Today we tell you what raw honey is and we show you what its main differences are compared to normal or pasteurized honey. In addition, you will discover the most common uses of this delicious live food from bee honeycombs in its purest and most natural state .
what is raw honey
Raw honey is a substance that, after being made by bees from flower nectar, is extracted from the honeycomb without undergoing any further processing . Most of the honeys that are marketed are industrially pasteurized as a way of guaranteeing the destruction of possible pathogens and bacteria. This makes, in theory, that the consumption of honey is safer; but it destroys a large part of the essential nutrients that are preserved in raw honey and that are directly responsible for the properties that honey possesses .
Whether you are from Madrid, Barcelona, or anywhere, we can deliver this delicious organic honey to your own home. Forget the unnatural and artificial honey from Mercadona or Carrefour and enjoy the real raw natural honey.
How to differentiate it from normal honey
Broadly speaking, we can say that the biggest difference between raw honey and normal honey is that the latter has been subjected to heating of around 70ºC . This procedure causes the honey to lose certain characteristics that were present before its pasteurization; Next, we will tell you what are the main differences between raw honey and normal or pasteurized honey:
The enzymatic richness and properties of raw honey remain intact, while pasteurized honey loses much of its potential as a bacteriostatic food.
The aroma and flavor of raw honey are much more intense than those of normal honey after being heated to high temperatures. In addition, we can also find it in different varieties depending on the nectar from which it is produced; It can be rosemary , eucalyptus , orange blossom ...
Pasteurized honey is usually more fluid than pure honey , remaining in a liquid state for longer and thus favoring the homogeneous mixture between different types of honey.
Contrary to what usually happens with normal honey, raw honey tends to crystallize over time . However, not all honey that is granulated is necessarily raw honey.
Even with these differences in mind, it's important to know that raw honey cannot be distinguished by appearance alone . On many occasions, it is thought that raw honey must have impurities in its texture and that it cannot be liquid; however, a raw honey may have been filtered to remove the remains present in the honeycomb and present in a liquid state if it has been recently harvested.
Most common uses
The most common uses of raw honey are based on the benefits that its consumption brings to health. There are those who decide to consume pure honey as a substitute for sugar while enjoying its deep flavor and its excellent nutritional properties. It is the type of honey used to make our soft Jijona nougat and hard Alicante, which gives them a special nutritional value and flavor.
Knowing this, its use in confectionery is one of the best ways to obtain the benefits of honey in all aspects : flavor, aroma and nutritional functions.
Keep in mind that despite the stigmatization of raw honey, it has natural antifungal, antibiotic and antibacterial effects ; therefore, by keeping it in a suitable conservation environment, it is really difficult for it to become contaminated and to produce any detrimental effect on the organism.
It should also be clarified that you have to be very careful with babies. Children are intolerant to this type of honey and it can be a danger to their health . If we can avoid giving him this type of artisan honey, much better.