What's unique about honey; why is it so?

​Honey bees are amazing; yes or no?

Spring and early Summer Honey

My busy girls at work

Mid to late summer Honey

Honey is often referred to as a super food; the dedicated producers of this delectable super food are also responsible for causing the production by pollination of many plant based foods we eat and enjoy every day. The Honey Bee is that “wonder bug” responsible for this feat. I say bug because many of us view honeybees as bugs, either because they are genuinely allergic to insect stings or because they are just too afraid of the honeybee.

Many times people are stung by some type of wasp or even yellow jackets but, guess who gets the blame; of course the remarkable honeybee! “Your bee stung me is almost always the cry.” I have talked with many people who said to me, I love honey, but if I say to them would you look in my hive they quickly reply “oh no! “I can’t stand them things; I’ll get my honey in the store.” Sometimes I literally see the person or persons I am talking to about my girls shudder, or cringe if we are looking at pictures of my girls which I am always ready and happy to show off. Does this strike a chord with you?

I have come to the conclusion that we humans have a love/hate relationship with the honeybee. A lot of us love their honey, but hate them around. Fortunately there are those of us who really see the wonder and importance of our honeybees. “Liquid gold” as it is sometimes referred to, is a unique food for many reasons. Honey is literally ageless, it’s nutritious, it sweetens, and it even serves as medicine. Several attributes culminate and give honey its special properties that are not matched by any other food.

Honey is actually quite acidic with a PH between three and four; it is extremely viscous and water deficient. The normal percent of water present in honey is so low, 18% or less, that organisms find it difficult to live and or reproduce within. Honey is hygroscopic, absorbs moisture from its surrounding, therefore it will remove critical moisture from any organisms trying to inhabit it. Honey is also able to produce the slow release of hydrogen peroxide when it comes in contact with open wounds by the enzyme glucose oxidase hydrolysis of glucose causing this release. Hydrogen peroxide kills bacteria on contact, thus promoting healing.
​ 
Can you believe​ Archaeologists digging in the Pyramids and in Northern Israel have found honey in good edible condition after thousands of years in ancient Egyptian tombs? Some say “Yes this is true!”  Imagine dipping your finger into a pot of honey thousands of years old and finding it as edible as today’s honey. Amazing! Only the skillful Honeybee can accomplish such a feat. There are other articles which say the honey found was not really tasted. But I still say Yes Honeybees are Amazing! But beware of diving into ancient honey jars; hee hee!

Did you know that the oldest honey was found in Georgia? Yes Georgia! Archaeologists have declared that the artifacts they examined contain the world’s oldest honey after they performed a thorough examination of some five-millennia-plus-old jars unearthed in Georgia. That caught my attention also, and caused me a moment of excitement too; but this in the end is not my Georgia; this one is bordered by, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russia. Again that article carries on the story of the majesty honey encompasses. So please help us do whatever is necessary to make room for and to save our honeybees. You can begin by saving those dandelions and other bee-friendly plants because that could be your crucial part in preserving our majestic and special Honeybee.