Real Texas Honey™

Ensuring Quality and Authenticity

Texas bees and beekeepers diligently produce high-quality honey. Real Texas Honey™ is a non-profit organization in Texas committed to promoting honey that is 100% produced by Texas honey bees. Participants in this program must adhere to strict guidelines to ensure that the honey they sell, bearing the Real Texas Honey™ seal, is pure and unadulterated, made solely by honey bees in Texas.

When you spot the distinctive Real Texas Honey™ seal on a jar, you can be confident that the honey inside is genuine. Participants undergo inspections by a five-member board appointed by the Texas Beekeepers Association. Additionally, random honey samples are subjected to pollen testing and nuclear magnetic resonance testing to verify that the honey is pure and derived from Texas nectars.

Why Support Your Local Texas Beekeeper?

• Support your local agricultural community.
• Keep your hard-earned money within the local economy.
• Approximately 70% of honey sold in the US is imported (USDA-ERS and USDA-AMS).
• Ensure you are purchasing genuine Texas honey.
• The USDA and FDA do not regulate terms like raw, local, natural, or unfiltered for honey.
• Real local raw honey contains local pollens.
• Support your local beekeeper to help keep Texas honey bees thriving.

Definitions of Real Texas Honey™ Products

Honey – A sweet substance produced by honey bees from plant nectar.

Raw – Honey that has not been heated above 120°F, preserving natural enzymes and other benefits. Excessive heating can weaken or destroy these properties.

Unfiltered – Honey that retains small particles like bits of wax and pollen grains. Coarse straining is permitted to remove larger particles while retaining nutrients and pollen. Ultra-filtered honey, which has all pollen removed to extend shelf life, is not eligible for the Real Texas Honey™ program.

Pure – 100% honey with no additives, flavorings, or adulterants. According to the Texas Agriculture Code, “pure honey” is nectar transformed by bees, either in the comb or packaged in liquid, crystallized, or granular form.

Local – Honey produced and consumed within the same eco-region, containing pollens from local flowers and plants. Use the Honey Locator to find local honey in your area.

Honey Producer – A beekeeper who produces 100% of their own honey.

Honey Producer/Packer – A beekeeper who produces and packages 100% of their honey.

Honey Packer/Producer – An individual who produces at least 30% of their packaged honey product.

Crystallized Honey – Most Texas honey will naturally crystallize over time. To return it to a liquid state, gently warm it in hot water but avoid using a microwave oven. Real honey does not spoil unless it ferments due to excessive moisture.