How to Detect Fake and Real Honey?

With the proliferation of contaminated honey on the market, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find truly authentic raw honey. While the worldwide honey bee population has been rapidly falling over the last 25 years, honey prices have remained relatively stable. Due to rising demand, the amount of fake honey produced is far more than the amount of actual honey produced. This has resulted in a market price that is much below a sustainable level. Beekeepers are being challenged to compete against a material derived entirely from bees. At the very least, the majority of countries have rigorous laws in place to prevent fake honey from being classified as genuine… correct?

In fact, there is none.

For the majority of nations, the primary screening procedure required to certify your honey as 100 percent pure is referred to as a C4 carbohydrate test. Pure raw honey is composed of light, syrupy sweet nectars that combine with three carbon molecules to produce a carbohydrate known as a C3. A C4 carbohydrate test determines the presence of C4 carbohydrates in honey, which are found in complex sugars such as corn syrup, beat sugar, fructose, and glucose. There is no way to identify the difference between honey and maple syrup using this method.

This indicates that all that is required to adulterate your honey is the creation of a sugary compound with three carbon molecules, which, much to our dismay, many have mastered. As a result of this tidal wave of adulteration, many beekeepers are now obliged to blend their honey with inferior adulterated goods in order to maintain market competitiveness.

So how do you determine if your honey is genuine?

1. Water Examination

In a glass of room temperature water, place your honey. If the honey begins to dissolve in the water, it is very obviously not genuine. Due to the fact that genuine honey is denser than water, it will sink into a little pool beneath the surface.

2. Temperature Test

Dip a paper towel into your honey and attempt to ignite it. If the paper towel does not begin to bubble and caramelize immediately, it is a forgery. Numerous bogus honey products will have a higher water content, making them more difficult to ignite.

3. Blotting Examination

Take a thumb of your honey and fold it in half on a sheet of paper towel. If the honey penetrates readily into the paper towel, it is most likely not genuine. Fake adulterated honey will quickly soak through the paper towel, leaving a watermark.

4. Test of the Thumb

Extend your thumb and point your fingernail toward the ceiling. Place a small droplet of honey on your nail and if it immediately falls off, the honey is most certainly not genuine. On your thumb, thick honey will remain intact and softly dribble off.

While honey offers numerous health advantages, contaminated honey does not. Bear in mind that pure honey will crystallise after a few weeks at ambient temperature. Always ensure that you purchase your honey from a reputable supplier; otherwise, you may become a victim of adulteration.