Let These Five Honey Jars Transport You to Italy, Hawaii, and Beyond

Terroir—the way a region's soil and climate shapes a product's taste and flavor—is commonly used to describe wine, spirits, and coffee. It's also rapidly becoming an exciting way to differentiate between honeys, which can take consumers to Northern California, Hawaii, Piemonte, and beyond. Here are five jars that smell and taste as sweet as a much-needed vacation. For an extra-special serving utensil for these unique honeys, treat yourself to a Ukrainian-made, wooden honey dipper—the honeycomb shaped holes mean maximum honey on your toast with minimum drips on the table. $7, etsy.com/shop/woodstuffhome

Miele Di Rododendero Honey

If you've ever enjoyed a crisp bottle of Nebbiolo, then you've experienced the magic of Piemontese terroir. This honey hails from the northwestern hills of the famed Italian winemaking region, and comes across as peppery, mildly acidic, and slightly earthy. Pro tip: Build a honey flight at home by comparing different vintages. $18 to $25, madrosefoods.com

Brightland Raw Honey The Couplet

Known for their beautifully branded and sustainably sourced olive oils, founder Aishwarya Iyer and the team at Brightland partnered with family-run farms to produce a delightful pair of honeys. There's a classic floral California Orange Blossom honey from the Central Valley, and a complex Wildflower Honey sourced from Kauai, Hawaii that has scrumptious, molasses-like notes. $42, brightland.co

Jacobsen Salt Co., Raw Blackberry Honey

Sourced from the Willamette Valley, this is a single-origin, pollen-rich honey with sweet acidity and a silky smooth texture. Its floral notes make it ideal for baking or simply spooning into a hot mug of tea. $11, jacobsensalt.com

Flamingo Estate Deep Crimson Moon Harvest Saffron Honey

Founder Richard Christiansen has twenty-five hives on his idyllic estate in Los Angeles, and comes from a family of Australian honey makers, which is one reason to splurge on Flamingo Estate's stunningly hued saffron honey. The other is the surprising versatility of this earthy yet acidic jar, which Christiansen uses to finish grilled seafood, roasted vegetables, and even as an indulgent ice cream topping. $90, flamingoestate.com

Wai Meli Honey

Macadamia blossoms from the Pa'auilo beeyards of Hawaii make this dark, molasses-y honey an absolute treat to dip tart green apples into, while earthy eucalyptus notes make it a not-too-sweet option to drizzle on top of pizza or in brines. $26, ourgreenhouse.com