For decades, honey has become a popular ingredient in several dishes because of its sweet and dynamic flavour. Besides this, it has also been praised for its incredible medicinal and antibacterial properties.
Due to all the hype surrounding this product, many people have drawn conclusions about the benefits of raw organic honey.
So, to help set the records straight, here are some common misconceptions about honey Singapore that people need to stop believing.
All types of honey are the same
One of the most common assumptions is that all honey looks and tastes the same. But on the contrary, there are hundreds of honey variations in Singapore alone. Depending on the flower source of the nectar, the look, flavour, scent, and consistency of the honey vary.
Not only that. Different honey varieties offer different health benefits. For instance, honeydew honey is sourced from the forests of New Zealand. It appears to have a deep amber colour with a distinct earthy aroma, and it tastes rich and malty.
While honey can be sourced from singular flower species, it's also entirely possible to have honey sourced from different types of plants. One example of this type of honey is called wilderness honey.
This is made from multi-flower pollination that combines nutrients from several herbs and flowers. As a result, the health benefits are incredible. This type of honey can lower heart diseases, boost the immune system, and enhance hair and skin conditions.
With this, it’s clear how each type of honey offers unique and diverse qualities.
Thick honey is superior
Another mistake people make is judging honey based on consistency. Many people think that thicker honey is superior to thinner honey. However, that’s not always true.
Based on where the honey is sourced from, the viscosity differs along with the colour, flavour, and aroma. Besides the location, several other factors contribute to honey's consistency. These include humidity, soil conditions, landscape, weather, and types of bees.
That said, the quality of honey cannot be judged by consistency alone. Rather, you need to consider the source and harvesting process when evaluating honey quality.
Crystallised honey is spoiled
Contrary to popular belief, real honey crystallises. This is a natural process caused by the sugar content (glucose and fructose) found in honey. These sugar compounds will bind with each other to form crystals, which in turn will make your honey harder. Depending on the amount of sugar present in your honey, the speed of crystallisation varies.
When this happens, don't be alarmed. Crystallisation occurs to preserve the qualities of honey. To revert it to its original state, warm the bottle in warm water and stir gently. After a few minutes, your honey should return to its original form without compromising the taste and nutrient content.
Honey can’t be heated
Several people believe that heating honey will release toxins that may be harmful to the body when consumed. But this does not hold true for pure and organic honey. In the first place, organic honey does not contain any harmful chemicals. Therefore, it can't release toxins. However, if you buy commercially-produced honey with artificial ingredients, then this is possible.
Although real organic honey cannot produce toxins, it can still lose beneficial enzymes and nutrients when overheated. So, it's important to be careful when heating honey. The ideal temperature is within 35-40°C. Anything beyond that will destroy the nutrients and turn your honey into a different consistency.
Honey never expires
Among all the myths, this is arguably the most popular one. But what’s surprising about this is that there’s a bit of truth to this statement.
It is possible for honey to never expire only if it’s preserved well and never opened. However, once it’s been opened, it can lose its nutrients and change its taste and colour over time. Regardless, it’s important to know that no matter how long it’s been sitting on your shelf, it will be safe to eat. Just don’t expect it to taste and feel as good as the original. For this reason, honey is best consumed while it’s fresh.
Conclusion
Hopefully, through these debunked myths, you have a better understanding of what honey is and what it isn't.
To get the best benefits from honey, you need to be particular about the type of honey you buy. Be sure to find one that is pure, organic, and free of artificial flavours. This will make all the difference in taste, health, and overall experience. As such, when buying honey in Singapore, check out Nature's Glory.