Honey – it’s delicious, natural and a real marvel of nature as it’s made by thousands of bees working in harmony. Raw honey can be runny or set, dark in colour or very pale and light or something in between, and produced from mainly a single type of flower or several types!
What exactly is raw honey?
While there is no specific industry definition of what raw honey is, there are some clear guidelines on what it means and what to look for as a consumer.
Raw honey means honey that is in a natural a state as possible and has been processed to a minimal extent – just enough to get it from the hive to the jar.
In practice, this means that the honey has not been heat treated (pasteurized) or fine filtered, both of which are processes that remove or destroy many of the natural qualities and benefits of honey.
Raw honey contains microscopic particles of pollen and sometimes other honey-bee products, such as propolis, a resin made by bees that they use to fill small gaps in the hive and which is also considered to have antiseptic properties and health benefits.
Raw honey and crystallization
Most honeys will crystallize at some point and this is perfectly natural, and does not mean there is anything wrong with the honey. You can find out more about why raw honey crystallizes in this article by the Honey Hunter.
Flower source is key
The infinite variety in raw honeys is down to the fact that bees produce honey from nectar so there are as many varieties as there are flowers in the world.
What else does raw honey contain?
Raw honey makes a great alternative to refined sugar and it also contains a number of other beneficial elements, including:
- Antioxidants
Minerals
Ogilvy’s raw honey
If you are interested in delicious raw honey, then Ogilvy’s should be your first port of call. We have a great selection of raw honeys from the UK and all over the world, sourced by Ogilvy’s small network of trusted beekeepers.
Ogilvy’s
4 Cyrus Way