Honey is a sweet treat produced by honeybees and is loved by bears and humans alike, right? So what else is there to know?
Quite a lot, actually. In fact, there’s too much to write in just one “Did You Know?” (DYK). Even sharing only the most interesting highlights, I had to split this DYK into two posts. I’ll share the history and basic information about honey today and save the food and cooking aspects of honey for next week.
Honey’s History…
DYK honey has been used in food for at least 6,000 years?
DYK the first written reference to honey comes from a Sumerian tablet dating back to 2100-2000 BC? (It mentions honey’s use as a drug and an ointment.)
DYK honey was so valuable it was used as currency in medieval times?
Honey’s Basic Information…
DYK there are more than 300 varieties of honey in the world? (Several factors affect the honey’s flavor and color, but the major difference is the nectar source.)
DYK that although there are hundreds of varieties, there are only a few types of honey? They are: Blended, Honeydew, Monofloral or Unifloral, Polyfloral or Multifloral, Raw, Chunk, Comb, Crystallized, Organic, Whipped (also known as creamed, spun, or churned), Strained, and Ultrafiltered.
DYK honey’s texture is either: liquid, granulated, creamed, chunked, or an unprocessed form (comb)?
DYK the taste of honey can also be affected by its container and the care taken during storage? (Glass containers maintain the honey’s original taste. Plastic and metal containers can leach chemicals into the honey and can alter the taste.)
DYK that according to testing done exclusively for Food Safety News in 2011, more than 75% of the honey sold in U.S. grocery stores contained no pollen? (Why? Because most producers pasteurize the honey. Pasteurization removes bee pollen, which eliminates most health benefits and makes most honeys taste the same.)
DYK raw, unfiltered honey has the highest therapeutic value, and is the best way to experience honey’s true flavor?
Finally…
So, the lesson to be learned? Buy honey from the source. If you don’t know a beekeeper, visit your local Farmers’ Market.
Resources:
http://www.barkmanhoney.com/kitchen/tips-tricks/
https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/different-types-of-honey/
https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/11/tests-show-most-store-honey-isnt-honey/