What is raw honey?
Raw honey is honey that has not been heated or filtered. This preserves its natural properties. Honey does not go bad so you don't need to worry!
How is honey harvested?
Honey is harvested from beehives using methods that ensure minimal disturbance to the bees. In our area the honey flow is usually the month of April. When it finishes, we take the first pull of honey from the bees. We use a fume board that uses a smell similar to licorice, which the bees don't like, to encourage them to go deeper into the hive. This allows us to take the honey super off the top and get the honey without hurting the bees. When we harvest it, we return it to the bees to clean up and refill.
Can honey crystallize?
Yes, honey may crystallize over time. This usually happens if it was bottled with a water content higher than 16-18%. If we take the honey too early without it being capped, this can cause this type of situation. You can leave it in a warming room or on the hive to let them cap it or dry it out. You can eat the crystalized honey off the top of the jar and it is like a hard candy. If that's not your fav, then you can gently warm it up in warm water on he stove and it will return to liquid.
Is honey vegan?
Honey is produced by bees and is not considered vegan by strict definitions. There are so many uses of honey in the kitchen. Many people will substitute honey for sugar because of its natural components. This is not a 1 to 1 ratio so consult your cookbooks for the correct substitution measurements. A lot of my customers use honey to make tinctures, fire cider, hot honey, jams and more. My brother-in-law uses it for his BBQ competitions and has won several national championships. So, get creative, honey has so many ways to be used and enjoyed.
What flavors do you offer?
In our neck of the woods (My bees are located in Canon, GA and Hartwell, GA), we typically get a wildflower honey in the spring. The bees usually jump on clover, red maple, fruit trees, tulip poplar, privet, blackberry and all types of wildflowers. I have orchards on the farms so the bees really help with the fruit production around here, thank the good Lord. Later in the fall we get a darker honey and some think it is more dynamic. We add old and new comb for color dynamics but the honey is the same. I have noticed both farms have a slightly different taste but are very dynamic.
How should I store honey?
Store honey in a cool, dry place in a tightly sealed container. It doesn't go bad so no worries there. We offer plastic squeeze bottles with sealed lids that clip shut as one option, or solid glass jars that are re-useable. Either option will keep the same way because honey stores well. I leave mine on the counter and use it every day. If you don't use honey that much it is best to store it in a cool place but not refrigerated.
What are the health benefits?
Honey has antioxidant properties and may offer soothing effects for sore throats. Before bandages, a lot of early settlers would use honey as a suave on woods to help them heal. There isn't much from the honeybee that is bad for you. If you use natural products to treat for pests then you are safe. We don't use any chemicals on our bees, only natural remedies and traditional methods of hive maintenance to offset pests like hive beetles, and varroa mites.