The USDA honey grade scale is:
| Grade
|
Soluble solids
|
Flavor and aroma
|
Absence of defects
|
Clarity
|
| A
|
≥ 81.4%
|
- Good
- "has a good, normal flavor and aroma for the predominant floral source or, when blended, a good flavor for the blend of floral sources and the honey is free from caramelized flavor or objectionable flavor caused by fermentation, smoke, chemicals, or other causes with the exception of the predominant floral source"
|
- Practically free
- "contains practically no defects that affect the appearance or edibility of the product"
|
- Clear
- "may contain air bubbles which do not materially affect the appearance of the product and may contain a trace of pollen grains or other finely divided particles of suspended material which do not affect the appearance of the product"
|
| B
|
≥ 81.4%
|
- Reasonably good
- "has a reasonably good, normal flavor and aroma for the predominant floral source or, when blended, a reasonably good flavor for the blend of floral sources and the honey is practically free from caramelized flavor and is free from objectionable flavor caused by fermentation, smoke, chemicals, or other causes with the exception of the predominant floral source"
|
- Reasonably free
- "may contain defects which do not materially affect the appearance or edibility of the product"
|
- Reasonably clear
- "may contain air bubbles, pollen grains, or other finely divided particles of suspended material which do not materially affect the appearance of the product"
|
| C
|
≥ 80.0%
|
- Fairly good
- "has a fairly good, normal flavor and aroma for the predominant floral source or, when blended, a fairly good flavor for the blend of floral sources and the honey is reasonably free from caramelized flavor and is free from objectionable flavor caused by fermentation, smoke, chemicals, or other causes with the exception of the predominant floral source"
|
- Fairly free
- "may contain defects which do not seriously affect the appearance or edibility of the product"
|
- Fairly clear
- "may contain air bubbles, pollen grains, or other finely divided particles of suspended material which do not seriously affect the appearance of the product"
|
| Substandard
|
Fails Grade C
|
Fails Grade C
|
Fails Grade C
|
Fails Grade C
|