How do I pastuerize honey? Do I need to do this to honey? What temperture do I heat it to? We raise bees.

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: : I have heard contradictory facts about honey, I hope you can clear some : : things up for me:" : : When a honey has become condensed does this mean it is pure or that sugar : : has been added to it? : : ============== I think you're talking about crystallization, or when the : : honey becomes solid? If so, this is a sign of pure raw honey. The sucrose : : content causes this. However with Tupelo and Sourwood Honeys, which contain : : a very small amount of sucrose, it takes much longer... years. : : When honey is clear does that mean it is pure? : : ============== No, in fact, SOME large packers will pasteurize honey and add : : corn syrup to the honey to make it stay clear for a longer shelf life. This : : is called Adulteration (adding something other than honey) and requires : : extensive testing to detect. Many packers have gotten away with, and still : : do get away with this "crime". : : Do honey makers sometimes give sugar to bees to speed up their honey : : production? : : ==============No, sugar syrup or corn syrup is fed to the bees during the : : winter, or times when there is no nectar source, so they won't starve to : : death. This is common up in the northern parts of the continent, we don't : : have that problem in the warmer south. The bees will usually store enough to : : eat during the short winter weeks we have here (we try not to steal it : : all!). In fact we always try to keep some extra honey on hand so if we do : : have to feed some of the weaker hives, we can give there own food back to : : 'em. : : What are some characteristics that an inexperienced eye can look for to find : : good, pure, and natural honey? : : ==============This goes back to question number one... if it stays clear for : : a long period of time you can almost bet that it has been : : pasteurized.(except for Tupelo and Sourwood) Cloudy or fully crystallized : : honey is, no doubt, the pure natural stuff... : : I know this response is somewhat late but I hope it helps. I just happened : : to stumble on your post this evening.... : : Chip : : Chip McCurdy President/CEO : : Georgia Honey Corporation : : P.O. Box 422 : : Perry, Georgia 31069-0422 : : 1-877-GA HONEY : : http://www.GEORGIAHONEY.com : : Chip@GEORGIAHONEY.com

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