Honey

Honey is a sweet and viscous fluid produced by bees and other insects from the nectar of flowers. "The definition of honey stipulates a pure product that does not allow for the addition of any other substance. This includes, but is not limited to, water or other sweeteners," according the United States National Honey Board 2003 and other nations' food regulations.

Related Topics:
Bee - Insect - Nectar - Flower - United States

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Honey is significantly sweeter than table sugar and has attractive chemical properties for baking. Honey has a distinctive flavor which leads some people to prefer it over sugar and other sweeteners.

Related Topics:
Sweeter - Sugar - Sweetener

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Liquid honey does not spoil. Because of its high sugar concentration, it kills bacteria by plasmolysis. Natural airborne yeasts cannot become active in it because the moisture content is too low. Natural, raw honey varies from 14% to 18% moisture content. As long as the moisture content remains under 18%, virtually no organism can successfully multiply to significant amounts in honey.

Related Topics:
Sugar - Bacteria - Plasmolysis - Yeast

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The study of pollens and spores in raw honey (melissopalynology) can determine floral sources of honey. Because bees carry an electrostatic charge, and can attract other particles, the same techniques of melissopalynology can be used in area environmental studies of radioactive particles, dust, or particulate pollution.

Related Topics:
Pollen - Spore - Melissopalynology - Radioactive - Dust - Pollution

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A main effect of bees collecting nectar to make honey is pollination, which is crucial for flowering plants.

Related Topics:
Pollination - Flowering plants

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~