Oh Honey…


Apiculture, better known today as beekeeping, dates back to 700BC. Egyptians sacrificed honey to their gods, Romans spread it on wounds for its healing properties, and in medieval times it was a wealthy person’s indulgence. 

Honey bees create pure honey from plant nectar. Up to 60,000 bees live and work together in a beehive, producing the only insect based food eaten by humans. It takes 36 bee’s lifetimes to collect a tablespoon of honey. We should appreciate each drop!

The type of nectar collected by the bees, whether the most popular clover, or alfalfa, eucalyptus, heather, thyme, lavender, sunflower, sage, orange blossoms, etc., will determine the color and flavor of the honey. Over 300 choices are available in the US alone. I’ve just purchased some Galberry honey from our local market that is incredible. 

There are many types of honey, ranging from the common liquid form, to a thick whipped, creamed, or naturally crystallized spread. Typically, honey that is lighter in color will be milder in taste. Honey comb from a beehive, as well as the beeswax comb, are edible too. 

The amounts of beauty products worth purchasing that include honey are endless. Hair, face, and skin all benefit from the addition of honey to an ingredient list. If you are venturesome a quick internet search will provide numerous homemade recipes to try. Honey has been used as a cough suppressant, sore throat aid, and immunity booster (while honey grown locally will have even greater benefits) for ages. 

The word honey has been purportedly used as a term of endearment since ancient Greece. Songs are continually being created that incorporate the use of 'honey', as well as movies containing the word. It’s not likely that 'honey', in all of its popular forms, will lose its popularity anytime soon.

*Don’t feed honey to children less than 12 months. It can cause a type of food poisoning, botulism, which could be fatal.
 
Check out his incredible PBS YouTube video: http://bit.ly/ISHtcS.
 
Life’s toiling, the water’s boiling, drink more tea!
 
http://www.honey.com/nhb/about-honey/
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=96
http://www.benefits-of-honey.com/