*if venmo link fails, try again
Raw unfiltered honey is honey that has not been processed or heated beyond its natural state. It is extracted directly from the beehive and packaged without undergoing extensive filtering or pasteurization. Here are some key characteristics of raw honey:
Unprocessed:Â Raw honey is harvested directly from the honeycomb and packaged without significant processing or heat.
Nutritional Benefits:Â It retains enzymes, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that can be lost during processing. These components contribute to its potential health benefits.
Flavor and Color:Â Raw honey can vary in flavor and color depending on the floral sources of the nectar. It has a more complex taste than processed honey.
Crystallization:Â Raw honey is more likely to crystallize over time due to its high glucose content. This is a natural process and does not indicate spoilage.
Health Benefits:Â Many people believe that raw honey has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, making it popular for remedies and natural health practices. When locally sourced raw honey can provide exposure to local pollen, potentially aiding those with seasonal allergies.
Summary
Raw honey is valued for its natural state and potential health benefits. When purchasing, look for labels that specifically state “raw” and “unheated” to ensure you are getting honey in its least processed form. Get to know your local beekeepers and procure your honey direct from the source. Â
To minimize alterations in honey’s beneficial properties, itâs best to heat honey gently. The following guidelines can help:
Optimal Temperature: Ideal Heating Range: Honey should not be heated above 95°F (35°C) to preserve its enzymes, nutrients, and antioxidants.
Tips for Heating Honey:Â Use a Water Bath: Gently warm honey by placing the jar in a warm water bath rather than directly on a heat source.
Avoid Microwaving: Microwaving can create hot spots and lead to excessive heating, so it’s best to avoid this method.
Summary
To maintain honeyâs quality, keep heating below 95°F (35°C). Gentle methods are key to preserving its natural benefits and characteristics.
Hot Topic: Grocery Store Honey
Commercial honey, the stuff sold in grocery stores, is typically heated to temperatures ranging from 100°F to 160°F (about 49°C to 71°C) during processing. The main purposes for this heating process include:
1. Pasteurization
Purpose: To kill yeast cells and prevent fermentation, which can extend shelf life and improve clarity. Honey is typically pasteurized at temperatures between 140°F and 160°F. The pasteurization process usually lasts for about 30 minutes at these temperatures.Â
2. Liquid Honey Processing
Purpose: To dissolve crystals and make honey easier to pour and package.
Temperature: Usually heated to around 120°F to 140°F .
3. Filtration & Packaging
Even the commercial producers who are not pasteurizing need to heat their honey to temps above 100°F for the honey to flow through their mechanical filtration and packaging processes.
Summary
Commercial honey is heated for processing, and this heating can lead to loss of honey’s beneficial characteristics.
Ancient Sweetener Honey has been used for thousands of years; itâs one of the oldest sweeteners known to humanity, dating back to ancient civilizations.
Unique Composition Honey is made up of about 80% sugars (mainly fructose and glucose) and 20% water, along with trace amounts of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
Variety of Flavors The flavor and color of honey vary depending on the flowers from which the nectar is collected. For example, clover honey is light and mild, while buckwheat honey is dark and robust. There are over 300 types of honey produced in the United States alone, each with its unique flavor profile based on the nectar source.
Honey is Heavy One gallon of honey (12lb) is 44% heavier than one gallon of water (8.34lb).
Honey Never Spoils Honey is one of the few foods that can last indefinitely without spoiling. Its low moisture content and natural acidity create an inhospitable environment for bacteria and microorganisms, allowing it to remain edible for thousands of years. This is why honey found in ancient tombs is still safe to eat!
Nutritional Benefits Raw honey is known for its potential health benefits, including antibacterial properties and antioxidants that can help fight inflammation.
Honey and Bees Bees communicate with each other through a “waggle dance,” which helps them indicate the direction and distance of flower sources to the rest of the hive.
Foraging Honeybees typically forage for food within a 2 to 5 mile radius of their hive.
Honey as a Natural Energy Booster Honey is a great natural energy source! It contains both fructose and glucose, which provide quick energy. Athletes often use honey as a natural carbohydrate source before or during workouts to sustain energy levels and enhance performance. The fructose-to-glucose ratio in honey with most honey varieties average around 1.5:1.  One tablespoon of honey contains approximately 17 grams of carbohydrates.
Honey Bee Production Estimates Flowers Visited: It is estimated that a colony of bees needs to visit around 1,000,000 flowers to produce 16 ounces of honey.
Single Bee Contribution A single bee produces only a small amount of honey over its lifetime (approximately 1/12 of a teaspoon). A single bee can visit 2000-3000 flowers in a single day.
What’s it take to produce 16oz of honey While it is difficult to pinpoint an exact number of bees, it generally takes at least 1200 bees+ working collectively over time to produce 16 ounces of honey. Plus the 12 months of care and hive management by the beekeepers.
