How to Determine Which Honey Is Good
With so many brands on the market, finding good honey is akin to finding our way through a maze. At times, it can be really confusing. The less knowledgeable may end up paying for inferior and adulterated honey. Here are tips to help you navigate through this maze.
A discerning honey consumer establishes the quality of honey with the eye, nose and mouth. This reveals defects like fermentation, impurities, odours and inferior flavours.
Eye-Balling Method
Eye-Balling Method Examine the container in which the honey is stored. Honey is best stored in stainless steel, glass, porcelain or food grade plastic containers. There should be an absence of wax particles and other impurities.
Honey Colour
Honey is categorised generally under four colour classes: Light, Amber, Golden, Dark. However, colour alone cannot determine the quality of the honey. Check for bubbles due to fermentation. While bubbles can be a sign of fermentation, a freshly bottled honey might contain air bubbles too. Air bubbles in freshly bottled honey jar is not a sign of fermentation but reflects poor bottling.
Honey Aroma
Honey aroma can be judged by smelling with the nose when the lid is removed from the jar. Any “off and obnoxious” odours can be indicative of fermentation.
Honey Taste
Due to its fructose and glucose content, all honeys are sweet. Fructose is said to be 2.5 times sweeter than glucose. To get the most of the honey flavour, it is best to allow the honey to flow all over the tongue.
The tactile properties of honey can be enjoyed on the lips and tongue. Some honey lovers love the coarse and hard crystallized honey while others prefer fine and creamy honey. Yet others like a smooth and less vicious and liquid honey.
When doing a taste-test, check for defects like off and abnormal tastes.
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