Honey is very nutritious, but to enjoy its benefits, you have to know whether it is pure or not. Thankfully, there are ways to know and some of these tests don’t require a lot of work from you.
Of course, one of the first things you should do – and probably the easiest, too – is to check the label of the jar of honey itself before you make a purchase. Read if there are additives and other substances that the manufacturers have added into the honey to know if it has artificial flavors, if it’s extra sweet, or it is organic.
If you’re not convinced and you only want raw honey, the best way to have that is to buy honey from a beekeeper. You can be sure that the honey he or she will provide is unprocessed because it is derived straight from the source.
But the problem really lies on whether honey is fake or real. It is important that you know how to check the difference between the two, so you not only get your money’s worth, but also the nutrients from real honey.
The Thumb Test
Here’s one way to check the purity of honey:
- Take some honey and put it on your thumb.
- Check if the small amount of honey starts to spread around or if it spills from your thumb.
- If it does, you don’t have pure honey.
Pure honey will not move or at least stay intact.
The Water Test
Another way to test the purity of your honey is through the water test. Here are the steps:
- Fill a glass with water.
- Take a tablespoon of honey and add it into the glass of water.
- If it dissolves, you don’t have pure honey.
Artificial honey will easily dissolve in water and it will spread around the container. On the other hand, pure honey will stay at the bottom of the glass.
You’re probably wondering why it is important to buy real honey. Honey should come from bees, not any factory. Pure, real honey is organic and natural, but fake honey has other substances in it, such as:
- Dextrose
- Glucose
- Molasses
- Invert sugar
- Sugar syrup
- Corn syrup
- Flour
- Starch
Some honeys have other additives that aren’t mentioned above. If it’s not floral nectar, it’s not pure honey. Raw, natural honey has about 16 minerals, 21 vitamins, 18 amino acids, and phytonutrients, along with antioxidants and healing properties in just one ounce. You don’t want to lose those nutrients, plus several other health benefits, for a cheap alternative.
