Comb honey is honey in its purest form: the form the bees made it in, untouched by anyone. No extraction, no filtering, no jar to fill. Just a piece of wax comb, filled with honey, just as it was in the hive.
What is comb honey?
In a hive, bees build hexagonal wax cells. They store honey in them, then seal them with a thin layer of wax when the honey has matured. Comb honey is a whole comb (or a large piece of one) that the beekeeper carefully cuts and delivers to you just like that.
The wax is edible. You chew it with the honey, like a little treat: it melts gently in your mouth and adds a unique texture. You can also set it aside if you prefer.
Our chestnut and linden comb honey
Our chestnut and linden comb honey is a Belgian honey, harvested from the very comb where the bees made it. It has been tested and received a 5-star rating from the CARI (Centre for Apicultural Research and Information), a reference in Belgium for judging the quality of honey.
In terms of taste, it is a honey with character. The chestnut adds depth: a pronounced, slightly woody and full-bodied flavor that appeals to lovers of intense honeys. The linden softens the overall taste with a fresher, more floral note. Together, they create a rare balance between strength and delicacy.
Why is comb honey more expensive?
This is the question we are asked most often, and the answer can be summed up in a few words: it requires much more work, time, and resources, both from the bees and the beekeeper.
1. The bees have to build the comb themselves
To produce wax, bees have to consume a huge amount of honey. It is generally estimated that they need several kilos of honey (often cited as between 6 and 8 kg) to make a single kilo of wax. In other words, every comb you hold in your hands represents a major expenditure of energy for the colony.
In conventional beekeeping, honey is extracted by centrifuging, and the empty frames are returned to the bees, who only have to fill them. With comb honey, this is not possible: the comb is consumed with the honey. The bees must therefore rebuild their cells again and again. They cannot devote this time and energy to producing more honey.
2. A lower yield for the beekeeper
A colony that has to build wax ultimately produces less honey. For the beekeeper, the comb harvest is therefore less abundant than a conventional harvest, while requiring more work.
3. A delicate, entirely manual harvest
A comb is fragile. It must be chosen at the right time (when the cells are fully capped), cut neatly, trimmed, packaged without being damaged, and protected until it reaches you. No machine can replace this process: everything is done by hand, piece by piece. This is also why each piece is unique and why the weights vary from one comb to another.
4. A raw product, without processing
Comb honey is neither filtered, heated, nor blended. It retains everything the hive has given it: its aromas, its natural enzymes, its traces of pollen and propolis. What you are paying for is this authentic honey and the rarity of the work it represents.
How to enjoy comb honey?
- On toast: place a piece of comb on fresh or toasted bread, lightly buttered.
- On a cheese board: chestnut honey pairs very well with aged cheeses, blue cheeses, and sheep's milk cheeses.
- With yogurt or cottage cheese: a small piece is enough to enhance a breakfast.
- Just like that, with a spoon: for those who want to savor honey in its most natural state.
How to store it?
Keep your comb honey at room temperature, away from light and heat, in its closed packaging. Avoid the refrigerator, which accelerates crystallization. If the honey crystallizes a little over time, it is a natural sign: it remains perfectly fine to eat.
In summary
Comb honey is more expensive because it is rarer, takes longer to produce, and is more delicate to harvest. The bees invest a lot of time and energy in it, and the beekeeper puts all their expertise into it. In return, you get an authentic honey, just as it exists in the hive, with all the richness of chestnut and the sweetness of linden.
Want to taste it? Discover our Belgian chestnut and linden comb honey, tested and rated 5 stars by the CARI.