What’s Honeycomb? How to Eat Honeycomb

A honeycomb is a structure of hexagonal cells that honey bees use to store raw honey, pollen, propolis, royal jelly, and even larvae. Honeycomb also contains beeswax, which are glands produced by the worker bees. Honeycomb is edible, and you can purchase fresh honeycomb at farmers’ markets or from beekeepers directly.

Honeycomb typically contains raw honey, which is sweet, and the beeswax itself, which is chewy and has a similar mouthfeel to chewing gum. You can eat pieces of honeycomb by themselves as a sweet snack. You can also put honeycomb in a smoothie as a sweetener or add it to a salad or a charcuterie board spread. Honeycomb pairs particularly well with Brie cheese. You can also top warm bread, English muffins, waffles, or vanilla ice cream with honeycomb.

Raw honeycomb has little to no nutritional value, but liquid honey has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Honey is a natural cough suppressant and may soothe allergies or prolonged cough. Raw honey is unfiltered, so it contains enzymes from the honey bees that give honey antimicrobial and antibacterial properties.

Raw honey can also contain various byproducts like botulism spores, which can be harmful to young children and people who are pregnant or have compromised immune systems. Those allergic to bee venom or pollen should not consume honeycombs.

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