I would like to say that I'm no longer shocked by the bad information that is shared on the Internet, but I guess what really shocks me is how much bad information is shared by people within the beekeeping industry.
Just this last week I read on Facebook a claim that honey bee's inefficiency is the reason that honey crystalizes. Wait a minute....what???? So much for nature and science! Why does honey crystalize? Honey is abundant in sugars, particularly glucose and fructose, which originate from flower nectar. The ratio of these sugars significantly influences the rate at which honey crystallizes. Glucose is more prone to crystallization, whereas fructose stays liquid for an extended period. Consequently, honey types with a higher glucose content crystallize more swiftly, while those richer in fructose remain in a liquid state longer. Sourwood honey is low in glucose and very slow to crystalize. Wildflower honeys vary in glucose levels. Our honeys from early in the season tend to have lower glucose levels while the honey from late in the season has higher glucose levels. This late season honey is what we use for our creamed honey.
So those lazy little honey bees aren't to blame for the crystals in your honey, it's the source of the nectars. The bees can't control what is in bloom, they are just lucky to have a nectar source with all the herbicides and pesticides they come into contact with, along with other factors that are limiting their nectar sources.
Another recent favorite is the meme that includes the claims you shouldn't use a metal spoon when consuming your honey because it will destroy the enzymes. Again....what???
Stainless steel is literally used in some degree by every beekeeper, from the backyard hobbyist to the large bottlers. Honey comes in contact with metal, from the knives that cut the cappings to the extractors, holding tanks, and bottlers. So that spoon that your worried about...don't.
It seems like even honey companies (or their marketing firms) can't resist sharing info for likes on social media, even if they are passing on bad information. I guess sharing bad info is better than not sharing at all???
Speaking of sharing.....honey makes great gifts! Don't show up on Christmas morning empty handed. Check out all our products, including our new samplers! The post office suggests shipping NO LATER than December 18th to guarantee delivery for Christmas but that doesn't factor in weather delays.
As you might have gathered, I'm not one to blog often so I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy Holiday season and a Happy and Healthy New Year! Thank you all for your continued support of our little business!!!
Jolene and Bruce
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