Honey bees travel 2 to 3 miles to harvest nectar from blossoms.
Honey is a sweet fluid produced by honeybees from the nectar of flowers or blossoms. It is composed primarily of sugars. In order for the product to be called honey, it must be pure and free of any additional ingredients, such as water or artificial sweeteners, according to the National Honey Board. Honey is available in a variety of colors and flavors, both of which depend on the nectar source, or blossoms, visited by the bees. The lighter honey is, the milder it tastes.
Liquid Honey
Liquid honey is the most popular form of honey sold in the United States. The honey is extracted from the comb by either centrifugal force, gravity or straining. Liquid honey is free of all visible crystals, which results in a liquid form. Liquid honey usually is pasteurized and often can found in a variety of flavors, including orange blossom, avocado, wildflower and pumpkin.
Comb Honey
Comb honey is honey in its original form. Honey still is attached to the hexagonal-shaped wax comb, which is edible. There is no processing involved other than cutting and packaging, making comb honey the purest form of honey available. Before the invention of honey extraction tools, all honey produced was in comb form. It can either be chewed or spread because the beeswax comb is pliable. Comb honey is often served in restaurants as an accompaniment to cheese plates.
Cut Comb Honey
Cut comb honey, or chunk, honey is made up of part liquid honey and part comb honey. Chunks of the comb are cut from a larger piece of comb and placed in a jar with a large quantity of the liquid form of honey.
Naturally Crystallized Honey
After honey is separated from the comb, glucose will begin to precipitate and form solid crystals. It is a natural and spontaneous process. When this happens, the honey takes on a semi-solid state, which is called naturally crystallized. This sometimes happens to the plastic bear-shaped jar of honey often found at the supermarket. Naturally crystallized honey can be turned into liquid honey by warming the jar in water until the crystals dissolve.
Whipped (or Cremed) Honey
Whipped honey often is called creamed or spun honey. It is sold in a finely crystallized state. Super-fine honey crystals are blended to produce a thick, smooth and creamy-looking honey that is spreadable at room temperature. Unlike liquid honey, whipped honey does not drip. Although all liquid honey will crystallize with time, whipped honey is intentionally crystallized to ensure a spreadable texture.
Tags: form honey, honey often, comb honey, from comb, honey sold
