A Taste of Florida: Discovering McCoy’s Honey
There is something special about opening a jar of honey and knowing that its flavor comes from the flowers and plants that surrounded the bees that made it. Honey isn't simply sweet—it can have floral, citrusy, earthy, rich, or even slightly caramel-like characteristics depending on where those busy little bees gathered their nectar.
Recently, I had the opportunity to discover McCoy’s Florida Honey, a family-owned honey company with a long history of beekeeping and a wonderful selection of Florida honey. What I really enjoy about varietal honey is that each type has its own personality, and McCoy’s gives you the chance to taste three very different sides of Florida: orange blossom, palmetto, and wildflower honey.
McCoy’s says its honey is minimally processed and heated, with nothing added and nothing removed. The company has been providing honey since 1984, continuing a family beekeeping tradition that goes back generations.
About McCoy’s Florida Honey
The McCoy family’s beekeeping story began long before the Florida operation. In 1946, Joseph L. McCoy purchased a beekeeping business in Michigan. His son, Mark, grew up learning the craft alongside his father and brothers.
In 1980, Mark and his wife, Elaine, moved to Florida. They started with just a few hives in their backyard and gradually built the business into a much larger operation with thousands of hives.
What I love about that story is that this isn't simply a company that decided to put honey in a jar. Beekeeping has been part of the McCoy family for generations. Today, their children are also involved in the business, helping continue that family tradition.
McCoy’s describes its honey as 100% natural, with minimal processing designed to preserve the quality of the honey.
And when you taste different varieties side by side, you can really appreciate how much the flowers and environment can influence honey.
McCoy’s Orange Blossom Honey
Orange Blossom Honey is probably one of the varieties that immediately makes me think of Florida.
McCoy’s Orange Blossom Honey comes from bees gathering nectar from orange groves and citrus-growing regions. The company describes it as having a sweet and citrusy flavor.
The Taste
This is the honey I would reach for when I want something bright and naturally sweet.
It has that familiar honey sweetness but with a delicate citrus character that makes it especially enjoyable. Instead of tasting like a heavy syrup, the orange blossom profile gives it a lighter, more refreshing personality.
The Texture
The texture is wonderfully smooth and syrupy, making it easy to drizzle over foods. Like other natural honey, the consistency can change over time, including becoming thicker or crystallizing naturally.
What I Would Pair It With
Orange Blossom Honey would be fantastic with:
Greek yogurt and fresh berries
Toast, biscuits, or English muffins
Pancakes and waffles
Fresh oranges and strawberries
Brie or goat cheese
Hot tea
Oatmeal
Granola
Baked chicken
Pork tenderloin
Salad dressings
Homemade marinades
One of my favorite ideas is to combine orange blossom honey with lemon, garlic, and a little olive oil to make a simple glaze for chicken.
And that brings me to my recipe!
🍊 Orange Blossom Honey Glazed Chicken
This recipe is an easy way to let the flavor of McCoy’s Orange Blossom Honey shine. The honey creates a beautiful sweet glaze while the garlic, lemon, and Dijon mustard keep the dish from becoming overly sweet.
Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/3 cup McCoy’s Orange Blossom Honey
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Directions
Preheat your oven to 400°F.
Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels and season both sides with salt, pepper, and paprika.
In a small bowl, whisk together the orange blossom honey, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, olive oil, and minced garlic.
Place the chicken breasts into a lightly greased baking dish.
Pour about half of the honey mixture over the chicken, making sure each piece is coated.
Bake for approximately 20–25 minutes, depending on the thickness of the chicken, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
During the last 5 minutes of cooking, brush the chicken with the remaining honey mixture.
Remove from the oven and let the chicken rest for about 5 minutes.
Sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving.
What to Serve With It
I would serve this chicken with roasted sweet potatoes, green beans, asparagus, or fluffy rice. For us tonight with the chicken, I served roasted veggies with more McCoy's honey.
For an extra Florida-inspired meal, serve it with a fresh citrus salad made with oranges, strawberries, mixed greens, and a light honey vinaigrette.
Momz Daily Scoops Tip: If you like a little heat, add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes to the honey glaze. The combination of sweet orange blossom honey and spicy red pepper is delicious!
McCoy’s Palmetto Honey
Next up is the Palmetto Honey, and this one has a distinctly Floridian story.
McCoy’s says its Palmetto Honey is produced by bees placed around the saw palmetto flats. It has a light amber color and a mild Florida flavor.
The Taste
Palmetto Honey has a more subtle personality than the Orange Blossom variety.
Instead of a pronounced citrus flavor, it has a mild, naturally sweet flavor that makes it incredibly versatile.
This is the type of honey I could see becoming an everyday pantry favorite because it doesn't overpower the food you're putting it on.
The Texture
Its smooth, syrupy texture makes it perfect for drizzling. It's especially nice when poured over warm biscuits or stirred into a cup of tea.
What I Would Pair It With
Try Palmetto Honey with:
Biscuits
Cornbread
Toast
Peanut butter
Cheese
Yogurt
Tea
Coffee
Oatmeal
Fried chicken
Grilled pork
Roasted vegetables
Barbecue sauces
I also think Palmetto Honey would be fantastic in homemade honey butter.
Simply mix softened butter with honey and a tiny pinch of salt. Spread it over warm biscuits or cornbread and watch it disappear!
McCoy’s customers have also praised the Palmetto variety, with one testimonial calling it their favorite honey.
McCoy’s Wildflower Honey
If you like honey with a little more depth and character, Wildflower Honey is definitely one to try.
McCoy’s describes its Wildflower Honey as a blend of late-summer honey produced throughout South Florida, resulting in a rich, dark amber honey full of flavor.
The Taste
This is where things get interesting.
Wildflower honey can have a much more complex flavor because bees may gather nectar from a variety of flowers. McCoy’s describes this particular honey as rich and full of flavor.
Compared with the lighter Orange Blossom and Palmetto varieties, this is the honey I would reach for when I want something with a little more presence.
The Texture
The texture is thick, smooth, and luxurious, making it wonderful for drizzling.
It would be especially good over warm foods where the honey slowly melts into whatever you're serving.
What I Would Pair It With
Wildflower honey would be delicious with:
Sharp cheddar cheese
Goat cheese
Brie
Charcuterie
Fresh apples
Pears
Toast
Biscuits
Pancakes
Pork chops
Roasted chicken
Barbecue
Granola
Ice cream
Dark chocolate
I especially like the idea of pairing the richer Wildflower Honey with a sharp cheese. The sweetness of the honey balances the salty, tangy flavor of the cheese beautifully.
Three Honeys, Three Personalities
What makes McCoy’s selection fun is that you aren't simply getting three jars of honey that all taste the same.
Orange Blossom Honey brings a bright, sweet citrus character.
Palmetto Honey offers a mild, smooth Florida flavor that works beautifully as an everyday honey.
Wildflower honey brings a richer, darker flavor with more depth.
Each one has its own place in the kitchen.
And that's what I love about discovering different honey varieties. They aren't just sweeteners. They can actually become ingredients.
Use them in marinades, sauces, salad dressings, baked goods, cocktails, breakfast dishes, desserts, and savory recipes.
My Favorite Ways to Enjoy McCoy’s Honey
If I had all three jars sitting on my kitchen counter, here are some of the first things I would make:
Orange Blossom
Honey-glazed chicken, citrus vinaigrette, yogurt parfaits, and honey-lemon tea.
Palmetto
Honey butter, biscuits, cornbread, peanut butter toast, and tea.
Wildflower
Cheese boards, pork chops, barbecue glaze, baked brie, and vanilla ice cream.
The possibilities are almost endless.
Final Thoughts
I really appreciate food companies that have a story behind their products, and McCoy’s Florida Honey certainly has one.
From a family beekeeping business that began in Michigan to a Florida operation that grew from a few backyard hives into thousands of hives, the McCoy family has spent generations learning about bees, honey, and the importance of taking care of the craft.
What stands out to me most is the opportunity to taste the differences between the varieties.
The Orange Blossom Honey gives you that beautiful citrus-inspired sweetness. The Palmetto Honey is mild, smooth, and incredibly versatile. And the Wildflower Honey brings a richer, darker flavor that's perfect for pairing with bold foods.
For me, honey is one of those simple ingredients that can completely change a recipe—and McCoy’s three varieties make it especially fun to experiment in the kitchen.
If you're a honey lover, I would definitely recommend trying the varieties side by side. You may be surprised by just how different honey can taste when the bees are gathering nectar from different plants and flowers.
From the hive to the kitchen, McCoy’s Honey brings a little taste of Florida to the table.
No comments:
Post a Comment