All About Honey

Why Honey?

  1. It’s 100% natural from beginning to end.  Unlike cane sugar, stevia, brown rice syrup or many other “natural” sweeteners, honey remains unaltered.  The same product found inside the honeycomb is the same product found in our bottled honey.
  2. Pure honey contains powerful antioxidants that can help fight free radicals that make you get sick.
  3. Its lower glycemic index is gentle on blood sugar, thus benefitting those with diabetes.
  4. Natural, unfiltered honey is shelf-stable and keeps indefinitely if stored properly.
  5. Pure honey is antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-microbial, making it a good treatment for burns and cuts.
  6. Buying natural, unpasteurized honey helps to support a local beekeeper that is ultimately interested in the welfare of the bee population.

Raw vs.
Pasteurized Honey

  1. Much of what you’ll find in grocery stores by big name companies is pasteurized honey.  This honey is heated to kill any yeast, and subsequently, destroys the enzymes found naturally in honey.  Ultrafiltering, which is usually part of this process, leads to lack of pollen in the honey.
  2. Raw honey, which you will find from many apiaries, still contains the pollen and enzymes that so many customers value because it is only strained, and possibly, warmed to allow for easier bottling.

Light vs. Dark Honey

We are often asked why we have different colors of honey.  It varies from season to season and year to year.  Pictured is a beautiful array of colors of honey that we’ve harvested over the past few years.  Most often our honey is a bit darker than that found on the grocery shelves.  The color, and taste for that matter, is determined by the flowers that the honey bees visit during that particular season.

Typically, our lightest honey comes in the early summer and tends to have a lighter, floral taste. While the darker honey arrives in late summer/early fall.

Our dark honey, largely sourced from Japanese knotweed, is especially unique, with a bold flavor that can add depth and complexity to your favorite dishes.  It has also been said that the darker honey contains higher  levels of antioxidants and enzymes.  Try them both and discover your new favorite honey!

This comb honey shows the different colors of honey within one piece of comb.  When it is extracted, it blends together to form a lovely, darker honey.

Why Honey Crystallizes and How to Fix It?

  1. Crystallization of honey is a natural and uncontrolled process. Containing more than 70% sugars and less than 20% water, almost all pure unpasteurized honey crystallizes over time.  When crystallization occurs, don’t throw it away.  It takes only a little time to restore it to its original state.  
  2. Simply place it in a warm water bath for about 15 minutes, or as soon as the granules have dissolved. Subjecting honey to too much heat would destroy its live enzymes. Store honey at room temperature in air-tight containers. Don’t refrigerate it because that would accelerate the process of crystallization.

Good for Your Health
and Your Skin

  1. Honey isn’t only good for your inside, but your outside as well.  Pure honey’s antioxidants and enzymes help your face and hair when used in masks.  In fact, the mild alpha hydroxy acid in honey is a great exfoliant for the face.
  2. Of course, when we consider beeswax in the equation, there’s even more possibilities.  Beeswax creates a moisture barrier, sealing in moisture.  Our lip balms are amazing because they use the power of beeswax and other natural oils to seal your lips from the drying environment.  Our handmade lotion bar also uses the moisture seal of beeswax to provide the protective barrier for the skin.
Thumbnail 1
Comb honey with wax cappings to hold the honey in place.
Thumbnail 2
Beekeeper Glenn hand cuts each piece of comb honey.
Thumbnail 3
We need to let it drain a bit for a cleaner product.
Thumbnail 4
Light and dark honey in one piece of comb.
Thumbnail 5
Uncapped honey is so beautiful.
previous arrow
next arrow
Thumbnail 1
Thumbnail 2
Thumbnail 3
Thumbnail 4
Thumbnail 5
previous arrow
next arrow