How to Tell If Honey is Pure: 5 Simple Tests

Honey is recognized worldwide for its sweet taste, rich golden hue, and a myriad of health benefits. This leads to a very high global demand for this sweet nectar of nature.

To meet this increasing demand, there has been an observed influx of raw honey products in the market. However, not all of these products meet the purity or quality standards.

The founder of Geohoney and the CEO of B A Barry Group Mr Basem Barry says,

“Finding pure monofloral or polyfloral honey should be your top priority if you wish to get the best taste as well as the maximum health benefits. To make sure of that, you need certain tips and tricks to identify whether the honey you have just bought is pure or adulterated.”

This blog explores some of the most effective yet easiest tests that you can use to determine the purity of the products that you buy from some best honey brand in  the world so keep on reading till the end.

• What is Pure Honey?
• How is Honey Adulterated?
• Simple Tests to Check the Purity of Your Honey
• Heat Test
• Paper Towel Test
• Water Test
• Vinegar Test
• Crystallization Test  

What is Pure Honey?

Pure honey as the name suggests is honey that is free from foreign substances or additives. This unadulterated honey can either be monofloral or polyfloral. Monofloral honey is made from the nectar of a single plant. On the other hand, pure polyfloral honey is derived from the nectar of multiple floral species.

Most globalhoney brands mention pure raw honey on the label but it is worth noting that even this honey is sometimes diluted or contaminated which makes it hard for the consumers to get to the truth. 

This is where honey purity tests can help you get to the bottom of things. You can use these simple tricks to clear any doubts about the purity and integrity of your honey.

How is Honey Adulterated?

Honey is often adulterated with easily available and cost-effective additives that enhance its sweetness as well as its shelf life. 

Here are some common honey additives used for honey adulteration purposes

• Molasses is a common additive that is made by boiling sugarcane juice until it attains a thick and viscous texture. Molasses have a very turbid and dark hue as well as a very sweet taste much like honey.
• Liquid Glucose is a thick and shiny solution that can also serve as a honey additive.
• Invert sugar is another common additive that is made by processing refined sugar through acid hydrolysis.
• HFCS or high fructose corn syrup is a popular honey additive with a consistency and texture very similar to honey. It is made by processing sweetcorn.

Simple Tests to Check the Purity of Your Honey

Now that you know what is pure honey and how it is adulterated lets, go ahead and look at a few effective tests that you can use when you buy unprocessed honey and want to determine its purity

1. Heat Test

You can heat a very small quantity of honey and notice the smell and texture. If the honey is impure, it will emit a burnt odor. You might also notice bubbles or forth on the surface of adulterated honey after heating.

Pure honey that you get from a seller that offers the best raw honey in the world tends to caramelize upon heating and emits a sweet aroma with a delightful golden hue.

1. Paper Towel Test

Take a small piece of paper towel and place a small drop of honey on its surface. Pure honey is not absorbed rapidly and it doesn’t leave a noticeable wet mark. Moreover, it remains intact on the paper towel which shows its high natural viscosity.

Impure honey is absorbed quickly by the paper towel owing to its high water content.

1. Water Test

Add a small amount of honey to a glass of water and observe. If the honey lumps together and then settles at the bottom without getting dissolved instantly it is more likely pure.

Adulterated organic honey on the other hand blends well with water and creates a uniform mixture.  

1. Vinegar Test

Pure honey is acidic with a very low pH much similar to vinegar. You can add a small amount of it to vinegar and if there is no reaction that indicates the honey is pure.

Impure honey contains added sugars or water that can react with vinegar creating effervescence or foam. So, if these changes occur upon mixing honey and vinegar, it is more likely adulterated.

1. Crystallization Test

This is another simple way to assess the purity when you buy raw honey from a local store. Let the honey stay and wait for it to crystallize. If your honey crystallizes quickly and turns into granular form it is more likely pure.

Impure honey, on the other hand, does not crystallize easily. In some cases, it even stays in the liquid form indefinitely. This shows the honey has undergone excessive processing which has led to the destruction of healthy natural enzymes that cause honey to crystallize.

This type of honey has less nutritious value which is why you should buy unprocessed honey every single time.  

Conclusion

Pure honey is really a rarity but you can still find it if you know how to distinguish it from the fake one. Pure honey has a very rich pleasant aroma with flowery notes. Its flavor is complex with fruity or floral notes which is not something you find in adulterated honey.

Geohoney is the leading honey brand based in Dubai with over 130 farms equipped with the latest new-tech monofloral initiatives. Our 100% pure, raw, and natural monofloral honey is carefully prepared using single nectar sources which ensures both a high concentration of nutrients and enzymes.

Visit GEOHONEY today to order our premium quality pure monofloral raw honey at an affordable price range.