A jar of honey, shown with a wooden honey dipper and biscuits

A capped frame of honeycomb

A honey bee on calyx of goldenrod

Honey is a sweet and viscous fluid produced by honey bees (and some other species^[1]), and derived from the nectar of flowers. Wood is hard fibrous lignified structural tissue produced as secondary Xylem in the stems of Woody plants notably trees but also shrubs A biscuit (ˈbɪskɨt is a small baked product the exact meaning varies markedly in different parts of the world A honeycomb is a mass of Hexagonal Wax cells built by Honey bees in their nests to contain their larvae and stores of Honey and This article refers collectively to all true honey bees for the "common" domesticated honey bee see European honey bee Honey bees The goldenrod is a yellow Flowering plant in the Family Asteraceae. Viscosity is a measure of the resistance of a Fluid which is being deformed by either Shear stress or Extensional stress. This article refers collectively to all true honey bees for the "common" domesticated honey bee see European honey bee Honey bees Nectar is a Sugar -rich liquid produced by plants It is produced either by the Flowers in which it attracts pollinating animals or by extrafloral A flower, also known as a bloom or Blossom, is the reproductive structure found in Flowering plants (plants of the division Magnoliophyta, also According to the United States National Honey Board and various international food regulations, "honey stipulates a pure product that does not allow for the addition of any other substance…this includes, but is not limited to, water or other sweeteners". The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A sweetener is a Food additive which adds the Basic taste of Sweetness to a food artificial sweeteners are Sugar substitutes This article refers exclusively to the honey produced by honey bees (the genus Apis); honey produced by other bees or other insects has very different properties. This article refers collectively to all true honey bees for the "common" domesticated honey bee see European honey bee Honey bees ^[2]

Honey has a similar composition to granulated sugar (50% fructose and 44% glucose) and approximately the same relative sweetness (97% of the sweetness of sucrose). Solubility of Pure SucroseTemperature(Cg Fructose (also levulose or laevulose) is a simple reducing Sugar ( Monosaccharide) found in many foods and is one of the three Glucose (Glc a Monosaccharide (or simple Sugar) also known as grape sugar, is an important Carbohydrate in Biology. Sweet is one of the five Basic tastes and is almost universally regarded as a pleasurable experience ^{[3] [4]} Honey has attractive chemical properties for baking, and a distinctive flavor which leads some people to prefer it over sugar and other sweeteners. ^[3]

Most micro-organisms do not grow in honey because of its low water activity of 0. Water activity or aw is a measurement of the energy status of the water in a system 6. ^[5] However, it is important to note that honey frequently contains dormant endospores of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which can be dangerous to infants as the endospores can transform into toxin-producing bacteria in the infant's immature intestinal tract, leading to illness and even death^[6] (see Precautions below). An endospore is a dormant, tough and non-reproductive structure produced by a small number of Bacteria from the Firmicute phylum Clostridium botulinum is a Gram-positive, rod shaped bacterium that produces the Neurotoxin Botulin, which causes the flaccid

The study of pollens and spores in raw honey (melissopalynology) can determine floral sources of honey. Pollen is a fine to coarse powder consisting of microgametophytes ( pollen grains) which produce the male Gametes (sperm cells of In Biology, a spore is a reproductive structure that is adapted for dispersal and surviving for extended periods of time in unfavorable conditions Melissopalynology is the study of Honey. By extension it also includes the study of any Pollen contained in honey as well as the pollen's source ^[7] Because bees carry an electrostatic charge, and can attract other particles, the same techniques of melissopalynology can be used in area environmental studies of radioactive particles, dust, or particulate pollution. Electric charge is a fundamental conserved property of some Subatomic particles which determines their Electromagnetic interaction. Radioactive decay is the process in which an unstable Atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting ionizing particles and Radiation. Dust is a general name for minute Solid particles with Diameters less than 500 micrometers. Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into an environment that causes instability disorder harm or discomfort to the physical systems or living organisms they are in ^[8][9]

A main effect of bees collecting nectar to make honey is pollination, which is crucial for flowering plants. Pollination in angiosperms and Gymnosperms is the process that transfers pollen grains, which contain the male Gametes (sperm to where the female The flowering plants or angiosperms ( Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta) are the most widespread group ^[10]

The beekeeper encourages overproduction of honey within the hive so that the excess can be taken without endangering the bees. When sources of foods for the bees are short the beekeeper may have to give the bees supplementary nutrition. ^[11]

Honey formation

Honey is laid down by bees as a food source. In cold weather or when food sources are scarce, bees use their stored honey as their source of energy. ^[12] By contriving for the bee swarm to make its home in a hive, people have been able to semi-domesticate the insects. Swarming is the natural means of Reproduction of Honey bee colonies (considering the colony as the Organism rather than individual bees which cannot survive A beehive is in a general sense an enclosed structure in which some species of Honey bees (genus Apis) live and raise their young Domestication (from Latin domesticus) refers to the process whereby a Population of Animals In the hive there are three types of bee: the single queen bee, a seasonally variable number of drone bees to fertilize new queens, and some 20,000 to 40,000 worker bees. The term queen bee is typically used to refer to an adult mated female that lives in a Honey bee colony or hive she is usually the mother of all the bees in the hive Drones are male Honey bees Male honey bees develop when the Queen bee lays unfertilized eggs Drone genetics Haplodiploid sex-determination A Worker bee is any female Eusocial bee that lacks the full reproductive capacity of the colony's Queen bee; under most circumstances this is correlated to an increase ^[13] The worker bees raise larvae and collect the nectar that will become honey in the hive. They go out, collect the sugar-rich flower nectar and return to the hive. , bees release Nasonov pheromones. Nasonov is also a common Russian Surname. The Nasonov (alternatively Nasanov) pheromone is released by A pheromone (from Greek φέρω phero "to bear" + ‘ορμόνη " Hormone " is a Chemical that triggers a natural These enable other bees to find their way to the site by smell. ^[14] Honeybees also release Nasonov pheromones at the entrance to the hive, which enables returning bees to return to the proper hive. ^[14] In the hive the bees use their "honey stomachs" to ingest and regurgitate the nectar a number of times until it is partially digested. Regurgitation is the controlled flow of Stomach contents back into the Esophagus and Mouth. ^[15] It is then stored in the honeycomb. A honeycomb is a mass of Hexagonal Wax cells built by Honey bees in their nests to contain their larvae and stores of Honey and Nectar is high in both water content and natural yeasts which, unchecked, would cause the sugars in the nectar to ferment. ^[12] After the final regurgitation, the honeycomb is left unsealed. Bees inside the hive fan their wings, creating a strong draft across the honeycomb which enhances evaporation of much of the water from the nectar. Evaporation is the process by which Molecules in a Liquid state (e Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. ^[12] The reduction in water content, which raises the sugar concentration, prevents fermentation. Fermentation in Food processing typically refers to the conversion of Sugar to Alcohol using Yeast under Anaerobic conditions Ripe honey, as removed from the hive by the beekeeper, has a long shelf life and will not ferment. A beekeeper is a person who keeps Honey bees for the purposes of securing commodities such as Honey, Beeswax, Pollen; pollinating ^[12]

Nutrition

Honey is a mixture of sugars and other compounds. With respect to carbohydrates, honey is mainly fructose (about 38. Fructose (also levulose or laevulose) is a simple reducing Sugar ( Monosaccharide) found in many foods and is one of the three 5%) and glucose (about 31. Glucose (Glc a Monosaccharide (or simple Sugar) also known as grape sugar, is an important Carbohydrate in Biology. 0%),^[3] making it similar to the synthetically produced inverted sugar syrup which is approximately 48% fructose, 47% glucose, and 5% sucrose. Inverted sugar syrup is a Sucrose -based Syrup produced with the Glycoside hydrolase Enzyme Invertase or an Acid, which Honey's remaining carbohydrates include maltose, sucrose, and other complex carbohydrates. Maltose, or malt sugar is a Disaccharide formed from two units of Glucose joined with an α(1→4 linkage Solubility of Pure SucroseTemperature(Cg Polysaccharides are relatively complex Carbohydrates They are Polymers made up of many Monosaccharides joined together by Glycosidic bonds ^[3]

Honey contains trace amounts of several vitamins and minerals^[16]. A vitamin is an Organic compound required as a Nutrient in tiny amounts by an Organism. A mineral is a naturally occurring substance formed through geological processes that has a characteristic chemical composition a highly ordered atomic structure and specific As with all nutritive sweeteners, honey is mostly sugars and is not a significant source of vitamins or minerals. ^[17]

Honey also contains tiny amounts of several compounds thought to function as antioxidants, including chrysin, pinobanksin, vitamin C, catalase, and pinocembrin. An antioxidant is a Molecule capable of slowing or preventing the oxidation of other molecules Origin Chrysin is a naturally occurring Flavone chemically extracted from the blue Passion flower ( Passiflora caerulea) The Antioxidant pinobanksin is a bioflavonoid (specifically a Dihydroflavonol) that inhibits peroxidation of low density Lipoprotein Vitamin C or L-ascorbate is an Essential nutrient for a large number of higher primate species a small number of other Mammalian Catalase is a common Enzyme found in nearly all living organisms where it functions to catalyze the decomposition of Hydrogen peroxide to Pinocembrin is an antioxidant found in Honey. Pinocembrin can only be ingested by consuming honey but it is also found in Propolis, a glue-like sustance produced ^[18][19]

The specific composition of any batch of honey will depend largely on the mix of flowers available to the bees that produced the honey. ^[17]

Honey has a density of about 1. The density of a material is defined as its Mass per unit Volume: \rho = \frac{m}{V} Different materials usually have different 36 kg/liter (40% denser than water). The litre or liter (see spelling differences) is a unit of Volume. Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. ^[20]

Typical honey analysis^[17]

• Fructose: 38. Fructose (also levulose or laevulose) is a simple reducing Sugar ( Monosaccharide) found in many foods and is one of the three 0%
• Glucose: 31. Glucose (Glc a Monosaccharide (or simple Sugar) also known as grape sugar, is an important Carbohydrate in Biology. 0%
• Sucrose: 1. Solubility of Pure SucroseTemperature(Cg 0%
• Water: 17. Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. 0%
• Other sugars: 9. 0% (maltose, melezitose)
• Ash: 0. Maltose, or malt sugar is a Disaccharide formed from two units of Glucose joined with an α(1→4 linkage Melezitose, also spelled melicitose, is a nonreducing Trisaccharide Sugar that is produced by many Plant sap eating insects including In Analytical chemistry, ash is the name given to all non- Aqueous residue that remains after a sample is Burned, and consist mostly of metal Oxides 17%
• Other: 3. 38%

The analysis of the sugar content of honey is used for detecting adulteration. Adulterants are Chemical substances which should not be contained within other substances (eg

Types of honey

Blended

Most commercially available honey is blended, meaning that it is a mixture of two or more honeys differing in floral source, color, flavor, density or geographic origin. ^[21]

Polyfloral

Polyfloral honey is derived from the nectar of many types of flowers. ^[22]

Monofloral

Main article: Monofloral honey

Different monofloral honeys have a distinctive flavor and colour due to differences between their principal nectar sources. Monofloral honey is a type of Honey which has a high value in the Marketplace because it has a distinctive flavor or other attribute due to its being predominantly A nectar source is a flowering plant that produces nectar as part of its reproductive strategy Beekeepers keep monofloral beehives in an area where the bees have access to only one type of flower, because of that flower's properties. In practice, because of the difficulties in containing bees, a small proportion of any honey will be from additional nectar from other flower types. Typical examples of monofloral or varietal honeys are "orange blossom", "sage", "eucalyptus", "tupelo", "manuka", "buckwheat", "sourwood", and "clover".

Honeydew honey

Instead of taking nectar, bees can take honeydew, the sweet secretions of aphids or other plant sap-sucking insects. Honeydew is a Sugar -rich sticky substance secreted by Aphids and some Scale insects as they feed on Plant sap. Bees collecting this resource have to be fed protein supplements, as honeydew lacks the protein-rich pollen accompaniment gathered from flowers.

Germany's Black Forest is a well known source of honeydew-based honeys, as well as some regions in Bulgaria. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. For the suburb of Adelaide, please see Black Forest South Australia; for the CDP in Colorado, please see Black Forest Colorado. Honeydew honey is popular in some areas, but in many areas beekeepers have difficulty selling the stronger flavored product.

Honeydew honey has a much larger proportion of indigestibles than light floral honeys, which can cause dysentery, resulting in the death of colonies in areas with cold winters. Diseases of the honey bee include Pests and parasites Varroa mites See also Varroa destructor Varroa destructor and Good beekeeping management requires the removal of honeydew prior to winter in colder areas.

Honey processing

• Comb honey Honey sold still in the original bees' wax comb. Comb honey is produced by Honeybees in a hive The bees fill the hexagon shaped wax cells of the Honeycomb with Honey and cap it with Beeswax Comb honey was once packaged by installing a wooden framework in special honey supers, but this labor intensive method is being replaced by plastic rings or cartridges. A honey super is a part of a beehive that is used to collect Honey. With the new approach, a clear cover is usually fitted onto the cartridge after removal from the hive so customers can see the product.
• Certified Organic Honey, according to TheOrganicReport. com, organic honey is quite scarce to find because most beekeepers "routinely use sulfa compounds and antibiotics to control bee diseases, carbolic acid to remove honey from the hive, and calcium cyanide to kill colonies before extracting the honey, not to mention that conventional honeybees gather nectar from plants that have been sprayed with pesticides. " http://www.theorganicreport.com/pages/461_organic_honey.cfm
• Raw honey Honey as it exists in the beehive or as obtained by extraction, settling or straining without adding heat above 120 °F. Raw honey contains some pollen and may contain small particles of wax. Local raw honey is sought after by allergy sufferers as the pollen impurities are thought to lessen the sensitivity to hay fever (see Medical Applications below). Allergy is a disorder of the Immune system often also referred to as Atopy. Hay Fever is a comic play written by Noel Coward in 1924 and first produced in 1925 with Marie Tempest as the first Judith Bliss Honey is a sweet and Viscous fluid produced by Honey bees (and some other species and derived from the nectar of Flowers According to the
• Chunk honey or Cut-comb honey Honey packed in widemouth containers consisting of one or more pieces of comb honey surrounded by extracted liquid honey.
• Strained honey or Honey which has been passed through a mesh material to remove particulate material (pieces of wax, propolis, other defects) without removing pollen, minerals or valuable enzymes. Propolis is a resinous mixture that bees collect from tree buds sap flows or other botanical sources Preferred by the health food trade — it may have a cloudy appearance due to the included pollen, and it also tends to crystallize more quickly than ultrafiltered honey.
• Ultrafiltered honey Honey processed by very fine filtration under high pressure to remove all extraneous solids and pollen grains. The process typically heats honey to 150-170 °F to more easily pass through the fine filter. Ultrafiltered honey is very clear and has a longer shelf life, because it crystallizes more slowly due to the high temperatures breaking down any sugar seed crystals, making it preferred by the supermarket trade. Ultrafiltration eliminates nutritionally valuable enzymes, such as diastase and invertase.
• Heat-Treated honey Heat-treatment after extraction reduces the moisture level and destroys yeast cells. Heating liquefies crystals in the honey, too. Heat-exposure also results in product deterioration, as it increases the level of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and reduces enzyme (e. g. diastase) activity. The heat also affects sensory qualities and reduces the freshness. Heat processing can darken the natural honey color (browning), too. [3]
• Ultrasonicated honey Ultrasonication is a non-thermal processing alternative for honey. When honey is exposed to ultrasonication, most of the yeast cells are destroyed. Yeast cells that survive sonication generally lose their ability to grow. This reduces the rate of honey fermentation substantially. Ultrasonication also eliminates existing crystals and inhibit further crystallization in honey. Ultrasonically aided liquefaction can work at substantially lower temperatures of approx. 35 °C and can reduce liquefaction time to less than 30 seconds. [4]

Other descriptions

• Churned honey or creamed honey See whipped honey. Whipped honey is a Honey that has been processed to control Crystallization.
• Crystallized honey Honey in which some of the glucose content has spontaneously crystallized from solution as the monohydrate. Also called "granulated honey. "
• Honey fondant See whipped honey. Whipped honey is a Honey that has been processed to control Crystallization.
• Organic honey is honey produced, processed, and packaged in accordance with national regulations, and certified as such by some government body or an independent organic farming certification organization. For example, in the United Kingdom, the standard covers not only the origin of bees, but also the siting of the apiaries. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located These must be on land that is certified as organic, and within a radius of 4 miles from the apiary site, nectar and pollen sources must consist essentially of organic crops or uncultivated areas. [5]
• Set honey All honey will eventually set or granulate and this process can be reversed by gently warming the honey to remelt it. Some honeys set naturally with large granules and taste a little like granulated sugar in honey. Others set like royal icing — very hard and unspreadable. Royal icing is a hard white icing, made from softly beaten Egg whites, Icing sugar (powdered sugar and sometimes lemon or lime juice To overcome this problem beekeepers will mix in a small amount of fine-grained honey before it sets and then gently stir the honey to fix the setting prematurely, before it becomes hard, thereby producing a "soft set" honey.
• Spun honey See whipped honey. Whipped honey is a Honey that has been processed to control Crystallization.

Honey preservation

Due to its unique composition and the complex processing of nectar by the bees which changes its chemical properties, honey is suitable for long term preservation and is easily assimilated even after long conservation. History knows examples of honey preservation for decades, and even centuries. ". . . small residues of edible honey have even been found in the pharaoh's tombs…"^[23]

A number of special prerequisites are, however, necessary to achieve the conservation periods of this order. These might include sealing the product in vessels of chosen material, kept in a favorable environment of specific humidity, temperature etc. An example of natural sealing of the honey with wax by the bees in little separated honey comb cells could be taken for reference.

When conventional preservation methods are applied, it is not recommended to preserve the honey for longer than 2 (maximum 3) years. As honey has a strong tendency to absorb outside smells, it is advisable to keep it in clean, hermetically sealed vessels. It is also advisable to keep it in darkened (not lucid) vessels, or in dark store-places. When honey remains in direct sunlight for about one day its lysozyme (an antibacterial albuminous enzyme) is destroyed. Honey should also be protected from oxygen inflow, which brings about accelerated crystallization. Optimal preservation temperature is +4 – 10 °C. The store-place should be dark and dry, preventing the honey from absorbing any moisture. If excessive moisture is soaked up by the honey, it might start fermenting. "Bee honey can absorb the moisture from the air, therefore it might ferment in a damp place"^[24]

"Exposure to fresh air brings about the soaking up of external smells, oxygen and moisture, which cause fundamental chemical change of the product—decay of valuable amino acids, vitamins, enzymes and "antibiotics". The light has a similar influence. "^[25]

Acacia honey is known to be more resistant to crystallization. "The acacia honey would not crystallize (as quick as other types)…"^[26]

Due to the above reasons (high tendency to absorb outside smells and moisture) it is not advisable to preserve honey uncovered in a fridge, especially together with other foods and products.

Honey is considered to gradually become toxic when preserved in metal containers. "Honey must not be preserved in metal containers, because the acids contained in its structure may cause oxidation. This leads to increased content of heavy metals in honey and decreases the amount of valuable healthy ingredients. Such a honey may cause obnoxious sensations in the stomach and even bring about a poisoning…"^[27] It used to be preserved in ceramic and wooden containers in ancient times. Glass bottles are recommended nowadays. "The wooden vessels of coniferous wood are not suitable for honey preservation (honey soaks up the coniferous smell in such vessels). In the oak wood vessels honey grows black. "^[28]

Traditionally honey was preserved in deep cellars, but not together with wine or other products. It is considered even more sensitive to the store-place conditions than the best wines.

Honey should not be heated above 40°С (104°F) ^[29]. See also ^[30].

"The best honey is in the uncut honey combs. After being pumped out from there it is very vulnerable, and the main losses of quality take place during preservation and distribution. Heating up to 37°С causes loss of nearly 200 components, part of which are antibacterial. Heating up to 40°С destroys the invertase—the main bee enzyme, thanks to which the nectar becomes honey; heating up to 50°С turns the honey into caramel (the most valuable honey sugars become analogous to synthetic sugar). Generally any larger temperature fluctuation (10°С is ideal for preservation of ripe honey) causes decay. "^[31]

Distinguishing quality honey

The high quality natural honey can be distinguished by its fragrance and taste. The best period to stock up on honey is in summer, when it is being collected in large quantities. The ripe, freshly collected, high quality honey at 20°C (68°F) flows from the knife in a straight squirt, without breaking into separate drops. After falling down the honey should form a clear hillock. A saying goes: “the honey rustles and glues like viscose”. The ripe honey is being collected from the sealed honey combs, therefore it should always be of high quality.

The honey should not lay down in layers. If this is a case, it indicates the excessive humidity (over 20%) of the product, and such a honey would not be suitable for long term preservation.

A fluffy thin layer on the surface of the honey (like a white foam), or marble-coloured and white spots in crystallized honey at the wallsides of the bottle are caused by filling of liquid honey with subsequent sealing—the air bubbles are surfacing and part of them is concentrated at the wallsides. This is an indication of a high quality honey, which was filled without pasteurization (heating).

If the honey is transparent, burning with amber-like colours, then (unless it is very fresh) it has most likely been heated and is of little value. Transparent and reluctant to thicken honey can also indicate its being a result of feeding the bees with sugar syrup or even sugar itself, which is bad both for the bees and for the honey they produce, as naturally they are supposed to feed on flower nectar.

A true honey that is at least one month old is usually of demure (not translucent) colours.

Honey in history, culture, and folklore

In many cultures, honey has associations that go far beyond its use as a food. In language and literature, religion, and folk belief, honey is frequently a symbol or talisman for sweetness of every kind.

Honey comb

Honey collection

Honey collection by humans is an ancient activity. A honeycomb is a mass of Hexagonal Wax cells built by Honey bees in their nests to contain their larvae and stores of Honey and Bee Wilson (2004) states that humans began hunting for honey at least 10,000 years ago. Bee Wilson (2004: p. 5) evidences this with a depiction a line drawing of a Mesolithic rock painting showing two honey-hunters collecting honey and honeycomb from a wild nest. The Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age was a period in the development of human technology in between the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age and the Neolithic or New Stone Age The two men are naked and employ a long wobbly ladder which appears to be made out of a kind of grass in order to reach the wild nest. A ladder is a vertical or inclined set of rungs or steps. There are two types rigid ladders that can be leaned against a vertical surface such as a Wall, and Both men carry baskets or bags. This rock painting is on a wall in a cave in Valencia, Spain. The Valencian Community ( Valencian and official Comunitat Valenciana; Comunidad Valenciana is an Autonomous community located in central to Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.

Biblical Period

The Old Testament contains many references to honey. In Western Christianity, the Old Testament refers to the books that form the first of the two-part Christian Biblical canon. The book of Exodus famously describes the Promised Land as a "land flowing with milk and honey" (33:3). Exodus ( Greek: έξοδος eksodos = "departure" is the second book of the Jewish Torah and of the Christian Old Testament. The Promised Land ( הארץ המובטחת, translit: ha-Aretz ha-Muvtachat) is another name for the Land of Israel, the region which according Milk is an opaque white liquid produced by the Mammary glands of female Mammals (including Monotremes. However, the claim has been advanced that the original Hebrew (devash) actually refers to the sweet syrup produced from the juice of the date. The Date Palm ( Phoenix dactylifera) is a palm in the genus Phoenix, extensively cultivated for its edible Fruit. ^[32] In The Book of Judges, Samson found a swarm of bees and honey in the carcass of a lion (14:8). Book of Judges ( Hebrew: Sefer Shoftim ספר שופטים is a book of the Bible originally written in Hebrew. In Matthew 3:4, John the Baptist is said to have lived for a long period of time in the wilderness on a diet consisting of locusts and wild honey. In the Synoptic gospels, Jesus is baptised by John the Baptist. The word "honey" appears 73 times in the King James Version of the Bible. Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin

In Jewish tradition, honey is a symbol for the new year—Rosh Hashana. Rosh Hashanah (ראש השנה literally "head of the year" Biblical: ˈɾoʃ haʃːɔˈnɔh Israeli haʃaˈna Yiddish: hɑˈʃɔnə is a Jewish At the traditional meal for that holiday, apple slices are dipped in honey and eaten to bring a sweet new year. Some Rosh Hashana greetings show honey and an apple, symbolizing the feast. Rosh Hashanah (ראש השנה literally "head of the year" Biblical: ˈɾoʃ haʃːɔˈnɔh Israeli haʃaˈna Yiddish: hɑˈʃɔnə is a Jewish In some congregations, small straws of honey are given out to usher in the new year.

Buddhism

Honey plays an important role in the festival of Madhu Purnima, celebrated by Buddhists in India and Bangladesh. Modhu Purnima ( Bangla for 'honey full-moon' is a Buddhist Festival celebrated in India and Bangladesh, especially in the region of Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country ( Bengali: বাংলাদেশ inc-Latn Bangladesh) officially The day commemorates Buddha's making peace among his disciples by retreating into the wilderness. Siddhārtha Gautama ( Sanskrit; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual Teacher from Ancient India and the founder The story goes that while he was there, a monkey brought him honey to eat. A monkey is any member of either the New World monkeys or Old World monkeys two of the three groupings of Simian Primates the third group being On Madhu Purnima, Buddhists remember this act by giving honey to monks. Monasticism is one of the most fundamental institutions of Buddhism. The monkey's gift is frequently depicted in Buddhist art. Buddhist art originated on the Indian subcontinent following the historical life of Gautama Buddha, 6th to 5th century BCE and thereafter evolved by contact with

Mediterranean region

In the Roman Empire, honey was possibly used instead of gold to pay taxes. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial Gold (ˈɡoʊld is a Chemical element with the symbol Au (from its Latin name aurum) and Atomic number 79 Pliny the Elder devotes considerable space in his book Naturalis Historia to the bee and honey, and its many uses. Gaius or Caius Plinius Secundus, ( AD 23 – August 25, AD 79 better known as Pliny the Elder, was an ancient Author Naturalis Historia ( Latin for "Natural History" is an Encyclopedia written Circa AD 77 by Pliny the Elder.

In some parts of Greece, it was formerly the custom for a bride to dip her fingers in honey and make the sign of the cross before entering her new home. Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία Participants in wedding ceremonies, also known as the wedding party, include the bride and groom (or bridegroom) the maid of honor The Sign of the Cross, or Signum crucis in Latin is a ritual hand motion made by members of many but not all branches of Christianity. This was meant to ensure sweetness in her married life, especially in her relationship with her mother-in-law. A person's mother-in-law is the Mother of his or her Spouse. A person is a son-in-law or daughter-in-law to the mother-in-law

In the accounts of the Ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Seti I, one hundred pots of honey were equivalent in value to an ass or an ox. Pharaoh is the title given in modern parlance to the ancient Egyptian kings of all periods Menmaatre Seti I (also called Sethos I after the Greeks) was a Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt ( Nineteenth dynasty of Egypt) the son of Ramesses The donkey or ass, Equus asinus, is a member of the Equidae or horse family and an odd-toed ungulate. Oxen (singular ox) are Cattle trained as draft animals. Often they are adult castrated males Ancient Egyptian and Middle-Eastern peoples also used honey for embalming the dead. Ancient Egypt was an Ancient Civilization in eastern North Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. Embalming, in most modern Cultures is the Art and Science of temporarily preserving human remains to forestall Decomposition ^[33]

Scythians, and later the other Central Asian nomadic people, for many months drove a wagon with a deceased ruler around the country in their last rites mourning procession, carrying the body in a casket filled with honey. The Scythians or Scyths (Σκύθες Σκύθοι were an Iranian speaking people of horse-riding Nomadic pastoralists who dominated the Pontic

After his death in battle, the head of Vlad III Ţepeş (of later Dracula fame) was cut off and presented to the Sultan of Turkey, preserved in a jar of honey. Dracula is an 1897 novel by Irish author Bram Stoker, featuring as its primary Antagonist the vampire Count Dracula.

Western culture

In Western culture, bears are depicted as eating honey, even though most bears actually eat a wide variety of foods, and bears seen at beehives are usually more interested in bee larvae than honey. Western culture (sometimes equated with Western Civilization) are terms which are used to refer to Cultures of European origin ^[34] Honey is sometimes sold in a bear-shaped jar.

"Honey", along with variations like "honey bun" and "honeypot" and the abbreviation "hon", has become a term of endearment in most of the English-speaking world. In some places it is used for loved ones; in others, such as the American South, it is used when addressing casual acquaintances or even strangers. The Southern United States &mdashcommonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South &mdashconstitutes a large distinctive

Islamic tradition

The Qur'an mentions the true benefits of honey. The Qur’an ( القرآن, literally "the recitation" also sometimes transliterated as Qur’ān, Koran, Alcoran ^[35]

"And thy Lord taught the bee to build its cells in hills, on trees and in (men's) habitations…there issues from within their bodies a drink of varying colours, wherein is healing for mankind. Verily in this is a Sign for those who give thought". ^[36]

There is an entire Surah in Qur'an called al-Nahl (the Bee). According to hadith, Prophet Muhammad strongly recommend honey for healing purposes. Hadith ( ar الحديث, pl aḥadīth; lit. "narrative" are oral Traditions relating to the words and deeds of the Islamic IMPORTANT PLEASE READ ##### For all questions relating to the addition of (pbuh peace be upon him or other honorifics ^[37]

Modern use of honey

The main uses of honey are in cooking, baking, as a spread on breads, and as an addition to various beverages such as tea and as a sweetener in commercial beverages such as Sprecher's root beer. Cooking is the process of preparing Food by applying Heat, selecting measuring and combining of ingredients in an ordered procedure for producing safe and edible Bread is a Staple food prepared by Baking a Dough of Flour and Water. Tea refers to the cured agricultural product of the leaves leaf buds and internodes of Camellia sinensis, which have been prepared and cured for the market Sprecher Brewery is a brewery founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by Randal Sprecher in 1985. Root beer, also known as Sarsaparilla, is a carbonated Beverage originally created from Sassafras.

Honey is the main ingredient in the alcoholic beverage mead, which is also known as "honey wine" or "honey beer" (although it is neither wine nor beer). Mead (ˈmiːd is a fermented Alcoholic beverage made of Honey, Water, and Yeast. Wine is an Alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of Grape juice Beer is the world's oldest and most widely consumed Alcoholic beverage and the third most popular drink overall after water and tea It is also used as an adjunct in beer. The following is about the brewing term adjunct is also a term used in linguistics. Beer is the world's oldest and most widely consumed Alcoholic beverage and the third most popular drink overall after water and tea Beer brewed with more than 30% honey as a source of sugar by weight, or mead brewed with malt (with or without hops), is known as braggot. Malting is a process applied to Cereal grains in which the grains are made to Germinate by soaking in water and are then quickly halted from germinating further Hops are the female Flower cones of the hop plant ( Humulus lupulus) Modern microbrews of this style typically call their product "honey beer" instead, however, as "braggot" is an unfamiliar word to most English speakers.

Its glycemic index ranges from 31 to 78 depending on the variety. The Glycemic index (also glycaemic index) or GI is a measure of the effects of Carbohydrates on Blood glucose levels (http://www.rirdc.gov.au/reports/HBE/05-027.pdf)

Medicinal uses and health effects of honey

For at least 2700 years, honey has been used to treat a variety of ailments through topical application, but only recently have the antiseptic and antibacterial properties of honey been chemically explained. Wound Gels that contain antibacterial honey and have regulatory approval for wound care are now available to help conventional medicine in the battle against drug resistant strains of bacteria MRSA. As an antimicrobial agent honey may have the potential for treating a variety of ailments. One New Zealand researcher says a particular type of honey may be useful in treating MRSA infections. ^[38] Antibacterial properties of honey are the result of the low water activity causing osmosis, hydrogen peroxide effect,^[39] and high acidity. Water activity or aw is a measurement of the energy status of the water in a system Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2 is a very pale blue liquid which appears colorless in a dilute solution slightly more Viscous than water ^[40] Honey may also be used to alleviate the effects of a sore throat, by mixing with lemon juice and consumed. The mixture coats the throat alleviating discomfort, and the antibacterial, antiseptic properties are good for the throat as well.

Osmotic effect

Honey is primarily a saturated mixture of two monosaccharides. This mixture has a low water activity; most of the water molecules are associated with the sugars and few remain available for microorganisms, so it is a poor environment for their growth. Water activity or aw is a measurement of the energy status of the water in a system

Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide in honey is activated by dilution. However, unlike medical hydrogen peroxide, commonly 3% by volume, it is present in a concentration of only 1 mmol/L in honey. Iron in honey oxidizes the oxygen free radicals released by the hydrogen peroxide. In Chemistry, radicals (often referred to as free radicals) are atoms molecules or ions with Unpaired electrons on an otherwise Open shell

C₆H₁₂O₆ + H₂O + O₂ → C₆H₁₂O₇ + H₂O₂

When used topically (as, for example, a wound dressing), hydrogen peroxide is produced by dilution with body fluids. Glucose (Glc a Monosaccharide (or simple Sugar) also known as grape sugar, is an important Carbohydrate in Biology. Gluconic acid is an Organic compound with Molecular formula C6H12O7 and condensed structural formula HOCH2(CHOH4COOH Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2 is a very pale blue liquid which appears colorless in a dilute solution slightly more Viscous than water As a result, hydrogen peroxide is released slowly and acts as an antiseptic.

In diabetic ulcers

Topical honey has been used successfully in a comprehensive treatment of diabetic ulcers when the patient cannot use other topical antibiotics. ^[41]

Acidity

The pH of honey is commonly between 3. 2 and 4. 5. ^[40] This relatively acidic pH level prevents the growth of many bacteria.

Nutraceutical effects

Antioxidants in honey have even been implicated in reducing the damage done to the colon in colitis. Colitis is a chronic digestive disease characterized by Inflammation of the colon. ^[42] Such claims are consistent with its use in many traditions of folk medicine. The term traditional medicine ( Indigenous medicine or folk medicine) describes medical knowledge systems which developed over centuries within various societies ^[43]

Other medical applications

Some studies suggest that the topical use of honey may reduce odors, swelling, and scarring when used to treat wounds; it may also prevent the dressing from sticking to the healing wound. ^[40]

Honey has also been used as a treatment for sore throats and coughs for centuries and according to recent research may in fact be more effective than most common medicines. ^[44]

Honey has been shown to be an effective treatment for conjunctivitis in rats. Conjunctivitis (commonly called " Pink Eye " or " Red Eye " in North America and " Madras eye " in India) is an inflammation ^[45]

Honey (especially when combined with lemon) is often taken orally by pharyngitis and laryngitis sufferers, in order to soothe them. See also Strep throat. Pharyngitis (ˌfarɪnˈdʒʌɪtɪs is in most cases a Painful inflammation of the Pharynx, and is Laryngitis is an Inflammation of the Larynx. It causes hoarse voice or the complete loss of the voice because of irritation to the Vocal folds

Though widely believed to alleviate allergies, local honey has been shown to be no more effective than placebos in controlled studies of ocular allergies. ^[46] This may be because most seasonal allergies are caused by tree and grass pollens, which honeybees do not collect.

Honey producing countries

Honey output in 2005

In 2005, China, Turkey, and the U. S. were the top producers of natural honey, reports the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). ^[47]

Mexico is also an important producer of honey, providing about ten percent of the world's supply. Much of this (about one. -third) comes from the Yucatan peninsula. Yucatán is one of the 31 states of Mexico, located on the north of the Yucatán Peninsula. Honey production began here when the Apis mellifera and the A. Mellifer ligustica were introduced here early in the 20th century. Most of Mexico's Yucatan producers are small, family operations who use primitive techniques, moving hives to take advantage of the various tropical and sub-tropical flowers. The honey-producing cycle depends on the rainy season. The first and best harvest takes place in the dry season between February and May. Many species flower at this time. After the rainy season begins, there are still plenty of flowers but the bees have a difficult time traveling for nectar and producing the honey because of the weather conditions. Bees may not make enough for sale and what may be produced is of lower-quality. ^[48]

Precautions

Due to the natural presence of botulinum endospores in honey, children under one year of age should not be given honey. Botulinum toxin is a Neurotoxin Protein produced by the Bacterium Clostridium botulinum. An endospore is a dormant, tough and non-reproductive structure produced by a small number of Bacteria from the Firmicute phylum The more developed digestive systems of older children and adults generally destroy the spores. Infants, however, can contract botulism from honey. Botulism ( Latin, botulus, "sausage" is a rare but serious Paralytic illness caused by Botulin Toxin. ^[49]

Honey produced from the flowers of rhododendrons, mountain laurels, sheep laurel, and azaleas may cause honey intoxication. Rhododendron (from the Greek: rhodos, "rose" and dendron, "tree" is a genus of flowering plants in the family Kalmia latifolia, commonly called Mountain-laurel or Spoonwood, is a Flowering plant in the family Ericaceae, native Kalmia angustifolia ( Sheep-laurel) is a Flowering plant in the family Ericaceae, which is often used like an Ornamental plant Azaleas are flowering Shrubs making up part of the genus Rhododendron. Symptoms include dizziness, weakness, excessive perspiration, nausea, and vomiting. Less commonly, low blood pressure, shock, heart rhythm irregularities, and convulsions may occur, with rare cases resulting in death. Honey intoxication is more likely when using "natural" unprocessed honey and honey from farmers who may have a small number of hives. Commercial processing, with pooling of honey from numerous sources generally dilutes any toxins. ^[50]

Toxic honey may also result when bees are in close proximity to tutu bushes (Coriaria arborea) and the vine hopper insect (Scolypopa australis). Both are found throughout New Zealand. Bees gather honeydew produced by the vine hopper insects feeding on the tutu plant. This introduces the poison tutin into honey ^[51]. Only a few areas in New Zealand (Coromandel Peninsula, Eastern Bay of Plenty and the Marlborough Sound) frequently produce toxic honey. Symptoms of tutin poisoning include vomiting, delirium, giddiness, increased excitability, stupor, coma, and violent convulsions. As little as one teaspoon of toxic honey may produce severe effects in humans. In order to reduce the risk of tutin poisoning, humans should not eat honey taken from feral hives in the risk areas of New Zealand. Since December 2001, New Zealand beekeepers have been required to reduce the risk of producing toxic honey by closely monitoring tutu, vine hopper, and foraging conditions within 3 km of their apiary. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar.

Images of harvesting honey

A beekeeper removing frames from the hive	A frame	Smoking the hive	Using a blower to remove bees from honey super prior to removal to honey house
Opening the cells: Uncapping	An uncapping fork	Uncapping the cells by hand using an uncapping knife	Extracting the honey
Filtering the honey	Pouring in pots (after maturation)

See also

• Beekeeping
• Bee bread
• Folk medicine
• Honey bee
• Honey flow
• Mead
• Nectar
• Royal jelly
• Syrup

Notes

References

• Wilson, Bee (2004). The Hive: The Story Of The Honeybee. London, Great Britain: John Murray (Publishers). ISBN 0 7195 6598 7

External links

• U.S. National Honey Board
• Value-Added Products From Beekeeping, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
• Beekeeping and Sustainable Livelihoods, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations