Many people have at least one jar or bottle of honey in their kitchen, but few think twice about its quality or where it comes from. Although the best honey comes straight from the beehive, manufacturers often take the easy and cheap route by including additives. This means many store-bought jars are not pure honey. Here are 4 ways to detect fake honey to ensure you get the best quality.
Check the Label and Packaging
Check the label for additives and other indications of the honey’s quality. Many manufacturers add high-fructose corn syrup to their honey to prevent it from crystallizing. Even if the packaging states that it’s pure, check the ingredients list to ensure the jar contains only honey.
Add Honey To Warm Water
However, even honey with promising ingredients might not be pure. If you’re unsure of your honey, add a spoonful to warm water. If the honey contains other syrups or additives like high fructose corn syrup, it’ll dissolve into the water. On the other hand, pure honey will remain on the spoon or stick together and sink as a clump. Real honey will dissolve eventually, but it takes a few minutes or longer.
Apply Honey To a Paper Towel
Pure honey doesn’t spoil or expire, as the water content is very low. However, you may notice that some honey is runny—it shifts quickly when you tilt the jar or bottle. Pure honey is thick and should take longer to move. If you’re uncertain whether your honey contains extra water, apply it to a paper towel—it may absorb or leave a wet mark if it has additional water. Pure honey won’t absorb or leave a wet spot on the paper towel.
Taste It!
Tasting it is one of the best ways to decipher real from fake honey. Even though fake honey is still very sweet and may have hints of the right flavor, it lacks the beautifully crafted flavor profile of honey straight from the hive. Real honey typically combines various flavors from different plants, flowers, and herbs, making it one of the most unique-tasting foods you can eat.
Understanding the 4 ways to detect fake honey is important. So is asking the right questions to ask when buying honey in bulk to ensure you get the highest quality. Honey is an incredible substance, but many faux alternatives are on the market—don’t fall for diluted options and fake sugars.
Emma is a writer and editor passionate about providing accessible, accurate information. Her work is dedicated to helping people of all ages, interests, and professions with useful, relevant content.