There is a myth that May honey is the most natural and of the highest quality. In fact, May for bees is a difficult period when bee generations change. Indeed, during this period, bees produce the most honey, but they need it themselves. Therefore, a competent beekeeper will not pump honey in the spring. He will wait until the middle of summer, when the favorite delicacy of many will reach the highest quality. So how to choose the right honey?
When choosing honey, you need to focus on its taste and its texture. If honey has been pumped out too early, it does not form a solid line when it drips off the spoon, or drips altogether like water. Such honey will sooner or later stratify into three parts and turn into mash.
Another option, if the honey is liquid - the seller just warmed it up. Do not believe those who claim that fresh honey should be like this. When heated, all the beneficial substances in honey are destroyed, and it itself accumulates carcinogens.
If the taste of honey resembles sugar "cockerels" or other candies, and there are also blotches of last year's honey in it (they look much darker and denser), then it is better to refrain from buying such a treat.
Crystallized honey does not mean tainted. Crystallization is a normal process for honey. If it contains more fructose, it thickens in 3-4 months, if it contains more glucose, then in 1-2 months. Ask the seller about the age of crystallized honey and draw conclusions.
If you suspect that the honey is too thick due to the seller's dishonesty, you can check this. Iodine will help determine if flour or starch has been added to the honey for consistency. Vinegar essence will help to determine the chalk in honey. If the honey sizzles, it is of poor quality.
The color of the honey also matters. Normal - rich yellow, characteristic "honey". If the color is white, then the beekeeper has obviously overfed the bees with sugar, and such a product will not bring any benefit.
But the transparency of honey does not say anything about the quality. Much depends on the time and place of collection. So, August honey is usually opaque and liquid, thickens after 2 months.
The best way to determine the quality of honey is to taste it. If the taste is persistent, there is no aftertaste and bitterness, the aroma of honey is felt, there is no sugar or chalk on the teeth - such a product should be taken.
