Honey is primarily composed of carbohydrates (sugars like fructose and glucose) and water, with small amounts of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants. These components give honey its unique flavor and nutritional profile. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), honey also contains enzymes that bees add during the honey-making process, which contribute to its beneficial properties.

Bees make honey by collecting nectar from flowers, breaking it down into simple sugars in their honey stomachs, and storing it in honeycombs. The bees then fan the nectar (which is 70% water) with their wings to evaporate water, thickening the substance into honey (14-17% water). This process helps preserve the honey and makes it a vital food source for bees when there are no flowers to collect food from.

Honey has been known for its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. According to the Mayo Clinic, honey can be used to soothe sore throats, improve digestion, and even promote wound healing. Honey is my go-to for healing cuts and infections. Honey rapidly clears wound infection to facilitate healing according to research. No more Neosporin for me! I simply smear some honey on a bandaid and place it over the wound. It doesn’t sting, and it heals very quickly.

Honey is one of the few foods that never spoils if stored properly. Its low moisture content and acidic pH prevent bacteria and microorganisms from growing. Studies from the Smithsonian Institution suggest that honey can remain edible for thousands of years if kept sealed and away from moisture.

Honey is generally safe for most people, but it should not be given to children under one year old due to the risk of infant botulism. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) caution that honey can contain spores of Clostridium botulinum, which can be harmful to infants whose digestive systems are not yet fully developed. To read more about honey and infants, read my article HERE.

According to the National Honey Board There are over 300 unique types of honey in the United States alone, each with different flavors and colors depending on the flower source. Since honey is made up of nectar from flowers, there as many types of honey as flowers that bees visit. Honey gets its flavor from the type of flower, not the type of bee. FYI: honey made by Africanized Honeybees tastes exactly the same as honey made by European Honeybees.

Raw honey is honey that has not been pasteurized or filtered, meaning it retains more of its natural enzymes, antioxidants, and pollen. Research from Healthline suggests that raw honey may offer more health benefits than processed honey due to its higher levels of bioactive compounds.

There is a common belief that consuming local honey can help alleviate allergy symptoms by introducing small amounts of local pollen into the body. However, allergists note that there is not enough scientific evidence to conclusively prove that honey can treat allergies. Researchers say that the pollen we are allergic to is only from wind-pollinated plants, and bees collect pollen that is too heavy to be carried by the wind. All of the studies I looked at were based on honey used in the midst of allergy suffering, rather that using it preventatively. I think honey should be used more as an inoculant, taking it before allergy season hits. Many people come to our farmstand and swear that local honey works for their allergy symptoms.

Honey should be stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to prevent crystallization and fermentation. According to the the University of Missouri, honey stored properly can maintain its quality and flavor for years. Honey will crystalize as it ages, so simply place the honey in an open container in a pan of warm water until it is liquid again.

Honey is a natural humectant, meaning it attracts moisture, making it beneficial for skin hydration. Medical News Today lists many articles and research around honey and skincare and skin healing. I love to use honey to make facial masks by mixing it with oatmeal, yogurt, or ground flaxseed (or all of it at once). You can use it as a mask and then gently scrub your skin as you rinse it off. It seems to brighten the skin and make it feel so moisturized.

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