FAQs About Honey

What is honey? Bees make honey from the nectar they sip from the flowers. A long process of concentration-ventillation takes place in the hive to transform the liquid nectar into the substance we call honey. What are the components of honey? Glucose and fructose are the major sugars found in honey. They are simple sugars that can be absorbed directly by our body, no disgestion process needed. But honey is way more than just a natural carbohydrate. Honey also contains proteins, hormones, organic acids, and antimicrobial compounds. Honey is a rich storehouse of essential vitamins, minerals and trace elements that are essential to maintain a healthy body. What are the medical properties of honey? Honey is a natural energizer, as it is a source of rapid supplied energy. It can aid in healing when applied to injuries, minor abrasions, and burns. Honey is an effective antimicrobial agent and itl also boost our daily supply of antioxidants. How long can I keep honey? Honey stored in sealed containers can remain stable for decades and even centuries ( National Honey Board ). If you buy honey for long-term storage, your great, great grandchildren will still be able to spread it over their breakfast toast. In time, honey is susceptible to physical and chemical changes. It tends to darken and lose some of its aroma and flavor, but it is still safe for consumption. Will I gain weight from eating too much honey? Some people believe that honey will cause weight gain since the sugar content is high. But in fact honey is made up of 65 to 70% glucose and fructose. These simple sugars are easily absorbed into the bloodstream and not stored as fat. How many forms of honey are there? There are two natural forms of honey, namely liquid and crystallized (hard honey). There is also a third type called creamed honey, which is actually produced through a controled crystalization process. Why does honey crystallize? Almost all unheated, unfiltered honey will crystallize over time. Some will crystallize sooner --i.e. heather, canola, sunflower, alfalfa, clover, lavender, and dandelion honeys. Whereas others remain liquid for months, like. black locust, linden, and fireweed honeys. Some change in very fine honey crystals, while other can be crunchy. Both are natural and depend on the nectar type the honey is made of. When honey does crystallize, you can enjoy it the way it is. If you prefer to re-liquify crystallized honey, place the sealed container in warm water (not boiling) until it liquifies. The temperature should not exceed 42.5 C or 108.5 F. Do not cook honey or use the microwave to re-liquify it, as high temperatures will destroy its beneficial properties. Is clear honey better than dark honey? Not at all. Honey color has nothing to do with quality. Color is dependant on its floral source and ranges from nearly colorless to dark brown. Usually, the darker the honey, the more minerals it contains. Elvish honey from Turkey, the most expensive honey in the world, is amber. Manuka honey, another expensive honey that is harvested in New-Zealand and Australia, goes from gold to amber, depending upon the region. The expensive Sidr Honey from Yemen is also amber. Of course, white and clear honeys are excellent too. Pure linden tree honey from Hungary has a delicate flavor and it can be very trnasparent, almost clear. Does honey contain additives I can only speak for myself. I guarantee that my honey is always just the way my bees made it. It does not contain any additives, preservatives, added sugars, or artificial colors. How much honey can I consume in a day? Honey can be considered a nutritional supplement. Feel free to indulge as and when you like. What does "CANADA #1" means? In Canada, honey can be graded 1, 2, 3, or even substandard. A honey jar bearing CANADA #1 means that its content is fit for human consumption. You should know that this grading system is also aplicable to imported honey. This seems quite misleading, don't you think? For more information, see the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website.

Buffalo Country Apiary
PO Box 649
Lundar, MB R0C1Y0
Phone: (204) 762-5523