24/05/2023
Many people appreciate the medicinal value of honey as well as it’s spirituality. The desire for honey by many knows no bounds. however miscreants who, for the love of undeserved wealth, adulterate the products for sale to unsuspecting consumers. This attitude has rendered trading of the product very difficult for those of us selling the genuine type. It is one of the main reasons lots of misconceptions have been created in the quest to establish a general rule in identifying proper honey on the market. Let me address two of the most rife misconceptions out there :
- that correct honey is supposed to be thick
- that correct honey is supposed to have the same dark brownish color
Let me summarize the points to clear the doubts over these topmost misconceptions above:
Almost all honeys are unique and a number of factors mostly related to the beekeeping environment contribute to the diverse nature and features.
If we juxtapose honey produced from clover fields to that produced in deep or mixed forest, the bees feed on darker pollen and nectar from the deep forests. Consequently, the produce will differ both in viscosity and color.
Again, the difference in the farming environment gives a resultant disparity in content with regards to the fructose and glucose component of the produce. When the glucose content is higher than it’s fructose, the honey tends to be thicker or contains less moisture compared to one that has higher fructose.
It is therefore internationally recognized that honey should have moisture content ranging between 16% to 20.7%. Honey at 16% moisture is thicker than honey with, say, 19% moisture content. It doesn’t make the latter fake.
Consumers should therefore disabuse their minds of the notion that honey must necessarily be thick to mark its authenticity or quality.
To remain safe, just do the simple HONEYCOMB test when you buy honey.
