WHAT IS IT? Honey is a thick, sweet liquid made by bees from flower nectar. There are more than 300 kinds of honey available in the U.S. such as clover, sage, buckwheat, orange blossom and alfalfa, to name just a few.

A RULE OF THUMB: the darker the color of honey, the stronger its flavor. Bear this in mind when cooking with honey.

USE: Honey is used as a sweetener in baked goods, with teas, and in some main dish glazes.

STORAGE:Store honey in a cool, dry place. Liquid honey will keep for up to a year; comb and chunk honey stays good for six months. If you refrigerate honey, it will crystallize, but can be re-liquefied by heating it in a microwave or on a stovetop in a pan of shallow water.

FOR MORE INFO:To learn more about honey available in your area, contact a local beekeeper, honey packer, distributor or the National Honey Board.