Honey, a natural sweetener cherished for centuries, has earned its place in our pantries and hearts. However, when selecting the right honey, the choices can be overwhelming. Two terms often stand out among the various options available: raw honey and regular honey. In this blog post, we'll delve into the differences between these two types of honey. So, grab a spoon and join us on this delectable journey.
Regular honey, or commercial or processed honey, is commonly found on grocery store shelves. The bees collect nectar from various flowers, which is then harvested, processed, and filtered to remove impurities. The honey is typically pasteurised, heating to high temperatures to eliminate potential bacteria or yeast. Raw honey is as close to its natural state as possible. It is obtained straight from the beehive and undergoes minimal processing, retaining beneficial enzymes, pollen, and other natural components. Raw organic honey is neither pasteurised nor filtered extensively, allowing it to maintain its unique flavour, aroma, and nutritional profile. It is often thicker in texture and may contain traces of wax, propolis, and bee pollen, giving it a more authentic and rustic appeal. Let's examine the difference between regular and raw honey in more detail.
Processing
Raw honey is minimally processed, often bypassing the pasteurisation and filtration steps that regular honey undergoes. Pasteurisation involves heating the honey to high temperatures to kill potential bacteria or yeast, while filtration removes impurities and pollen. While raw honey, on the other hand, is obtained straight from the beehive and may only undergo basic filtration to remove larger particles.
Nutritional Value
Raw honey is known for its higher nutritional content than regular original honey. Raw honey's minimal processing helps preserve its natural enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. These beneficial components may include vitamins B and C, enzymes like amylase and invertase, and minerals such as potassium and magnesium. Due to the pasteurisation process, regular honey may lose some of these valuable nutrients.
Flavour and Aroma
Raw honey offers a distinctive and robust flavour profile that can vary depending on the flowers from which the bees gather nectar. Raw honey's natural enzymes and trace amounts of pollen contribute to its unique taste and aroma. Regular honey, which often undergoes filtration and heating, may have a milder flavour and a more consistent taste throughout different batches.
Crystallisation
Raw honey tends to crystallise over time, forming granules or solidifying completely. This is a natural process and does not indicate any deterioration in quality. The presence of pollen and other particles in raw honey promotes crystallisation. Due to the pasteurisation process, regular honey tends to remain in a liquid state for a longer period.
Source and Purity
Raw honey is often associated with organic beekeeping practices, where hives are not treated with pesticides or chemicals. Bees in organic beekeeping operations are allowed to forage on various flowers, contributing to raw honey's unique flavour and nutritional composition. Regular honey may come from conventional beekeeping operations that use pesticides and employ different management practices.
So here we talked about the difference between the two types of honey.
If you want to get honey online, consider checking out Al Malaky Royal's website to grab the best quality honey products that are authentically sourced using best practices.
