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Honey is a healthy gift from nature, great in tea as a sugar substitute and as a topping for ice cream.  But did you know that honey has been useful to mankind for over 4,500 years?  The first proof of its use as an ointment for wounds comes from a clay tablet found in ancient Sumeria dating back to 2500 BC.  Ancient Egyptians also used honey to heal wounds, as did the ancient Greeks and Romans. Modern research has proven that honey can be used as an emollient in wound healing.  It fights inflammations, kills bacteria and heals burns. Honey also is a natural anti-oxidant when eaten as food.  It has a very complex composition that includes enzymes, folic acid, minerals… It is estimated that honey contains hundreds of components, and even with today’s modern technology, the mysteries of honey are not completely solved. There are many kinds of honey gathered from the nectar of many kinds of flowers.  Over the years I have used several varieties in my tea, on my ice cream, and eaten honey by the spoonfuls, but I had never tasted buckwheat honey until I moved to Bedford and went on a day-trip to a festival where it was available.  And what a great, lingering after-taste it left!  Its flavor is very difficult to explain in words.  It is very robust with a rich malty taste that is not too sweet. After finishing the buckwheat honey I bought at the festival, I looked for more, but it was difficult to find.  So I added it to my list of what I would sell when I opened a shop.  I then did some research on buckwheat honey.  I found out it is rarer than other types of honey.  It is produced mostly in Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.  Buckwheat honey has more mineral content and is a more powerful anti-oxidant than lighter color honeys. A tidbit--  Honey is the only food that does not spoil with time.  But it does crystallize with time. The best way to store honey is at room temperature, away from sunlight.  Never store it in a refrigerator.  Honey will crystallize more quickly if exposed to low temperatures.  You can return it to its original liquid form by placing the jar in warm water until it liquifies, but never place it in hot or boiling water. 1 lb buckwheat honey in glass jar   $6.50 2 lbs buckwheat honey in glass jar   $12