Sulla is a fine monofloral honey that is grown mainly in southern Italy, the islands, Emilia Romagna and Liguria. It has numerous properties and benefits, but also some contraindications. How to use? Where can you buy it?
The grass on the is a legume belonging to the Fabaceae family, present mainly in Western Europe, as well as in North America, Australia and New Zealand. Between April and June, the grass on the is dressed with beautiful purple flowers, which are a rich source of nectar for bees.
The honey of sulla is not one of the best known and is mainly cultivated in Italy; it has a very delicate flavor, with floral notes that are influenced by the production environment; for example, in Sicily and Calabria it often has citrus notes, due to the large citrus cultivation of these two regions. The color is straw yellow, but becomes white-beige when it crystallizes. The consistency is creamy; the purer it is, the more it crystallizes easily. But what are the properties of honey from sulla? Let’s see them below.
Sulla honey: calories and nutritional properties
The honey of sulla has a lower sweetening power than that of acacia honey, but it is still very sweet; it mainly contains glucose and fructose, in fairly balanced quantities.
It is a rich source of minerals, mainly magnesium, copper, zinc and manganese. It also contains some B vitamins, vitamin A and vitamin C.
Sulla honey, like all other types of honey, is an immediate source of energy and has a high calorific value. It is difficult to give a precise indication, as not all products have exactly the same nutritional values. On average, however, 100 grams of honey contains about 310 calories. As a result, one teaspoon (about 10 grams) contains roughly 31 calories.
On the honey: the health benefits
Sulla honey has the qualities generally present in other types of honey: high digestibility, soothing action in case of cough and sore throat, remineralizing activity for the body.
✓ It is an immediate source of energy
Characteristic that belongs to all types of honey and that brings benefits especially to sportsmen. The rather balanced ratio between glucose and fructose, with a higher prevalence of glucose compared to acacia honey, makes the honey very precious especially in those sports activities that require prolonged effort (over an hour) and in which during the training or competition, supplementation with glucose-containing solutions is recommended.
✓ Helps to preserve the functioning of the gastro-intestinal system
In addition to being very digestible, it has a mildly laxative action and therefore promotes intestinal motility. Be careful, however, not to overdo the quantities; excessive consumption, in fact, can result in abdominal pain, diarrhea and flatulence.
✓ It is a natural supplement of minerals and vitamins
Like other types of honey, in fact, it is an excellent tonic. It is therefore indicated in the diet of people who need to easily replenish minerals, for example during a convalescence.
✓ It is an excellent natural substitute for cough syrups
Honey, regardless of its type, is the most popular natural remedy for coughs and sore throats. It helps to soothe the cough stimulus and has a mildly anti-inflammatory and antibacterial action.
✓ Helps keep the body “clean”
Sul honey is attributed with a slight diuretic action and detoxifying activity, especially at the liver level.
How to use honey from sulla
Sulla honey, like all types of honey, is mainly used as a natural sweetener. It has a neutral flavor and is quite sweet; less than that of acacia, but more than that of citrus.
It is an ingredient present in many sweet recipes and is used above all for the preparation of nougat . Excellent pairing with different types of cheese, its flavor goes particularly well with goats, both fresh and more seasoned.
It can also be safely consumed in crystallized form. Those who prefer it in any case fluid can melt it in a water bath.
Is sulla honey suitable for cosmetic use?
The general, honey is an excellent ally of beauty. The honey of Sulla, being less fluid than other types and being mostly crystallized, especially in the cold months, is less simple to use in DIY cosmetic preparations.
However, for example, a little honey applied directly to pimples and acne helps to get rid of them faster. Furthermore, the tendency to crystallize and the grainy appearance it assumes is an excellent natural scrub for face and body.
If you want to use it inside a mask or cream for face and body, or in a hair product, it is advisable to melt it on the fire in a bain-marie to make it more fluid, especially when it is completely crystallized.
Storage of honey from sulla
Sulla honey should be stored in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight, preferably in glass jars. The storage temperature must not be too cold and in any case must not exceed 25 ° C. In any case, in the winter months, the honey from sulla will tend to crystallize and therefore become harder.
Contraindications of honey from sulla
Sulla honey, like all other types of honey, contains mainly simple carbohydrates, therefore it is not indicated in people with diabetes, obesity, overweight and metabolic disorders; people with these characteristics should consult a specialist to evaluate the maximum amount to be included in the diet. Even healthy subjects must be careful to consume it in moderate quantities because an excess of calories and simple sugars is not good for anyone.
Sulla honey is contraindicated in those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome and diarrhea, as well as in people intolerant to fructose.
Like all types of honey, it should not be offered to children under one year of age. Never put it on the pacifier, even in older children. Honey, in fact, exposes you to the risk of tooth decay. After taking, particular attention should be paid to dental hygiene.
Honey from sulla: prices and purchase
Sulla honey is one of those products that makes you want to buy directly from the producer. In the countryside and in the small towns of some Italian regions there is an excellent quality honey, often organic, grown near parks and nature reserves.
If you do not have the opportunity to take a tour in the Val Sinni, in the Parco delle Dolomiti Lucane or in other places where quality organic honey is grown, you can also buy it elsewhere, but you will hardly find it in supermarkets or in large distribution. A very simple way to buy sulla honey is to take a tour of the various producers’ websites or those specializing in the sale of natural products.
The price, as often happens, is very variable. In any case, honey from sulla, like all valuable products, is not cheap; the price averages around 20/25 USD per kilo, but take it as a rough indication because it is, in fact, a very variable parameter, which depends on many factors.
