“Pure honey” is one of the most misused phrases in the grocery aisle. So what does it actually mean?

Pure vs. Raw vs. Processed

Pure honey should contain only one ingredient: honey. But “pure” doesn’t necessarily mean raw or unfiltered. You may have heard: honey is one of the most-faked items on supermarket shelves. No one wants to get duped, so the first thing to check for when shopping for honey is to make sure you're getting actual honey. Here's what to look for:

• Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) that tells you where the honey is from. This is often separate from the label, in small dark text on the back or bottom of the bottle. Local Hive is always 100% U.S. honey, proudly displayed on every bottle. 
• Descriptors besides just "honey". Look for familiar brand names or descriptors like "clover honey" or "wildflower" honey that describe what's inside. 

But that's just the beginning. Many mass-produced honeys labeled “pure” have still been pasteurized (heated) and ultra-filtered, which removes beneficial enzymes and pollen. While straining bee wings and beeswax is an important step, ultra-filtered honey is strained at a nearly microscopic level, removing much of the local character, nutrition, and flavor of the honey.

How to Spot the Real Deal

Raw honey is often more opaque, slightly darker and may crystallize over time—that’s a good thing. Fake or heavily processed honey tends to stay clear and syrupy forever. If it looks and tastes just like corn syrup, it probably is.

The Local Hive Standard

At Local Hive Honey, every bottle is raw & unfiltered, sourced only from American beekeepers. No additives, no foreign blends, no shortcuts. Just the flavor of the local flowers where the bees collected nectar.

So the next time you see “pure” on a label, dig deeper. Ask: Is it raw? Is it unfiltered? Where does it come from? With Local Hive, the answer is always yes, yes, and from right here in the U.S.

Want to explore all of our 23+ honey varieties from across the U.S.? Visit our shop to find a retailer near you or order online.