Common Questions & Interesting Facts
Why does honey crystallize, and does it mean it’s spoiled? The crystallization of honey doesn’t indicate spoilage. Honey is a supersaturated solution prone to granulation. The speed of crystallization varies based on the types and quantities of sugars present. To return it to a liquid state, gently warm the jar in hot water, avoiding boiling temperatures.
Why do different types of honey exhibit diverse colors and flavors? The distinct colors and tastes of honey arise from the unique chemistry of various nectar sources. Each source contains different combinations of sugars, minerals, and enzymes. For instance, darker honeys like buckwheat or tulip poplar boast a higher mineral content, contributing to their rich hue and appealing to health-conscious consumers. Lighter honey, with lower mineral levels, typically offers a milder flavor profile.
Is consuming honey beneficial for allergies? Though local honey has been traditionally believed to alleviate allergies, recent research from Great Britain indicates that raw honey from any region may provide even greater relief.
What constitutes raw honey? Raw honey is unprocessed and unpasteurized, lacking fine filtration.
Do you pasteurize your honey? Our honey remains unpasteurized.
Why is honey pasteurized? Pasteurization eliminates yeasts present in honey, which can ferment it. This process also delays granulation by dissolving small sugar crystals and aids in fine filtering, enhancing clarity and shelf life.
Why avoid pasteurizing honey? Heating honey accelerates its deterioration, impacting its natural enzymes’ activity and nutritional content.
Do you filter your honey? We employ coarse filtration to remove large debris but refrain from fine filtration.
Why filter honey? Fine filtering enhances honey’s appearance and shelf life by removing impurities that can initiate granulation.
Why not filter honey? Fine filtering removes beneficial components like pollen and beeswax, compromising honey’s nutritional value.
How should honey be stored? Honey should be stored in glass, stainless steel, or food-grade plastic containers in a dark, cool place. Freezing can prevent granulation and degradation.
What is beeswax used for? Beeswax finds various applications, including candles, cosmetics, and medicinal creams. It serves as foundation in beehives, lubricates needles and thread, and waterproofs items like shoes and fishline.
Is consuming beeswax from comb honey safe? In moderation, consuming honeycomb is believed to offer digestive and blood-related benefits. Recent studies suggest that ingesting as little as one gram of beeswax daily can aid in lowering cholesterol.
Do you grade your honey? We do not grade our honey as it wouldn’t meet U.S. Grade A Fancy standards due to particle content. Grade A Fancy honey is often highly processed and frequently imported.
A Personal Note: We advocate for purchasing U.S. honey to support our vital beekeeping industry. Approximately one-third of grocery store items rely on honeybee pollination. While some imported honey is of high quality, much is adulterated and may contain illegal additives. Raising awareness and promoting local honey is crucial.
Bee Facts…
- Honeybees are unique in producing food and useful products for mankind and contribute to pollination of stable crops and bringing color (diversity) to our plates nutritionally.
- A healthy hive contains around 40–80 thousand bees.
- It takes approximately two million flowers to produce one pound of honey.
- Bees fly an average of 13–15 miles per hour.
- Queens lay 1,500 to 2,000 eggs per day.
- The hive’s average temperature is 93.5ºF.
- Beeswax production amounts to only about 1.5–2% of honey yield.
- Bees consume around 8 pounds of honey to produce 1 pound of beeswax.