The process of making honey begins with bees collecting nectar from flowers. Worker bees, the only ones to collect nectar, suck nectar from flowers with their long tongues. The nectar is stored in the bees’ honey harvest, where it is mixed with digestive enzymes that convert it.
As soon as the bees return to the hive, they deposit nectar in the honeycomb. Honeycomb is made of wax that bees produce in their wax glands. Beekeeper bees usually extract it from the honeycombs through a process called centrifugation.
The extracted honey is filtered to remove impurities and stored in airtight containers. It can be stored for years without losing its properties.
Honey can be divided into two large groups:
- Monofloral honey: They are made from the nectar of a single flower. Each monofloral type has its own unique characteristics such as taste, color and aroma.
Monoflower honeys are most valued for their intense taste and aroma. Each variety of monofloral honey has its own origin and unique properties. For example, orange blossom is made from the nectar of orange blossoms, rosemary is made from the nectar of rosemary flowers, and eucalyptus is made from the nectar of eucalyptus flowers.
- Multi-flowered honeys: They are made from the nectar of various flowers. This type of honey usually has a more complex and balanced flavor than monofloral honeys.
Multi-flowered honeys are the most common. They are made by mixing the nectar of different flowers, resulting in a more complex and balanced taste. Multi-flowered honeys are generally cheaper than single-flowered honeys.
The most common monoflower honeys and their benefits
Orange blossom
It has a light color and a sweet and floral taste. It is usually used in the preparation of desserts and drinks. Orange blossoms are the flowers of the orange tree and orange blossom honey is one of the most popular honeys in the world. It has a soft and sweet taste with floral notes. It can be used in a variety of recipes such as desserts, drinks, sauces and dressings.
From rosemary:
It has a dark color and an intense, spicy taste. It is often used in cooking, as a spice or to flavor dishes. Rosemary is an aromatic herb used in cuisines around the world. Rosemary honey has an intense and spicy taste with herbal notes. It can be used to season meat, fish, vegetables and salads.
From eucalyptus:
It has a light color and a fresh and medicinal taste. It is often used to treat respiratory illnesses such as coughs and colds. Eucalyptus is a tree native to Australia with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Eucalyptus honey has a fresh and medicinal taste with eucalyptus notes. It can be used to treat coughs, colds, bronchitis and sinusitis.
From Manuka:
It has a dark color and an intense taste. It is believed to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Manuka is a tree native to New Zealand with medicinal properties. Manuka honey has an intense and sweet taste with notes of Manuka. It can be used to treat bacterial infections such as gingivitis, periodontitis and ulcers.
From clover:
It has a light color and a sweet taste. It is usually used in the preparation of desserts and drinks. Clover is a herbaceous plant used as fodder for livestock. Clover honey has a mild and sweet taste with floral notes. It can be used in a variety of recipes such as desserts, drinks, sauces and dressings.
Uses of honey
It can be consumed in different ways such as breakfast, meals or as a dessert. It can also be used in cooking, as a spice or to flavor dishes. In addition, it has medicinal properties and therefore can be used to treat various health problems.
Some possible uses:
- Feeding: It is a nutritious food that can provide the body with energy and other nutrients. It is a good source of sugars, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. It can be consumed alone or added to a variety of foods such as cereals, yogurt, fruits, etc.
- Kitchen: It can be used in cooking as a spice or to season dishes. It is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a wide variety of recipes, such as desserts, savory dishes, drinks, etc. It can be used, for example, to sweeten cakes, pies, cookies, etc. It can also be used to marinate meat, fish or vegetables or to flavor sauces, dressings etc.
- Medicine: It has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It can be used to treat various health problems such as cough, cold, ulcers and diarrhea. For example, it can be taken to relieve a cough or sore throat. It can also be applied to open wounds to help them heal.
Precautions
It is a safe food for most people. However, it is important to note that it should not be given to children under one year old as it can cause botulism.
elaboration
Bees produce honey from the nectar of flowers. Forager bees visit flowers and collect nectar with their tongues. The nectar is then stored in the bee’s crop. When the harvest is full, the bee returns to the hive and deposits the nectar in the wax cells.
In the hive, worker bees work to convert nectar into honey. Worker bees add enzymes to the nectar that help convert it into honey. They also flap nectar with their wings, which helps evaporate water.
