~~ HONEY FACTS ~~
General Honey Information
Honey is "manufactured" in one of the world's most efficient factories, the beehive. Bees may travel as far as 55,000 miles and visit more than two million flowers to gather enough nectar to make just a pound of honey. The color and flavor of honey differ depending on the bees' nectar source (the blossoms). In fact, there are more than 300 unique kinds of honey in the United States, originating from such diverse floral sources as clover, eucalyptus and orange blossom. In general, lighter colored honeys are mild in flavor; while darker honeys are usually more robust in flavor.
Honey is primarily composed of fructose, glucose and water. It also contains other sugars as well trace enzymes, minerals, vitamins and amino acids.
The Honey Bees' Second Shift
In addition to gathering nectar to produce honey, honey bees perform a vital second function--pollination. About one-third of the human diet is derived from insect-pollinated plants, and honey bees are responsible for 80 percent of this pollination.
Pollination is the fertilization of a flowering plant. It occurs when pollen is transferred from the anthers of a flower to the ovules of that or another flower. Honey bees are responsible for pollinating a variety of fruits, vegetables, legumes and more.
The Delicious Forms of Honey
Most of us know honey as a sweet, golden liquid. But, in fact, honey can be found in a variety of forms.
- Liquid Honey
- Free of visible crystals, liquid honey is extracted from the honey comb by centrifugal force, gravity or straining. Because liquid honey mixes easily into a variety of foods, it's especially convenient for cooking and baking. Most of the honey produced in the United States is sold in the liquid form.
- Creme (or Spun) Honey
- While all honey will crystallize in time, creme honey (also known as spun honey, sugared honey or whipped honey) is brought to market in a crystallized state. The crystallization is controlled so that, at room temperature, the honey can be spread like butter. In many countries around the world, creme honey is preferred to the liquid form.
- Comb Honey
- Comb honey is honey that comes as it was produced--in the honey bees' wax comb. The comb, as well as the honey, is edible!
- Cut Comb
- Cut comb honey is honey that has been packaged with chunks of the honey comb.
Recipes
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