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In India, honey is a nutritious substitute for refined sugar. It is a naturally occurring sweet chemical that honeybees create. Honey is a liquid without fat, cholesterol, or salt. India is the world's largest honey consumer.
Due to its curative qualities, honey's production and consumption have skyrocketed since the COVID-19 outbreak. The rise in demand has led to a rise in honey adulteration. Nowadays, the market offers only a few brands of raw or pure honey.
The global demand for honey has resulted in a surge in products that might not satisfy customers' expectations about purity. Here are some easy tips and tests to keep in mind while determining your honey's integrity to assist you get through this sticky situation.
Aroma And Taste
With delicate overtones from the plants and flowers the bees gather nectar from, genuine honey has a rich, varied flavour that differs according to its floral source. Fake honey frequently lacks depth and a noticeable floral scent, and it tastes very sweet, almost syrupy.
A honey's appearance, flavour, and texture may all give away a lot about its quality, thus testing for purity involves more than simply the product itself.
Consistency And Texture
The viscosity and thickness of real honey are inherent. As you pour it, it moves slowly. Your honey may have been diluted with liquids like water or sugar syrup if it flows rapidly, has a very thin consistency, or both.
Colour Of Honey
Depending on the nectar source, pure honey usually has a deep golden or amber colour. Impure honey may indicate dilution with water or the addition of sweeteners if it is generally clear or extremely pale in colour.
The Crystallisation Factor
Honey undergoes a natural process called crystallisation, which gradually turns it from a liquid to a thicker consistency. This natural phenomenon attests to the genuineness of honey. However, excessive heating or processing during manufacture may indicate possible adulteration if your honey never crystallises and stays liquid permanently.
Perform Tests
Pour a spoonful of honey into a glass of water for the water test. The honey is tampered with if it melts. The thick, solid texture of pure honey causes it to sink to the bottom of the glass.
For the thumb test, apply honey on your thumb to see whether it spreads differently than other liquids. The honey isn't pure if it does.
A small amount of honey is heated gradually as part of the heat test. Unadulterated honey will caramelise, turning golden and emitting a lovely scent. However, when heated, impure or contaminated honey may burn or release a burning smell.
