Greek Foods - The Health Benefits of Greek Thyme Honey

Greek thyme honey, as well as being one of the finest tasting honeys in the world, is packed with a range of health benefits. The Ancient Greeks used honey as a medicine, especially for diseases of the gut and as an antiseptic for wounds (Zeina, Othman, Al-Assad; 1996).

Greek thyme honey is infused with layers of flavour from the abundant wildflowers carpeting the mountains in spring and summer. One of the most prominent and fragrant of these is wild thyme,Thymus serpyllum, which is a staple of the Greek diet. Thyme is known to have medicinal qualities, mainly due to the antibacterial agent, thymol, and some of this goodness transfers into the Greek thyme honey.

Along with Greek Ouzo, To Farmako, ‘The Medicine,’ and Greek Olive Oil, thyme honey is one of the staples of Traditional Greek Folk Medicine

• Greek thyme honey is perfect for relieving the worst effects of the sore throat associated with colds and flu (Yaniv & Rudich, 1996). Try a spoonful dissolved in a herbal tea, or a spoonful in a hot Tsipouro or brandy.
• Greek thyme honey makes an excellent facemask, clearing blocked pores and rejuvenating damaged skin. If you have dry skin, try mixing one egg yolk, a teaspoon of olive oil, and a teaspoon of Greek thyme honey. Apply and leave for 15 minutes, washing off with warm water and then rejuvenating the pores with a splash of ice cold water.
• You could try mixing a little ground oatmeal into some Greek thyme honey, applying to the skin and leaving for 15 – 30 minutes. Wash with warm water and your skin will feel tight and rejuvenated.

• Honey has excellent anti-bacterial and antifungal properties, and it is still used, in Greece, as a poultice for wounds, to prevent infection. Honey is commonly used covering for burns and scalds, and is currently used by the British Armed Forces. (Zeina, Othman, Al-Assad; 1996)
• Honey has been shown to be effective against salmonella, E. coli and Vibrio cholera, so a diet rich in honey is effective against food poisoning. Thyme honey is the most effective honey for inhibiting the growth of bacteria (Ceyhan & Agur, 2001)

• Honey is effective against the rubella virus, another reason why it is commonly used in cough mixtures and decongestants. (Zeina, Othman, Al-Assad; 1996)
• There is anecdotal evidence to suggest that honey has anti-cholesterol properties, and that a diet with a moderate amount of honey, containing antioxidants, is an excellent supplement to fruits, vegetables and nuts.
• Anecdotal evidence suggests that Greek thyme honey may prevent breast and prostate cancer. As yet, this is far from certain, but experiments are ongoing (Apitherapy News, 2009).

Greek honey is a part of the famous Mediterranean diet, regarded as one of the healthiest diets in the world. Greeks live for a long time, and I know four people in my area who are over 100 years of age, and many more well into their 90’s. Part of this is down to an active lifestyle, but much of it is dues to the healthy and wholesome Greek foods, packed with anti-oxidants and vitamins.

Greek thyme honey certainly deserves its place amongst the pantheon of healthy Greek foods, and is a staple of the Greek diet. Try it smothered over a serving of Greek yoghurt, as part of a healthy Greek breakfast, or used to make the delectable and addictive baklava.

Greek thyme honey is filled with complex, rich flavours, the sweet molasses and slight bitterness blending beautifully with the floral taste. This versatility sees Greek thyme honey used with feta cheeses and meat, as well as sweet dishes.

One wonderful drink, which I have on a cold morning, or when I have a cold, is Rakomelo. This drink is made from Greek thyme honey and the fiery grape-based spirit, tsipourou, known as ‘raki’ in parts of Greece

To about 250 ml of raki, add a couple of cloves, a cinnamon stick, and about 3 teaspoons of Greek thyme honey. Bring to the boil in a small saucepan and simmer for about a minute, then serve.

I sometimes add a little lemon juice or a couple of cardamom pods, too. If you cannot find raki, any bitter spirit is good – tequila and absinthe are good, and I have used whisky and rum in a pinch. 

Greek Ouzo – A look in to the noble history of Greek Ouzo and a guie to the subtle blend of herbs that gives this Greek drink its flavor. Well worth a read if you want to find out more about Greek Ouzo, the national drink of Greece.

Greek Ouzo – To Farmako – The Medicine – Many Greeks swear that Greek Ouzo has medicinal benfits, although their wives claim that this is just an excuse for spending time in the taverna. This article explores the truth behind Greek Ouzo’s medicinal benefits.

The Ten Stages of Greek Ouzo Oblivion: Greek Ouzo should not be taken lightly, and overdoing it will bring harsh consequences. In this satirical Hub about the perils of Greek Ouzo, Dirty Harry himself warns you not to do it.

The Greek Breakfast – Tomatoes, Feta and Bread: The Greek Breakfast is simple and can even be enjoyed with Greek Ouzo, if you want.

Olive Oil – The Healthy Choice for Cardiac Patients: Olive oil is the king of Greek foods, renowned for its healthy qualities, especially for cardiac patients. Maybe this will counteract the effects of the Ouzo.

Greek Foods and Drinks – Greek Ouzo Etiquette In this Hub, I reveal a little about the ancient customs and traditions behind Greek Ouzo, and how to enjoy this wonderful drink.

Greek Foods: Greek Honey – The Food of the Gods  Greek honey is renowned for its light flavour and rich, mellow sweetness. Learn a little about what gives Greek honey its unique taste and characteristic texture.

Traditional Greek Folk Medicine: The Greeks have many old remedies, which avoid the need for expensive medicines and unnecessary trips to the doctor. Greeks have one of the longest average lifespans in the world, so they must be doing something right!

Apitherapy News (2009). Thyme Honey may Prevent Breast, Prostate, Endometrial Cancer. http://apitherapy.blogspot.com/2009/03/thyme-honey-may-help-prevent-breast.html

Bassam Zeina, Omar Othman & Saada Al-Assad (1996). The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2(3): 345-348. doi:10.1089/acm.1996.2.345. http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/acm.1996.2.345

Ceyhan Nur & Ugur, Aysel. (2001). Investigation of in vitro Antimicrobial Activity of Honey. Rivista Di Biologia Biology Forum. http://www2.tilgher.it/chrCorrelati/upload/doc/Abs_Ugur.pdf

Yaniv, Z, Rudich, M. (1996) Medicinal herbs as a potential source of high quality honeys. In Bee Products. Ed. Avshalom Mizrahi & Yaacov Lensky. New York: Picaurn.