With a growing variety of artisanal honeys - bearing the flavours of fruits, herbs, spices like vanilla or cardamom, or even white truffle - it's more tempting than ever to share in the nectar of the gods.

Honey is made by honeybees using nectar collected from flowers in bloom. The type of flower affects the colour, flavour and consistency of the honey.

The following badger-friendly varieties are available from Woolworths:

HONEY VARIETIES AND FLAVOUR PAIRINGS

Orange-blossom honey:

Orange-blossom honey is produced in flowering orange orchards and has a delicate orange flavour and aroma.

serve:

• Warm with white balsamic vinegar and pour over watercress and sliced avocado
• Mix with garlic, lemon juice and chilli, and pour over lamb cutlets before grilling.

Blue-gum honey:

Blue-gum honey comes from the flowers of eucalyptus trees and has a distinctive malty taste.

serve:

• Melt with butter and seeds of a vanilla pod, pour over steamed prawns.
• Pour over Camembert, grill until it bubbles, and serve with Melba toast

Subtropical honey

Subtropical honey is a blend of orange blossom, litchi and aloe or acacia honey, which has a fruity aromatic flavour.

serve:

• Stir-fry slices of beef fillet with soya, grated ginger and honey. Add fresh coriander and serve.
• Pour over chicken breasts and toss in chopped almonds before grilling.

Fynbos honey

Fynbos honey is produced from the Western Cape's indigenous fynbos and has a delicate floral taste.

serve:

• Add a few sliced truffles to a jar of honey. Eat with raisins and strong Cheddar cheese.
• Drizzle over ripe mango cheeks and add a squeeze of lime juice.