DESSERTS

Raw Honeycomb

low carb vegan dessert for the cheat days

In my part of the world, I can obtain raw honeycomb by driving out into the rural areas and visiting the shops of the beekeepers, or I can drive five minutes down the road to a neighborhood Middle Eastern grocer.

While not low carb per se, raw honeycomb is a great cheat meal dessert, and makes you feel exceptionally close to the food chain while developing empathy for struggling bee populations.

Raw honeycomb is basically sugar but with some amounts of trace elements (vitamins and minerals), antioxidants, enzymes (like amylase and invertase), and a resinous substance called propolis.

The research on raw honey — and honeycomb — is pretty thin at the time of writing, but in general honey interests researchers and nutritionists for potential benefits related to wound healing, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, immune system support, antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, and oral health.

While there may be some possible health benefits that can accrue from occasionally eating raw honeycomb, really you should just eat it because it’s a natural source of great tasting and interesting to contemplate sticky energy. Consider pairing it with nuts and dried fruit, if you are particularly hungry!

When eating raw honeycomb, I sometimes find I get these chewy waxy pieces I really don’t feel like chewing on any longer and swallowing. If eating alone, I politely cover my mouth with a table napkin and push it out of my mouth into a paper tissue. If eating with others in a social setting, I just put my fingers into my mouth and dig around to force it out and flick it onto the edge of my plate.