YOHO-ho! And a bottle of honey–Local shop offers sweet selections.
Okinawa Yoho Honey Bottles
Humans’ use of honey for medicinal reasons dates back thousands of years. Egyptians used it to dress wounds and embalm bodies. Today, there are lots of claims that honey can do much more, from preventing diseases to being a “better” sugar for diabetics (it’s not—it packs more calories and carbs and has the same effect as table sugar).
Miracle food? Not really
While most claims are unfounded, research does show that honey is antibacterial, antifungal, and an effective cough suppressant. So while the sweet stuff may not really curb allergy symptoms (ragweed and other airborne pollen are different than bee pollen), it is natural (for the most part) and helps fight off salmonella and other bacteria. And, let’s not forget, it’s quite tasty, too.
Try before you buy
YoHo Honey Shop Front
We wanted to taste some honey from a local shop, and found one of the Okinawa YOHO stores on 58. Inside, there were 5 different varieties to sample, though surprisingly, only one contained Okinawan honey, mixed with Chinese honey. Packaged with a white label, it was light and summery, no doubt a result of the tropical flowers grown on island. In fact, it’s called “100 Flower Honey.” The three Chinese varieties were darker shades, with deeper, more complex notes that wouldn’t get lost in a cup of strong tea or oatmeal.
A sweet obsession
Our favorite was the blueberry honey, from Canada. Light in texture with subtle hints of blueberry flavor, it would taste delicious drizzled on pancakes, waffles, or plain yogurt. During our visit, we also tried it mixed with plain Lipton iced tea, and were delightfully hooked.
One size fits all
YoHo Honey Store
Okinawa YOHO carries their 5 flavors of honey in sizes starting at 150 grams (about 2/3 cup) and up, so there’s a size to fit every household and budget, with more savings in the larger sizes. We even scored a couple jars at 10% off because the bottom was beginning to crystallize–easy to fix in a hot water bath on the stovetop (not in the microwave–the plastic will quickly melt).
Hours: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Tel: 098-982-8383
www.okinawa-yoho.co.jp
