Honey is a delicious, magical substance that only honey bees produce and is enjoyed all over the globe. As well as being a great way to sweeten tea, honey contains some incredible properties that make it a distinct food product.
How do bees make honey?
Honey is the liquid sweetener produced by bees. They collect nectar from flowers and regurgitate it in the hive. The bees deposit the honey into honeycombs, which are small, waxy storage containers. As they fan the honey, it dries. As a result, the honey becomes sticky.
“Honey’s sweetness comes from its chemical makeup. “It’s composed of two simple sugars, glucose and fructose, plus some minerals.”
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/benefits-of-honey
What are the types of honey?
Three main types are:
Raw:
Honey straight from the hive is called raw honey. Raw honey contains the most antioxidants because it is least processed. The main difference is that raw honey is kept in its natural state with no heat or filtering at all, so it contains naturally occurring bee pollen, royal jelly, beeswax, and propolis. Raw honey has a thick, creamy texture, making it perfect for spreading on toast, adding to smoothies, mixing into dressings, and more. In spite of its raw status, honey is considered safe to eat, with the exception of children younger than 1. In India, it’s a tradition to put a small drop of honey onto newborn baby’s tongue. one needs to be extra careful with that as clostridium bacteria that causes infant botulism thrive in soil and dust may have contaminated honey too at times.
Pasteurised :
Pasteurization is a crucial process in the food safety system that kills pathogens, extends shelf life, and protects people from dangerous foodborne illnesses. Pasteurised honey is treated in a pasteurising plant by applying high heat to destroy sugar-tolerant yeasts. All honey comes from the hive naturally, but not all honey sold in stores is the same.
Unpasteurised honey:
Unpasteurized honey is only slightly heated during processing, which helps the honey to retain many of its nutritional properties.
The choice of honey that you use is really up to you! You may prefer unpasteurized honey for the natural yeasts, enzymes, and other possible health and flavour benefits. Or, you may prefer to buy pasteurized honey, as it helps to delay the crystallization process and keeps the honey in a liquid state for a longer, making it easier for you to squeeze out of the bottle.
Why is some honey light and others dark?
According to what kind of plant the bees took nectar from, honey will either be light or dark in color. Dark buckwheat, for example, yields dark honey. Darker honey contains less water and more antioxidants than lighter honey.”
Honey can be sweeter or more bitter, depending on the flower source.”
What are the Light and Dark honey varieties?
Honey that is light in color tends to have a mild flavor. Examples include:
Acacia honey: It tastes sweet and has floral smells, but it doesn’t modify what it’s put in, such as tea and oatmeal.
Clover honey: Honey with a floral taste and a sour aftertaste is common in the United States.
Dark honeys are known for their stronger flavors. Examples include:
Buckwheat honey: Ilic suggests using this honey in marinades.
Manuka honey: It is very expensive. New Zealand’s Manuka bush produces manuka honey, which is derived from its nectar and pollen. It contains antioxidants and antibacterial and antifungal properties, according to studies.
Is crystallized honey bad?
Keep honey away from direct sunlight and in a cool place. Honey can sometimes crystallize and solidify even in the perfect location. “Honey that contains more glucose than fructose crystallizes more easily.
In any case, crystallized honey is still edible. The container can be re-liquefied by placing it in a warm water bath.
What are It’s health benefits?
There are many potential health benefits to honey, including antioxidants, minerals, and enzymes. Honey is also said to:
Soothe coughs: According to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization, honey is an effective natural remedy for coughs.
Treat wounds and burns: Manuka honey dressings that contain pharmaceutical-grade manuka honey are used for treating burns and pressure ulcers.
The health benefits of honey can’t be matched by other sugars,but eating too much honey can ruin your health too, so be careful when you eat it. It should be used in moderation to avoid other health issues.
How should one choose honey?
Honey that is clearer has been processed more. So organic raw honey is the best choice. It is likely to have more enzymes due to the fact that it is not heated. Organic honey is harvested from organically-grown flowers that are not contaminated by chemicals and pesticides. Because of its rigorous inspection and high-quality standards, organic honey is considered a superior choice. But “Organic” doesn’t necessarily mean that the honey is healthier or better quality always as the bees sometimes fly a few miles to flowers that don’t use pesticides and herbicides. So it’s always better to eat variety.
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