Honey is a wonder of nature. And health-conscious people around the world are turning their attention to India, because of its organic honey. It is collected from different parts of India, including the mountainous areas of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Araku Valley in Andhra Pradesh, and others. In fact, the famous Kashmir honey is one of the best-selling varieties and is exclusively harvested from the beautiful and fascinating landscapes of Kashmir. The honey collected on the dry slopes of the Araku Valley acts as an excellent digestive and antioxidant due to the presence of a great variety of medicinal plants in the valley.
So, let’s look at the different varieties of honey available in India and which one you should choose:
Commercial honey
Commercial honey is actually a pasteurized version. Although you won’t see the word ‘pasteurized’ anywhere on the container, isn’t it obvious that all commercial products are processed? Instead, the word you see in the description is “Pure”. But the reality is far from that, as there is no set of manufacturing standards that define ‘pure’ on a label. And such commercially manufactured honey can contain fillers like corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, etc.
It is manufactured and processed to remove all the pieces such as pollen, propolis, comb, etc. that come along with Honey during harvest. It is heated to obtain a cleaner end product and filtered to obtain a smooth texture. It is manufactured in such a way that it does not crystallize unless it is allowed to freeze in a refrigerator. It is heated to a high temperature to achieve this and in the process kills all the bacterial enzymes. Although it is not an optimal variety, it is better than refined sugar. If raw or organic honey is not available, commercial honey from stores is the next best way.
Raw honey
Raw honey is collected and distributed by trusted local beekeepers. This acts as a great source of immunity against seasonal allergies. With just one visit to your beekeeper’s unit, you can evaluate the quality of the Honey. It is usually 100% pure and unadulterated. It will be available in 3 forms:
- Completely raw honey – It will be crystallized and crisp when you buy it. It can contain bits of pollen, wax, and other debris.
- Unfiltered raw (or cast): will crystallize faster than the other types. It is simply strained to release the honey from large pieces of combs, etc.
- Filtered raw honey – It is slightly heated and filtered. It is completely clean without traces of pollen, etc. It doesn’t have all of the other health benefits of a completely raw honey, but it is considered better than the pasteurized variety. Although raw honey is claimed to be unprocessed, there are no strict legal requirements labeling honey as “raw.” Although they are not processed, they are slightly heated to delay granulation for a short period of time and allow for slight effort and containerization for sale. Therefore, it is difficult to identify the amount of real honey in 100% pure honey.
Organic honey
The variety of Honey with the best flavor, aroma and health benefits is Organic Honey. Organic honey manufacturers adhere to the standards set by the local organic agriculture board in terms of bee feeding areas, nectar source, bee handling, extraction, transportation, and packaging materials. For honey to be organic, beekeepers must follow the following cultivation standards:
- The farms that surround the beekeeping areas of about 5 kilometers are organic. Which means that these farms are grown only naturally and with the use of natural fertilizers.
- No additives are added at any time (sugar, sweeteners, non-compliant honey, etc.).
- For the most part, hives are kept in isolated areas away from pollution and heavy traffic areas and are grown in a safe, pesticide-free environment.
- During starvation, bees should be fed only organic supplements like honey, sugar, fruit concentrate, etc. This type of agriculture requires rigorous methods and periodic sample testing to ensure that the process is consistently organic.
Organic honey is a healthier option and has a superior taste compared to other varieties.