My mouth longed for the first taste of this year’s honey harvest as I watched the golden syrup flow forth from our extractor. Even after the swarm in early June, the bees in our four hives have been quite productive. We collected 28 pints and nearly 4 quarts from only 1 hive over the weekend. If we take just a few full frames from the others, we’ll have plenty to tide us over the winter with some to share. I love adding honey to recipes instead of sugar or atop an English muffin. Jams and jelly move over. Nothing compares to honey. Honey is liquid gold to sweeten the soul.
King Solomon in the Book of Proverbs writes of the benefits of honey.
Eat honey, my son, for it is good; honey from the comb is sweet to your taste. Know also that wisdom is like honey for you: If you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.
Proverbs 24:13-14
In numerous passages, the Bible refers to the Promised Land as a place ‘flowing with milk and honey.’ With bees populating the land of Canaan, the Hebrews were sure to have a bountiful harvest. Even before they understood bee biology, the presence of honey was a sign of fertile, productive fields. Without these pollinators, their agrarian livelihood would be doomed to fail. The ancients knew the value of honey.
Since becoming a beekeeper, my knowledge of the vast benefits of honey continues to grow. Besides the clinical studies proving it’s cough suppressant ability, did you realize it’s good for healing wounds? Manuka honey has shown particular benefit for burns and diabetic foot ulcers. Honey has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties as well as contains hydrogen peroxide. All these factors prevent infection from developing in a wound.
Good honey has a water content of less than 18%. If it’s below this level, it won’t ferment and doesn’t need refrigeration. Still edible honey has been found by archeologists in Egyptian tombs. Amazing! Make sure you keep a lid on your bottle though. If it’s open to the air, honey will absorb the moisture and will begin to ferment.
So, I hope my ramblings on the merits of honey give you some food for thought. Maybe this post has even tempted your taste buds to try some. While common wildflower or orange blossom honey are both delicious, why not try something a little different? There are as many varieties to try as there are flower blossoms with nectar. My new favorites are blueberry and buckwheat honey. Enjoy!
Remember: honey is liquid gold to sweeten the soul!
