Honey

Honey is a versatile and natural sweetener with a complex flavour profile that ranges from floral and fruity to rich and earthy, depending on the flowers the bees have visited. When used in BBQ cooking, honey adds a beautiful depth of sweetness and helps create a glossy, caramelised finish on meats and vegetables. Its sugars react with heat to form a sticky, golden glaze that enhances both flavour and appearance, making it ideal for glazing poultry, pork, and root vegetables over indirect heat. Over fire, honey behaves delicately. It caramelises quickly and can burn if exposed to direct flames or very high heat, so it is best applied during the final stages of cooking or used in marinades and sauces that are brushed on gently. Combining honey with acidic ingredients like vinegar or citrus juice can balance its sweetness and help tenderise meat, creating a well-rounded BBQ flavour. When buying honey, look for raw or unprocessed varieties to get the most flavour and health benefits. Avoid heavily filtered or overly processed honey, which can lose some of its natural enzymes and character. Store honey in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. It does not spoil but can crystallise over time. If this happens, simply warm the jar gently in a bowl of hot water to return it to liquid form without compromising quality.