How to distinguish natural honey from fake? Of course, a definite answer can only be given in the laboratory. However, even at home, you can check whether natural honey meets certain parameters.
Instructions
Step 1
After a while, natural honey becomes sugared and crystallizes. Crystallization of honey usually occurs a couple of months after harvest, that is, around October. Although some types of honey (white acacia honey, mustard honey) are candied later. It is possible to counterfeit candied honey, but it is more difficult to do it than to imitate liquid honey. Therefore, be careful if you are offered to buy liquid honey in winter. Perhaps this honey is natural, but previously melted. Sugarning does not affect the beneficial properties of honey, but heating it significantly impairs its quality.
Step 2
Take a closer look at the honey. The natural product contains distinguishable particles of pollen, wax, and sometimes even bee wings. If nothing of the kind is observed in honey, it is clearly falsified.
Step 3
You can distinguish natural honey from a surrogate with a piece of plain newspaper. Put a drop of honey on the paper and watch what happens. If a drop spreads over the surface and wet the paper, then honey, although natural, but immature, in the worst case, is generally fake.
Step 4
Counterfeit honey can contain various additives. Finding them is easy. Add a few drops of iodine to honey, if the iodine turns blue, it contains starch, which natural honey does not contain. Then stir a couple of tablespoons of honey in water and add vinegar essence to it. If the water "boils", that is, it starts to release carbon dioxide, there is chalk in the honey. Finally, add a few drops of ammonia to a 50% honey solution. If the honey solution turns brown, and a brown powder precipitates at the bottom of the glass, the honey is diluted with molasses.
Step 5
Look for signs of natural honey such as taste and smell. Natural honey has a pleasant and tart taste, completely dissolves in the mouth, sometimes it burns a little and tingles the tongue and palate. Almost all types of honey have a pleasant smell, fake honey usually has no smell.
