Beekeeping

What's the Buzz About Raw vs. Fake Honey?

Ever wondered what sets raw honey apart from the rest? With terms like raw, natural, pure, and even fake honey floating around, it's easy to get confused. But don’t worry, we’re here to clear things up!

Raw Honey: Nature’s Sweet Gift

Raw honey is as pure as it gets. It comes straight from the hive with minimal processing, meaning it’s packed with all the natural goodness bees intended. At Higher Oak Farm, our honey is 100% pure and natural – no additives, just the real deal. When you buy from us, you’re getting honey made by bees, not in a factory.

Raw honey is rich in pollen, royal jelly, propolis, and even tiny bits of wax, all suspended in its golden liquid. This minimal processing ensures you enjoy all the health benefits and natural properties of this delicious, nutritious food.

Fake Honey: A Sticky Situation

Fake honey, on the other hand, is a different story. This honey-like product often contains flavors, fillers, dyes, and sugars, and sometimes not a drop of real bee honey! Instead, it’s made up of glucose syrups, inverted sugar solutions, or corn, cane, and beet syrups. While it might look like raw honey, it’s made in a factory and lacks the natural taste, texture, and aroma.

Here’s why fake honey doesn’t measure up:

  • Volume Boosters: It often includes cheaper syrups to bulk up the volume and reduce costs.

  • Watered Down: High water content dilutes the honey, increasing volume but reducing quality.

  • Artificial Additives: Dyes and flavor enhancers are added.

  • Health Impact: Fake honey lacks the health benefits of pure honey and can have a sour smell or no smell at all, with a sugary taste.

Commercial Honey

Supermarket honey can range from raw to fake. Most commercially produced honey is heated to high temperatures and finely filtered to remove any “specks” to extend its shelf life and become more visually appealing to the consumer. However, this process can strip away many of the natural benefits.

Simple Tests to Spot Real Honey

Want to check if your honey is the real deal? Try any of these easy tests:

  1. Water Test: Drop a teaspoon of honey into a glass of water. Raw honey will sink to the bottom, while fake honey will dissolve.

  2. Finger Test: Place a drop of honey on your finger. If it spreads, it’s likely fake. Real honey will stay in place.

  3. Crystallization: Over time, real honey crystallizes. If it stays syrupy, it might be fake.

  4. Matchstick Test: Dip an unlit matchstick into the honey and try to light it. Raw honey will light up, while fake honey won’t, due to its high moisture content.

So, if you’re looking for genuine, raw honey, you’ve come to the right place. Treat yourself to the pure, natural taste of Higher Oak Farm honey, and enjoy all the benefits nature intended!

Watch The Process: How We Create our Higher Oak Farm Raw Honey.