The Honey Hustle
Raw Truths about our Sweet Treats
Prov 24:14: “Know also that wisdom is like honey for you: If you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off" (NIV)
Honey is a seasonal product. I know this is hard to believe because you see it on the shelves in stores all year around, but it is true. As we say goodbye to summer, many Joburg beekeepers have harvested their summer supers and replaced them with wet supers for the bees to start replenishing with nectar stocks for themselves before winter arrives. The recent heavy rains have had me wondering what this winter will be like and what I can do to support my bees as I plan what I’ll be growing in the garden. I have also been told that I may need to plan to feed my bees this winter as it might be considerably colder than the last.
Since we started selling our honey at Verity, I realise that there is so much that people don’t know about honey even though they eat it. Nowadays, there is also an abundance of adulterated honey that has flooded the market which makes it even more important to learn about real honey. Today’s blog has three fun facts about honey which may also help you to know if you are getting the real deal.
1) Real honey does not expire
Honey has a low water content and high acidity, making it difficult for bacteria to survive. Bees also add enzymes that contribute to its preservation. The dates on honey jars are typically "best by" dates, indicating when the honey is expected to be at its peak quality, not that it will spoil. Honey may crystallise, darken, or change in flavour over time, but it remains safe to eat.
2) Colour and Crystallisation
Crystallisation is a natural process and doesn't mean the honey has gone bad. If your honey crystalises, you can still eat it. Also, honey, like humans, comes in many colours. Some people asked me why Verity honey is so dark and if it is raw. (For the record, it is! Our honey is not pasteurised, irradiated or in any way adulterated). The diverse colours of honey are a reflection of the wide variety of flowers and even trees that bees visit (a bit like the saying, ‘you are what you eat’). The colour of honey is primarily influenced by the source of the nectar that bees collect. This explains why sunflower honey is light and relatively yellow, while eucalyptus honey tends to be darker.
3) Water test
If you want to test the authenticity of honey, you can place a drop of honey in a glass of water. Real honey will sink to the bottom of the glass without dissolving. Fake honey will dissolve because of the extra sugars added.
In closing, there is a lot to learn about bees and honey. It is no wonder that honey has survived for millennia, as evidenced by discoveries of edible honey in ancient Egyptian tombs. It is indeed the food of the gods! And another thing - when buying honey, read the list of ingredients on the label. Pure honey has only 1 ingredient; honey.