What is Raw Honey?
Raw honey can be defined as honey that has not been heated above the ambient temperature within the hive. There have been recorded temperatures of 118° within a beehive during nectar flow. Above this temperature and the honey wax (and/or honey comb) starts to melt. The highest temperature we can use to define raw honey, then, is 118° … so the beekeeper who harvests the honey and stores the honey in temperatures of 118° (or lower) can honestly and safely call his crop “raw honey.” Some call their honey “raw honey” even though it has been heated/processed (whether knowingly or unknowingly) … because: heating honey at 130° or above kills the natural enzymes, nutrients and vitamins … so there is only a 12° window to avoid destruction of authenticty and nutrients. Better to be on the safe side! Most commercial honey packers heat their honey to 140° and above so that high pressure filters can be used in their bottling process. These temperatures are unacceptable in the defining of raw
Raw honey is honey that has not been over-heated or over-strained. Excess heating, such as used to produce liquid honey, destroys the natural enzymes that the bees have added, including the substance producing hydrogen peroxide that gives honey part of its antibacterial activity. To order Manuka Honey – CLICK HERE Short History of Honey as a Remedy “The usage of honey as a medicine is referred to in the most ancient written records. Honey was prescribed by the physicians of many ancient races of people for a wide variety of ailments. The ancient usage of honey as a wound dressing has been described by Beck & Smedley, Majno and by Forrest. The ancient Egyptians, Assyrians, Chinese, Greeks and Romans all used honey, in combination with other herbs and on its own, to treat wounds and diseases of the gut. The Muslim prophet Mohammed, recommended the use of honey for the treatment of diarrhea. Aristotle (350 BC) wrote of honey being a salve for wounds and sore eyes. In ancient times honey f
