As someone who uses honey almost daily, I’m always on the lookout for varieties that are not only flavorful but also authentic and responsibly sourced. Hilltop Honey caught my attention a while ago because of its wide range of products, ethical sourcing practices, and strong reputation in the UK. Over the past few months, I’ve tried several of their offerings, and in this review, I’ll be sharing my honest experience with them. From taste and texture to purity and packaging, here’s everything you need to know before picking up a jar of Hilltop Honey.
Taste & Appearance
One of the standout aspects of Hilltop Honey is its flavor diversity. Each variety truly has its own unique character. The Hot Honey instantly became my favorite with its bold mix of sweet honey and fiery habanero. It has a warm, lingering aftertaste that adds depth to pizza, chicken, and even roasted veggies. The Blossom Honey is another gem, offering a gentle floral sweetness that works beautifully on toast or in tea.
Visually, the honey’s color ranges widely depending on the type. Spring Honey is very light, Summer Honey is a lovely light amber, and Fall Honey appears darker and more robust. The Acacia Honey is pale and delicate, while Manuka Honey carries a deep amber tone with a strong herbal aroma. The textures vary too—from liquid and soft-set to creamed and even cut comb honey, offering different consistencies for every preference.
Overall, the taste experience with Hilltop Honey is incredibly satisfying. It’s clear they pay attention to sourcing and handling, as the flavors feel pure and untainted. Most varieties have a smooth, clean taste without the cloying sweetness that sometimes accompanies lower-quality honey.
Types Available
Hilltop Honey offers an impressive array of both monofloral and multifloral honeys. From well-known types like Manuka, Acacia, and Orange Blossom to regional choices such as Spring, Summer, and Fall Honey, the variety is quite extensive. For anyone who enjoys trying different honey types, Hilltop doesn’t disappoint.
There are also creative options like Hot Honey (which I adore) and Creamed Honey in flavors like cinnamon or peanut butter. For the more adventurous, Cut Comb Honey offers a natural, chewy experience straight from the hive. They even offer Organic and Kosher-certified options for those with specific dietary preferences. Their Manuka Honey comes graded by MGO content, offering choices for those seeking health benefits.
Whether you’re drizzling, spreading, cooking, or sweetening your tea, there’s likely a Hilltop variety for it.
Purity & Authenticity
One of the reasons I trust Hilltop Honey is their commitment to authenticity. The company performs rigorous in-house and third-party lab testing on every batch. They test for purity, sugar profile, pesticide residue, heavy metals, and even pollen origin to confirm geographical sourcing. Their Manuka Honey is tested twice to confirm both MGO levels and DNA markers.
The organic products come with Soil Association certification, and some jars also carry the KLBD Kosher logo. I especially appreciate their transparency about traceability—batch numbers and sourcing regions are usually printed on the packaging. While they avoid using the term “raw” due to regulatory definitions, Hilltop assures that their honey is minimally processed to retain its natural nutrients. Their cut comb version, for example, is completely raw and unfiltered.
It’s this level of openness and testing that gives me peace of mind, especially when buying higher-end options like Manuka. However, with some of their blended honeys, I did find the origin labeling a bit vague (like “EU and non-EU”), which may not satisfy those who prefer exact sourcing details.
Performance & Experience
When it comes to daily use, Hilltop Honey performs beautifully. I’ve used it in everything from teas and toast to marinades and baking. The lighter varieties like Acacia and Spring Honey dissolve quickly in warm drinks and don’t overpower the other flavors. For recipes needing bold flavor, Fall Honey with its dark, robust taste, works great in glazes or BBQ sauces.
Hot Honey deserves special mention here too—it’s become a go-to for jazzing up savory dishes. I also tried their Energy Gels and found them effective and gentle on the stomach during long runs.
Crystallization is something I encountered with a few jars, but it was expected and natural. Following Hilltop’s guidance (warming the jar gently), I could return it to a smooth state without much hassle. Their creamed and soft-set honeys offer a thick, buttery consistency that’s ideal for spreading and avoids this issue altogether.
Brand Reputation
Hilltop Honey has earned a strong reputation, particularly in the UK. Founded by Scott Davies, the company has grown considerably, becoming a fixture in supermarkets and health stores. Their ethically sourced, lab-tested honey has built a loyal customer base.
They’re also quite transparent—offering detailed insights on their website about honey testing, traceability, and bee welfare. The fact that they were the first UK honey brand to earn B Corp certification adds to their credibility.
Customer reviews are largely positive, praising the taste, quality, and value. There are occasional concerns over the vague origin of some blended varieties, but overall, the sentiment is favorable. They even donate to bee-related charities and advocate for environmental responsibility.
Packaging & Size
Packaging-wise, Hilltop Honey does a great job. I found the glass jars sturdy and attractive, while the squeezy bottles are super convenient—especially for Hot Honey and Blossom varieties. Their labels are clean and informative, listing sourcing details, expiration dates, and certification logos.
Sizes range from small 200g jars to large 720g bottles. There are bulk packs available on their UK site, which is a great option if you go through honey as quickly as I do. While I didn’t spot many single-serve packs in the regular range, they do offer travel-friendly gels for athletes under their Hilltop Energy brand.
I also appreciated the use of biodegradable packaging materials for shipping, which aligns with their sustainability goals.
Price & Value
In terms of price, Hilltop Honey strikes a reasonable balance. Their standard honeys like Blossom or Acacia are quite affordable, especially in the UK. For example, a 340g squeezy bottle of Blossom Honey costs just a few pounds.
Their Manuka Honey, of course, sits at the premium end. I tried the MGO 100+ version, which cost around $33 USD. While not cheap, it’s reasonably priced compared to competitors, especially given the testing and certification involved.
Bulk packs and larger sizes offer better value per gram. I also found that the quality more than justifies the price—this isn’t overly processed supermarket stuff. It’s real honey, tested and traceable.
Overall Rating
Overall, I’d give Hilltop Honey a solid 4.7 out of 5. The brand delivers on its promise of quality, variety, and responsibility. Whether you’re after a reliable everyday honey, a bold hot honey drizzle, or a spoonful of medicinal-grade Manuka, Hilltop has something for you. The few drawbacks—like vague sourcing info on blends or the high price of Manuka—are minor compared to the strengths. If you care about flavor, purity, and ethics, this is a brand worth exploring.
