Many myths exist — misconceptions people have about raw honey, its purity, what it looks and feels like, shelf life, and health benefits. These myths are so wide spread that we have a few customers accusing us of selling bad honey. Most of their lives they have been brainwashed into believing that the homegenised, highly processed honey that looks and tastes the same and remains the same is the real deal. We use this as a opportunity to create awareness on the dynamic nature of raw honey. In this article, we debunk some common honey myths and present facts.
Myth 1: All Pure Honey Crystallizes
- Fact: While crystallized honey is a sign of good quality, not all pure honey crystallizes. Crystallization depends on the fructose-to-glucose ratio. High glucose content means quicker crystallization, like Mustard Honey, while honeys like Acacia take longer due to lower glucose levels. External temperature also plays a role. Know more.
Myth 2: White Foam Indicates Spoiled Honey
- Fact: The white foam atop honey is merely air bubbles that have risen to the top. Far from spoiling, this foam is airy and delicious, and no cause for concern.
Myth 3: Honey never Spoils
- Fact: Honey has an incredibly long shelf life when stored properly and also due to its acidic nature and hydrogen peroxide content, which act as natural preservatives. On the other hand, its hygroscopic nature means it absorbs moisture, which can lead to spoilage. If you keep honey jars tightly closed, use dry, clean utensils to scoop honey, your honey will last a very long time well past the best by date. In Borjomi, Georgia (part of former USSR), archaeologists have found intact honey in sealed vessels in a noblewoman’s burial site, that is 5.500 years old, to be consumed presumably in her afterlife.
Myth 4: Only Thick Honey is Pure
- Fact: Honey’s thickness, or viscosity, varies based on temperature, moisture content, and carbohydrate composition. Honey can be runny or thick without affecting purity. Regional climate also influences honey’s consistency.
Myth 5: Metal Spoons Damage Honey
- Fact: Using a metal spoon to scoop honey is harmless. However, due to honey’s natural acidity, it’s not advisable to store honey in metal containers or leave metal utensils in honey for extended periods.
Myth 6: Excessive Sweetness Means Added Sugar
- Fact: Honey is naturally sweeter than sugar due to its composition. The taste of honey varies greatly, from very sweet to flavors like malty, slightly bitter, tangy, or even fruity. The Honey Company offers a diverse range of raw honey to experience this diversity.
Myth 7: Honey Is Healthy For Diabetics
- Fact: Diabetics should avoid sugar. Honey is made up various sugars. Unprocessed honey may only be included in a diabetic diet in controlled amounts, ONLY AFTER consulting your doctor on the possibility of including honey into your prescribed carbohydrate intake.
Myth 8: Ants don’t eat Pure Honey
- Fact: Ants love honey. Honey largely contains naturally occurring sugars like fructose, glucose and water in varying proportions and others sugars such as sucrose, maltose, turanose, trehalose, isomaltose, nigerose, kojibiose, maltulose, maltotriose, and melezitose. In addition honey consists of small quantities of protein, vitamins, minerals, trace elements, enzymes and polyphenols, including flavonoids. Ants eat honey for energy and nutrition. They store it in their ‘social stomachs’ or crop to share it with members of their colony.
Myth 9: Raw Honey and Allergies
- Fact: The idea that consuming local raw honey can build tolerance to pollen allergies has some backing, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all remedy. It’s important to consult an allergist, especially for those with specific honey or bee-related allergies.
Myth 10: Honey Makes Hair go White
- Fact: Honey has been used for thousands of years in hair and skin care in ancient civilisations, particularly to fight dryness. Honey is a natural humectant. This means honey has the ability to attract and retain moisture. It can make hair soft and shiny and leave the scalp moist. The white myth came about possibly because the naturally occurring hydrogen peroxide can lighten hair when honey is used regularly and is left on for long periods of times in combination with other ingredients that lighten hair.