Raw honey is the natural form of honey. But which honey is raw and how do you recognize it? Here you will find all the facts about the natural sweetener.
What exactly is raw honey?
Raw honey is pure, unprocessed honey that has not been filtered or heated. So it is natural honey. It is only sieved to remove coarse particles such as wax, dead bees or impurities.
Raw Honey: A rare delicacy in the United States
The legal situation may be different in other countries. For example, US honey is filtered and partially pasteurized by default – and therefore no longer raw. In the USA, “raw honey” is therefore considered a delicacy. Filtering honey means passing it through a very fine sieve. As a result, even the smallest particles get stuck in the filter, which is detrimental to the quality of the honey.
How do you recognize raw honey?
Viscous, creamy-cloudy honey is usually an indication of raw honey, because most varieties in Germany crystallize out quite quickly.
Clear syrupy honey may indicate it has been heated or filtered.
Sugar crystals on the edge of the glass are also an indication of natural honey. Honey is often not bottled directly, but initially stored in larger containers. For sale, the honey is then heated to a maximum of 40 degrees Celsius so that it is easier to bottle. As a result, the sugar does not bloom later – that is, no sugar crystals form on the glass. This may look more appealing, but it is a sign of reduced honey quality, because valuable enzymes are lost due to the heat (e.g. the enzyme invertase is very heat-sensitive according to D.I.B.).
Raw Honey: That’s how healthy it is
Honey contains valuable minerals such as magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium or phosphorus as well as C and B vitamins. You can find more information about the ingredients of honey here.
Thanks to certain enzymes, honey also has an antibacterial and antiseptic effect. According to the University Hospital Bonn, certain types of honey can even promote wound healing – here, however, you should only use sterile medical honey.
Honey can support digestion and the immune system.
In raw honey in particular, these healthy ingredients are preserved. Pollen can also still be found in raw honey, which according to the D.I.B. stimulate appetite and aid digestion. If honey is filtered or heated, some of these healthy ingredients are lost (some of the enzymes are heat-sensitive). Only comb honey is healthier than raw honey: the wax contains even more valuable nutrients, pollen and propolis. Propolis (also called bee resin) is a resinous substance produced by the bees themselves. It protects the hive from invaders and diseases. Propolis is known for its antimicrobial properties.
Raw honey is therefore slightly healthier than filtered honey; the sugar content remains the same. Therefore, only consume raw honey in moderation.
