No one has any answers till yesterday! My husband and I were browsing and patronizing all the newly opened bazaar-like stalls set up at DPC (Desa Park City). One of the stall operators, who happens to be an apitherapy consultant (never heard of this profession before) is talking about home-grown honey from his farm in Johor. He is actually very professional and not just looking at pushing sales…….and we took our opportunities to ask this expert about some doubts that we had……..
Some interesting info on pure good honey (the good quality type)….
How do you serve honey?
Preferably do not use metal spoons or utensils while serving honey as it might affect the nutrient content of honey, sometimes up to 30%. Alternatively, you can use a plastic or wooden spoon for this purpose.
Can honey be stored in plastic jars or containers?
Good quality honey should be stored in glass containers/bottles. This is because the plastic containers produced in Malaysia are normally of inferior quality and again this will affect the nutrient content of honey. However, Manuka honey from New Zealand (one of the best honey in the world) can be stored in plastic jars, often in crystalised form with good quality plastic materials.
I normally add hot water to a spoonful of honey to make a cup. Is this a good practice?
Good quality honey dissolves quickly in cold water. If you need hot water to dilute your honey, your honey is either fake or of poor quality. Once added with cold water, you can shake the mixture and you can see white foam forming on the brim of the liquid (this is the sugar content) and stays put for more than ½ hour. Poor quality honey will also form foam but tend to disintegrate fairly quickly.
Can diabetics consume good honey?
They can, but with moderation. However, honey will not help with their condition
To lengthen the shelf lives of honey, can I store them in the fridge?
If they are of a good quality, you should not. This is because condensation can destroy the nutritive value of honey. Just leave the honey at cool dry places will do and they should be able to last for more than a year. Honey, in its natural form will not go bad.
What is Propolis Honey?
Propolis is produced by the saliva of the stingless bee. These bees use the saliva as wax to line their honeycombs, as to ward off virus and bacterial infections and to protect their honey. It contains antibiotic materials and also rich in bioflavonoids, rutin and enzymes to help strengthen the immune system and regenerate the body. Coupled with honey, this combination is beneficial for colds and coughs, respiratory illnesses, phlegm and all sorts of inflammatory diseases (eyes, gut, joints and skin).
What is Royal Jelly?
A rich creamy white liquid, royal jelly is produced by worker bees and used exclusively for the nourishment of the queen bee, which is recognised for her longevity, energy and stamina for reproductive capabilities. To humans, royal jelly can help in mental alertness, fatigue and also enhance sexual desires and performance (Though I feel all these claims should be verified by proper clinical studies but then again, it has been traditionally used for thousands of years, which is worth something).
Can I use honey in cooking?
Yes, you can, but frankly speaking, it will be a waste as you will not be able to enjoy the natural sweetness of honey. For cooking, you can go for the cheaper variety like those being sold in plastics bottles in supermarkets.
Is honey suitable for everyone?
Generally yes, unless you are allergic to bee products.
We were also treated to a tasting session where we sampled honey from different plants such as acacia, bittergourd (very interesting as they have this bitter-sweet taste, the Chinese says ‘Kam’) and pure propolis honey from Brazil (this tasted rather nasty, but then again all good stuff do not necessarily taste good).
All in all, it was good fun and had been an educational experience.
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