It seems that winter has arrived. Lozenges are flying off the shelves. Teakettles are whistling. Everyone is dressed like the Michelin Man. And your voice sounds like someone has taken a piece of sandpaper to your tonsils.

Soothe the scratch with a little Beeline Honey, Chicago’s very own urban sweetener, which is high on the yum scale. Beeline’s bees are busy pollinating plant varieties from all of the Windy City’s gardens and parks, giving the honey a depth of flavor not found in most types. (Country bees apparently only use nectar from a single crop.) And because Chicago’s plants change with the seasons, each batch tastes a little different, giving the chemical-free honey-based lip balm, scrubs, body bars, candles, and, of course, good old-fashioned jars of honey a unique taste and appearance.

Sweetest part: Beeline beekeepers are participants in the Sweet Beginnings job training program for the formerly incarcerated. So this season, you’ll be bringing happiness to those who need it most.

Now that’s what we call sweet.

Available at Chicago’s Green City Holiday Markets, at Lincoln Park Zoo, Kovler Lion House; December 11 and 18.