Using Honey – A Sweet Treat from Bees
How do bees make honey? It’s magic! No.. seriously…bees gather nectar from flowers and transform it into honey. Beyond being the perfect food for bees, we humans have found a multitude of pure honey uses.
Used in recipes, health care regimes and even beauty products. Honey has a story to tell and something to share with everyone. – This page may contain affiliate links or other compensation – (Policy Here)
Honey is a natural sugar -this means it tastes really sweet. Of course, eating it-is one of the most common ways we interact with honey.
However, uses for pure honey go far beyond the kitchen. It has desirable properties that make it a good fit for other things.
A look at these fascinating ideas may change the way you think about bee honey.
What is Honey?
Honey bees are the only insects that make food that is directly used for human consumption.
Of course, they don’t do it for us – but we can reap the sweet rewards of their effort.
The way in which bees visits millions of flowers to collect nectar and make honey is quite a tale. Explore the story of How Bees Make Honey, it is an eye opening process.
People can get the wrong idea about what honey actually is? Foraging bees carry nectar from flowers to the hive in a special stomach.
It is called a honey stomach. This leads to the question of what exactly is in that honey? Check the details before you jump to any conclusions. – Is Honey Bee Vomit?
Another delicacy of the hive is honeycomb. Yes, some people really enjoy honey in the comb! – What is Honeycomb?
How to Buy Real Honey
When you shop for honey, do you know what you are buying? Unfortunately, you can’t depend on the label. Food marketing is a tricky business. The more you know the better decisions you can make – What is Real Pure Honey!
After the hard work of the bees, the beekeeper has a job to do. Good beekeepers only take the excess honey – they do not leave the bees to starve. How does honey get from the hive to the bottle. Honey Processing & Packaging .
Honey Varieties
Basic honey is made from a mixture of many kinds of plant nectar. We call this a “poly-floral” honey. The term Wildflower Honey is often applied.
This is only telling us that many different plant nectars were used by the bees. Not necessarily from flowers that you or I would consider wild.
Beyond basic honey, in some regions, you may find specialty honey. Called “monofloral” honey, they are made from a predominate nectar source.
One popular example is Sourwood Honey. If you have not tried it – you should.
Other types of monofloral honey include: Orange Blossom, Tupelo, Blackberry etc.
How to Store Honey
Honey is the perfect food for bees, in part, due to the fact that it does not spoil.
However, if you want to enjoy honey in its liquid form – proper storage can make the job easier. Also keep your honey in the best location that you have. How to Store Raw Honey
When honey turns into a gritty solid mess, people often think it is spoiled. In fact, your pure honey has simply crystallized. Don’t worry it will be okay. Why Honey Crystallizes.
You can return the honey to its liquid state safely. There are several ways to liquefy honey. However, some methods damage the natural ingredients in pure honey. How to Decrystallize Honey Without Damaging It.
If you are a beekeeper or someone who practices bulk food storage, you may experience crystallized honey in small jars. When you have several jars to reliquify, you may consider building a warming cabinet. – Decrystallize Honey With A Warming Cabinet
Biting down on a sweet chunk of honeycomb might sound like a good idea. After enjoying your snack, it’s time to save the leftovers for later – Best Tips for How to Store Honeycomb.
Eating Honey in Other Forms
Crystallized honey does not have to be a bad thing. Many people enjoy a smooth spreadable honey.
We call this whipped or creamed honey. You can make some for yourself – How to Make Creamed Honey
Eating Honeycomb
Beeswax is the special comb structure that stores honey in the hive. But did you know you can eat it? Yes, Honeycomb is Edible!
Everyone is familiar with the many ways to enjoy regular honey. Ready for the total honey experience? How to Eat Honeycomb – Yummy Ideas.
Pure Honey Uses for Health
Honey has long been used in the treatment of illness. In fact, it is one of the earliest natural remedies.
If you feel that next cold or cough coming on, you may already have something in the pantry to help ease the pain. Try it – Honey for Colds.
Interested in natural remedies? Honey is a common ingredient in many of them. Consider making this tonic.- Fire Cider with Honey
Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey Recipes come in many different forms. These tonics are used to make your feel better or possible keep you from getting sicker. – Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey
I enjoy making my own cough drops. They provide some symptom relief and I can pronounce every ingredient in the recipe. – Homemade Honey Cough Drops.
When a really nasty cough or sore throat arrives, you might want to make this natural tonic. You just need a few simple ingredients – it is nice to have on hand. – Infusing Honey with Lemon and Ginger
Another great use of honey is in the creation of salves for wounds. You can make your own salve to treat the discomfort of minor burns with just 4 ingredients! – DIY Honey Burn Salve with Aloe
Cooking with Honey
Need a quick dinner that is easy to make and healthy too! This chicken stir fry and savory sauce will encourage everyone to eat their vegetables- Honey Chicken Stir Fry Recipe.
We all love a sweet treat that gives us energy. Easy to make and store well in the freezer. Make your own-Peanut Butter Oatmeal and Honey Bites.
Sometimes you just really need a cookie….right? These cookies have great flavor and will satisfy your sweet tooth craving – Honey-Cranberry Cookie Recipe.
Don’t let the heat of Summer get you down. Avoid the empty sugar calories in most cool treats. Make your own Honey Yogurt Berry Pops.
Conclusion:
This is only the beginning. Real honey can be used in so many recipes and homemade products. What types of honey uses can you share?
If you would like to try some pure honey from my farm – I have some available seasonally in my Etsy Store.
Beekeeper Charlotte
