand.
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National Honey Month Timeline
Honey and other foods are mentioned in the Old Testament as early as 3000 B.C. – Egyptians used honey for food, medicine, and sacrifice.
HONEYBEE HISTORY 17th Century – Honeybees (Apis mellifera) were brought to North America by European settlers.
1989 – The National Honey Board launches National Honey Month to promote honey awareness across the U.S.
2000s Now: New interest in raw, organic, and specialty honeys opens up choices for the consumer.
National Honey Month is celebrated around the country with events, recipes, farm tours, and campaigns to protect pollinators.
National Honey Month Dates (2025–2030)
Year | Start Date | End Date | Day National Honey Month Begins |
2025 | September 1 | September 30 | Monday |
2026 | September 1 | September 30 | Tuesday |
2027 | September 1 | September 30 | Wednesday |
2028 | September 1 | September 30 | Friday |
2029 | September 1 | September 30 | Saturday |
2030 | September 1 | September 30 | Sunday |
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why is National Honey Month in September?
In many areas, it signifies the end of the beekeeping season when fresh honey is gathered.
Who started National Honey Month?
It was created by the National Honey Board in 1989 to celebrate honey and the beekeeping industry.
Is honey healthier than sugar?
Honey is rich in antioxidants and has trace nutrients, but both honey and white sugar are forms of sugar, so consume honey in moderation.
Does honey go bad?
Not really — if you store it properly, honey has a virtually indefinite shelf life thanks to its low moisture and high acidity.
How can I celebrate at home?
Explore honey-related recipes, sleep at the Table Honey, direct order local beekeepers, and some regional hives, and promote pollinator health.
Conclusion
National Honey Month celebrates the taste, history of honey, and the importance of bees in our ecosystem. Held each September, this day encourages tasting honey in new ways, supporting our local beekeepers, and educating about pollinator conservation.
Honey could be a natural food soloist loved for its taste and nutrition. It has a long history of human consumption, dating back thousands of years, from ancient civilizations to the present day. So, in consuming these various national honey month activities, you are enjoying such a basic staple food while doing something to save the bees that produce it.