The Natural Connection: Honoring World Bee Day with Honey in Tea and Coffee

Today, on World Bee Day, we’re recognizing the contributions of one of nature’s most extraordinary collaborators, the honeybee. This amazing insect is the primary producer of the honey we add to our tea and coffee beverages almost every day. In the United States, honeybees are responsible for a significant portion of honey production. Hobbyists and part-time beekeepers account for roughly 40 percent of honey produced while commercial beekeepers are responsible for the remaining 60 percent. A typical beehive in the United States can produce anywhere from 10 to 200 pounds of honey each year.

These small yet vital pollinators not only sustain ecosystems and agricultural systems across the globe but also give us honey, one of the most remarkable natural sweeteners on earth.

In the world of specialty tea and coffee, every detail matters, from the origin of the beans or leaves to the method of extraction and final presentation. Honey fits beautifully into this narrative. Whether enhancing the delicate notes of a jasmine green tea or adding nuance to a single-origin cold brew, honey brings with it both depth of flavor and a story worth sharing.

Honey Through the Ages

Before refined sugar became a kitchen staple, many cultures across the globe treasured honey as a culinary and medicinal marvel. In ancient Egypt, Egyptians used honey as a healing balm to treat wounds, burns, and eye ailments. Its natural antibacterial properties made it a valuable tool in preventing infection. In ancient Greece, warriors and athletes consumed honey as a source of carbohydrates to supply energy and avoid fatigue. The ancient Greeks also used honey to sweeten food, as many of us use it today, and to support health. In traditional Chinese medicine, healers used honey as a tonic to “balance character” and treat the lungs, spleen, and large intestines.

Honey is a natural sweetener with a rich complexity. Unlike simple syrups or processed sugars, honey is layered and contains flavors from the natural elements that go into making it. Honey is infused with the flavors from the flowers, soil, and climate where honeybees produced it. This makes it the perfect ingredient for specialty coffee and tea drinks that tell a story.

Honey and Tea: A Timeless Partnership

There’s a reason so many people have been adding honey to their cups of tea for centuries. It’s the perfect marriage of ingredients, blending the earthy, herbal taste of tea leaves with the rich, sweet taste of honey. At Tradecraft, we work with partners to curate premium loose-leaf and sachet teas, and in many cases, honey becomes an essential element in elevating the experience.

How It Enhances:

• Green Teas: In green teas, honey softens the astringency, highlighting floral and grassy notes.
• Black Teas: The richness of Assam, Ceylon, or Earl Grey benefits from a darker honey with molasses undertones.
• Herbal Infusions: Blends like chamomile, rooibos, and hibiscus become more vibrant and balanced with the floral touch of honey.

Just as with wine or cheese, pairing the right honey with the right tea can up a new dimension of flavor.

Coffee and Honey: An Evolving Art

While tea and honey have deep historical roots, using honey in coffee is a modern evolution. And it’s quickly gaining traction in the craft coffee space. Unlike cane sugar or syrups, honey provides both sweetness and a subtle flavor complexity that can complement or contrast beautifully with specialty coffee. Paired with the right roast, the right honey can bring out the unique, natural flavors of a blend from floral and fruity to nutty and spicy.

A Few Ideal Pairings:

• Light Roasts and Acacia or Clover Honey: This pairing enhances bright, fruity, or floral notes without overwhelming natural flavor of a light roast coffee.
• Espresso and Buckwheat Honey: A bold match for bold flavor, this blend is earthy, robust, and surprisingly harmonious.
• Cold Brew and Raw Honey: Smooth and naturally sweet, this pairing is especially great for its low sugar content, making it a hit with health-conscious consumers.

At Tradecraft, our coffee program is designed to reflect the best of what’s possible from origin and roasting to final presentation. Integrating honey into signature drinks or seasonal menus adds a little something extra that today’s adventurous consumers enjoy.

A Thoughtful Alternative to Refined Sugar

More than ever, consumers are looking for health-conscious, natural ingredients that support a holistic lifestyle. Honey offers a sweetener option that is:

• Less processed and contains trace nutrients.
• Lower on the glycemic index than refined sugars.
• Naturally antimicrobial and shelf-stable.

Offering honey as an alternative— or even a preferred default— for sweetening hot and iced beverages can help cafés seem modern and mindful.

Concerning the pertinent topic of sustainability and eco-consciousness, honey also gives café spaces the opportunity to work with local and sustainable beekeepers. This adds an extra layer when telling the café’s stories of sourcing products and shining a spotlight on local workers.

Supporting the Source: Why Bees Matter

World Bee Day isn’t just a celebration, it’s also a reminder. Honeybees are responsible for pollinating roughly 75% of the world’s food crops, including many of the herbs and plants used in tea, as well as coffee-growing environments.

Unfortunately, bee populations are under threat due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change. As a company that deeply values sustainability, Tradecraft is committed to:

• Partnering with ethical honey producers.
• Encouraging cafes to source local, raw honey whenever possible.
• Sharing the broader story of honey and pollination through our café training and brand education.

Supporting honey means supporting bees. In turn, this support protects the future of the invaluable crops that make our work possible.

A Natural Fit for Tradecraft’s Mission

At Tradecraft, we believe that great beverages tell a story. It’s not just about what ingredients are in a cup; it’s also about where they come from, who crafted them, and how they make us feel. Honey is one of the ingredients that highlights these points. It’s timeless, functional, and full of character, just like the coffee and tea we proudly serve.

On World Bee Day, we encourage our partners, baristas, and customers to reflect not just on the flavor of honey but also on the ecosystem of care and craft that brings it to our tables and cups.

Whether you’re adding a drizzle to your matcha or creating a signature cold brew with a local raw honey infusion, you’re celebrating something much larger: the relationship between nature, craft, and community.

Thank you, bees. And thank you to the cafés and customers who help bring that sweetness to life.

Happy World Bee Day from all of us at Tradecraft.