Quick answer: The best raw honey in India is honey that is unheated, unblended and free of added sugar, with a stated flower source, a stated region and a lab report you can ask for. Ignore words like "pure" or "organic" on their own; check the bee or flower, the place, the season and an NMR test for the batch. Shuddhta Organic sells seven raw Indian honeys that meet these checks, from Small Bee Honey (Bundelkhand) to Litchi Blossom (Bihar).
What counts as raw honey?
Raw honey is honey taken from the comb and strained to remove wax and debris, then packed without heating, pasteurising or ultra-fine filtering. Shuddhta keeps its honey below 40°C. Raw honey keeps its natural aroma and pollen, and it can crystallise over time. That is normal.
| Raw honey | Processed honey | |
|---|---|---|
| Heating | Not heated (Shuddhta: below 40°C) | Often heated to keep it runny |
| Filtering | Strained (cloth or mesh) | Often fine-filtered |
| Taste | Changes with flower and season | Usually uniform |
| Crystallisation | Common and natural | Slower |
| Source information | Flower and region usually stated | Often blended, source unclear |
Raw and pure are not the same thing. Raw is about processing; pure is about whether anything was added. The best honey is both. See our guide to pure raw honey in India.
How to choose the best raw honey in India: 6 checks
- Ingredients say only "honey". No sugar, syrup, jaggery, flavour or "honey blend".
- A named flower or bee. For example Litchi Blossom, Jamun Blossom, or Small Bee (Apis florea). "Multiflora" is fine if the region is named.
- A named region. A real place such as Bundelkhand or Bihar, not just "forest" or "Himalayan".
- A harvest season. Single-flower honeys come from a short flowering window, so the brand should know when.
- An NMR report for the batch. NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) testing can detect modern sugar syrups that older tests miss. Ask for the report that matches the batch number on your jar, with the lab's name and test date. More in NMR testing explained.
- No home-test "proof". Water, flame and thumb tests cannot detect sugar syrup. See what home tests really show.
7 raw Indian honeys compared
Every Shuddhta honey below is raw, has no added sugar, and is NMR tested batch by batch at an independent third-party laboratory.
| Honey | Source | Region | Taste | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Bee (Chhoti Makkhi Ka Shahad) | Apis florea, multiflora | Bundelkhand (UP) | Thick, floral, mild earthy notes | A rare, collector's honey |
| Wild Forest | Multiflora | Bundelkhand and Gujarat | Bold, earthy, woody | People who like strong honey |
| Jamun Blossom | Jamun flowers | Maharashtra and Bundelkhand (UP) | Bold, mildly tangy, dark | A seasonal, limited honey |
| Litchi Blossom | Litchi flowers | Bihar and West Bengal | Light, fruity, floral | First-time raw honey buyers, kids over 1 year |
| Tulsi Blossom | Tulsi flowers | UP and Madhya Pradesh | Warm, herbal-floral | Tea and warm water |
| Ajwain Blossom | Ajwain flowers | Rajasthan and Gujarat | Warm, aromatic, slightly spicy | After meals, adventurous palates |
| Himachal Multiflora | Multiflora | Himachal Pradesh | Clean, mildly sweet | Everyday use |
Not sure where to start? Litchi is the mildest, Wild Forest the boldest, and Small Bee the rarest. Every variety comes in a 50 GM jar for tasting.
Read the full guide for each honey: Small Bee (Chhoti Makkhi Ka Shahad) · Jamun Honey · Litchi Blossom Honey · Wild Forest Honey · Himachal Honey · 5 bee species found in India
Single-origin or multiflora: which is better?
Neither is better; they are different. Single-origin (monofloral) honey comes mostly from one flower, such as litchi or jamun, so it has a distinct, repeatable taste. Multiflora honey comes from many flowers in one region, so it tastes of that landscape and changes by season. What matters for quality is that the source is stated honestly. Read what single-origin honey means.
Why raw honey in India needs extra checking
In 2020, the Centre for Science and Environment tested 22 samples from 13 Indian honey brands. Most passed the standard Indian tests, but when sent for NMR testing abroad, CSE reported that 77% of samples were adulterated with sugar syrup (CSE). NMR testing is not mandatory for honey sold in India, which is why a batch report from the brand is the most useful thing you can ask for. Full details in NMR tested honey brands in India.
How Shuddhta meets these checks
- Raw: strained, not heated above 40°C, not pasteurised.
- Pure: no added sugar, syrup, flavour or preservatives. The Shuddhta purity standard.
- Traceable: every jar names its flower or bee and its region.
- Tested: every batch NMR tested at an independent third-party laboratory. Send the batch number on your jar to help@shuddhta.com or WhatsApp +91 92207 67378 for the report.
- Licensed: FSSAI licence no. 22725285000125.
Shop all raw honey → Free delivery on orders of ₹499 and above. Or browse the Desi Honey collection and rare Indian honeys.
More guides: tulsi honey benefits in winter, what ajwain honey tastes like, what "no added sugar" means on a label, honey asli hai ya nakli (Hindi guide), which honey suits your routine and how to consume honey: best time and methods.
New guides: raw vs processed honey, types of honey in India, honey vs jaggery vs sugar, how to buy real honey online, honey price per kg in India, can you put honey in hot water, how to store honey, small bee vs stingless bee honey and the Diwali honey gift guide.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best raw honey in India?
The one that is unheated, has no added sugar, names its flower and region, and comes with a batch NMR report. Taste is personal: choose a mild honey like Litchi or a bold one like Wild Forest.
Is raw honey the same as pure honey?
No. Raw means not heated or heavily filtered. Pure means nothing was added. Look for both.
Is crystallised honey fake?
No. Raw honey often crystallises in cool weather. Put the closed jar in warm water to soften it. Why raw honey crystallises.
Can a water test prove honey is pure?
No. Home tests show thickness, not whether sugar syrup was added. Only lab tests such as NMR can.
Which raw honey is best for tea?
Tulsi Blossom for a herbal taste, or Himachal Multiflora for a mild one. Add honey to warm, not boiling, tea.
Why does raw honey cost more?
Raw single-source honey is collected in short seasons, in smaller quantities, and is not blended to stretch supply. Testing every batch also adds cost.
Raw honey kaise pehchanein?
Label par sirf "honey" likha ho, phool aur jagah ka naam ho, aur brand batch ki NMR report de sake. Paani ya aag wale test se pata nahi chalta.
Can babies have raw honey?
No. Do not give any honey to infants under 12 months.
About the author
Pranjal Patel is the founder of Shuddhta Organic. He comes from a farming background and oversees sourcing and batch testing for Shuddhta's seven raw honeys. Read our story.
Sources
- Centre for Science and Environment: Food Fraud, honey investigation (2020)
- Business Today: CSE honey test results (December 2020)
Last updated: 9 October 2026. Honey is a food, not a medicine.
0 comments