Rosemary honey is honey that has been spiced with rosemary herbs. The resultant combination is a sweet and savory flavor that may be used in a wide variety of cooking recipes. It is often used to add flavor and seasoning to vegetables, poultry, pork, and seafood. It can also be combined with fruit for a sweet but healthy dessert.
Raw or pasteurized honey may be used in rosemary honey. This side dressing can be made at home by combining honey, water, and fresh clipped rosemary sprigs in a saucepan. The mixture can be warmed to encourage a better blending of flavors, but should not be allowed to boil as this can cause the natural sugars of the honey to begin to crystallize. It can then be removed from the heat and left to come to room temperature for 15 minutes or more, depending on the level of flavoring the chef wishes to achieve. The longer the honey is allowed to sit, the deeper the rosemary will blend into the honey.
When produced commercially, this unique condiment is often aged for a period of several months to allow the flavor of the rosemary sprigs to fully seep into the honey. This process of aging is sometimes referred to as cold infusion, because the honey and other ingredients are never heated. This allows natural pollens to remain in the mixture. Rosemary honey that has been cold infused is often available from organic farms that do not use pesticides or chemicals near their bees or herbs.
Luberon, France is known in culinary circles for producing the most famous rosemary honey in the world. The recipe for this renowned artisan honey has been handed down from generation to generation in one particular family who lives in the Luberon National Park located in the South of France. The honey purchased from the small farm is a light, opaque white in color rather than the traditional gold of more common honeys.
Salad dressings and sauces for vegetables and meat can be created using rosemary honey. This condiment may also be drizzled over desserts and fruit, and used in coffee and tea for a sweet and tangy flavored addition. When combined with lemon and olive oil, it may serve as a marinade for pork, chicken, and shellfish. Reserved marinade can be brushed over meat during the grilling process to lock in moisture and preserve flavor.