At a glance
Coriander honey
Coriandrum sativum
Colour
Light amber to amberup to 80 mm Pfund
Aroma
Spicymore pronounced on the palate
Taste
Sweetno other marked taste
Crystallisation
Rapidsets early
Season
Summerflowering of the crop
Region
South-central Andalusiacultivated fields
Pollen reference
20%intermediate pollen representation
Conductivity
up to 0.60 mS/cmmoderate
Some Iberian honeys smell strongly of flowers or herbs. Coriander offers something different. Its defining aroma is reminiscent of a culinary spice.
The crop is grown in southern Andalusia for its aromatic seeds. Bees visit the flowers in summer. The resulting honey has a gentle floral aroma that develops a distinct spicy note as you taste it.
Reading and tasting coriander honey
This Spanish-language field guide compares botanical origin, tasting and laboratory findings. Use the profile together with the traceability of the lot.
Find the spice note on the palate
- Smell the sample, then taste it and record the difference.
- Compare the spicy note with a labelled sample of anise honey.
Where the spicy note appears
Thyme, lavender and heather honey can all be highly aromatic. With coriander, the particular impression is closer to a spice than to a flower. It is quiet on the nose and grows as the aroma reaches the nose from the mouth.
Anise honey shares that quality. Both plants belong to the carrot family and are grown for their seeds, although their honeys differ markedly in colour.
Colour
Light amber to amber, up to 80 mm on the Pfund scale.
Coriander honey on the Pfund scale
In the light amber to amber range. On-screen colours give an approximate visual guide. A laboratory measures the actual value.
Aroma, taste and texture
Sensory profile
Our interpretation of the descriptions in the Guía de mieles monoflorales ibéricas. A delicate aroma in the jar develops on the palate.
Aroma
A faint floral scent gives way to a distinct spicy aroma that grows on the palate.
Taste
The taste itself is sweet. The distinctive spicy character comes from the aroma.
Crystallisation
The guide describes rapid crystallisation. A jar may set quite early after harvest.
Interpreting the laboratory profile
| Parameter | Reference in the guide | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| Colour | up to 80 mm Pfund | Light amber to amber. |
| Moisture | up to 18% | Fermentation risk increases above the guide value. The general EU limit for blossom honey is 20%. |
| Fructose and glucose combined | at least 60% | A characteristic of blossom honey. This figure on its own cannot exclude added syrup. |
| Sucrose | up to 5% | One of the sugars reported in the analysis. |
| Electrical conductivity | up to 0.60 mS/cm | Moderate. |
| Free acidity | up to 50 meq/kg | Can rise with fermentation or extended storage. |
| HMF | up to 40 mg/kg | HMF increases with heat and time in storage. |
| Diastase activity | at least 8 Schade units | Indicator of enzyme activity, which can decline with heat. |
| Coriandrum pollen | at least 20% | Intermediate pollen representation. The percentage refers to the grains counted. |
Reference ranges from the Guía de mieles monoflorales ibéricas, fourth edition (2023). These characterise the variety. Spanish statutory limits are set by Royal Decree 1049/2003 as amended by Royal Decree 68/2025, including a general maximum of 20% moisture and 40 mg/kg HMF, subject to the exceptions in the legislation.
Other pollen in coriander honey
- Thistle-type composites
- Wild mustard-type brassicas
- Viper’s bugloss
- Rockrose family
- Legumes
- Mint family
Growing areas and harvest season
The Iberian guide identifies cultivated areas in south-central Andalusia, with a summer harvest. As with oilseed rape and sunflower, the areas sown each year determine where a crop is possible.
Coriander honey flow
FloweringFlowering and harvest
The guide places the main harvest in summer. The crop offers a comparatively short flowering period.
How to recognise coriander honey
- 1Taste for the spice note. The scent in the jar is mild. The spicy aroma is easier to detect on the palate.
- 2Light amber to amber, up to 80 mm Pfund.
- 3Taste for clean sweetness. Little marked acidity, bitterness or saltiness.
- 4It sets quickly. Long-lasting fluidity is unusual for this profile.
- 5Check the pollen report. The Iberian guide sets a 20% coriander pollen threshold, to be interpreted with the other findings.
For a broader view, see how to assess honey quality and our guide to Spanish honey labelling requirements.
Composition and health claims
The properties attributed to coriander seed cannot be transferred to the honey. EU rules govern health claims on foods.
These characteristics matter when tasting or using the honey.
- Along with anise, it is one of the guide’s two notable examples of a spicy honey.
- The aroma develops as you taste. Smelling the open jar captures only part of it.
- It soon sets to a texture suited to spreading.
- The spice note works well with marinades, roast vegetables, lamb and spiced cakes.
Who should take particular care?
Children under 12 months. Do not give honey to infants under one year. It can contain spores of Clostridium botulinum that may cause infant botulism. This applies to all types of honey.
Diabetes. honey is a source of sugars. This also applies to natural and monofloral honeys when planning a diet.
Known allergy. Anyone with a diagnosed allergy to honey or bee products should consult their clinician if unsure what is safe for them.
Frequently asked questions
What does coriander honey taste like?
The taste is sweet and mild. Its distinction lies in its faint floral aroma and a clear spicy note that becomes more pronounced as you taste it.
Which other Iberian honeys have a spicy note?
The guide also identifies anise honey. Both come from plants grown for aromatic seeds. Coriander honey is light amber to amber. Anise honey is much darker and has a more intense aroma.
Where is coriander honey harvested in Spain?
The guide lists cultivated fields in south-central Andalusia and a summer flow. As with oilseed rape and sunflower, yields depend partly on how much crop was planted that year.
Who should take particular care?
Never give honey to a baby under 12 months because of the risk of infant botulism. People with diabetes should count its sugars in their diet. Anyone with a diagnosed allergy to hive products should seek individual medical advice.
Where to buy coriander honey
We do not stock coriander honey at present. The harvest varies with each Andalusian growing season. Ask beekeepers near the crops in southern Andalusia. For an aromatic honey from our own range, try raw thyme honey.
Sources
The reference ranges come from the fourth edition (June 2023) of the Guía de mieles monoflorales ibéricas by J. Orantes, F. Gonell, C. Torres and A. Gómez-Pajuelo, published by Laboratorios Apinevada and Pajuelo Consultores Apícolas. Their work draws on a series reaching back to 1980 and more than 3,600 analyses a year across the two laboratories. The printed guide in Spanish is available in our shop.
This profile belongs to our series on Iberian honeys. Its closest aromatic comparison is anise honey. Like oilseed rape and sunflower honey, its harvest follows a cultivated crop.
