Why Honey Crystallises | NZ Manuka Honey

Why honey crystallises, and why it isn't a fault

Honey sets. It is a sugar solution holding more sugar than it comfortably can, so some of it comes out of solution as crystals. A set jar is the same honey it was when it was runny, and creamed honey is simply honey that has been set deliberately to a smooth texture.

Last checked 16 September 2026 against Arataki Honey

Updated 16 September 2026 · About 4 minutes to read · Written by NZ Mānuka Honey

What is creamed honey, then?

Set honey, controlled. Arataki describe their creamed range as "crafted using our tried & true creamed honey process to create a honey with a beautifully smooth, thick and spreadable texture", and sell several floral types both ways — creamed and liquid — at the same price. Airborne describe theirs as "smooth, creamy, and perfectly spreadable".

Does setting mean it's gone off?

No. It's a texture change, not spoilage. The main reason to care is practical: a set jar doesn't drizzle, and a runny jar doesn't stay on toast. Producers pick which one to sell you, and several sell both.

How should I store it?

Cool and dry, out of direct sun, lid on. Heat is the one thing worth avoiding: UMFHA tests HMF specifically because it shows whether honey has been overheated or stored too long. That's their reason for testing it, and it's a good enough reason to keep a jar off a sunny windowsill.

Which New Zealand honeys set fastest?

We don't have a sourced answer, and it varies with the floral source and the storage. What we can point at is which producers sell which types creamed by default: Arataki's clover, kāmahi, rātā, pōhutukawa, thyme and tāwari are all creamed, and Airborne's clover, rewarewa and bush honeys are too.

Frequently asked questions

Is creamed honey whipped with something?

No. It's honey, set to a fine crystal so it spreads. Producers' own pages describe it as a process applied to their own honey, not an added ingredient.

Can I still use crystallised honey?

Yes. It's the same honey.

Does mānuka crystallise?

Honey generally does, and mānuka is honey. Several producers sell mānuka as a thick, spreadable product for exactly that reason.

Does storing it in the fridge help?

Airborne suggest refrigerating their vipers bugloss honey for a chewy texture, which is a texture preference rather than a storage rule. Cool, dry and out of the sun is the general answer.