How Can You Tell If Honey Is Pure Or Raw?

 

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If you are new to the world of honey, you likely have a lot of questions. When you visit a grocery store, you will likely find a couple of different “types” of honey – several of them claiming to be all-natural and organic. However, there are several differences between honey that you may not be aware of, for instance, the distinctions between pure and raw honey.

Physical appearance. There are a couple of different ways you can tell the difference between pure and raw honey, the most obvious being the honey’s actual appearance. Raw honey is naturally cloudy and misty-looking.

Your raw honey shouldn’t look clear and smooth, and will likely have lots of bits and pieces as well (this is due to being unfiltered). Pure honey, however, has been filtered, so it will likely look smooth and have little to no cloudy appearance at all.

Differences in taste. Although this may be different for some, due to differences in taste, raw and pure honey actually taste different! Raw honey, since it has not been filtered or altered in any way, has a much more sweet and rich taste to it.

Since raw honey can retain all of its original nutrients, this makes the taste of the honey much sweeter and honey-like. Pure honey, however, won’t be as sweet and will probably taste more fake (in comparison to raw honey). This is because pure honey has been filtered out of its original pollen, nectar, and nutrients.

The water test. While using sense can help us determine between these two kinds of honey, there is actually a way you can test your honey at honey to see what it is. Simply take a glass of water and drop a spoonful of your honey into the water.

If the honey dissolves, your honey is fake or has been filtered (pure honey). If the honey sinks and settles at the bottom of your water glass, then it is raw honey and as natural as it can get! Another similar test is to drop honey into a glass of vinegar/water mix. If your drink starts to foam, your honey is fake.

Check for sugar on the label. If you are looking for raw honey at the store, there is a super simple way of determining if the honey is raw or pure (if the label doesn’t tell you). Simply check the label for any indication of “added sugars.” Pure honey has not only been filtered but sometimes will also have added sweeteners. Raw honey should truly say nothing about additives or filtering.

These are some of the basic ways you can tell the difference between these two kinds of honey. In this article, we will look at the differences between pure and raw honey, to help you determine which one will provide the most benefits for you. Continue reading to learn everything there is to know about the differences between pure and raw honey:

Is Raw Honey Better Than Pure Honey?

Despite there being many differences between raw and pure honey, you may wonder if one is better for you than the other. Honey in general has many health benefits and even people who use storebought filtered honey have had great experiences by incorporating it into their diet. However, raw honey still has many advantages and is overall a healthier option than pure honey.

Ultimately, if you are eating honey for its health benefits, you should be eating raw honey. Pure honey or “all-natural” branded honey has still been filtered. When you filter honey, you lose a lot of its natural nutrients and rich taste. Raw honey is best for adding to natural remedies, adding to tea to soothe sore throats, or taking a spoonful once a day to help protect your immune system.

However, if you don’t care so much about the health elements of your honey, pure honey would be a cheaper and still delicious option! Pure honey can be a more cost-effective option, especially if you are purchasing large amounts for baking or using it as a natural sweetener substitute.

Is Pure Honey Still Good For You?

While pure honey is obviously not of the same quality and healthy for you as raw honey, it still has some benefits. However, you should keep in mind that not only has pure honey had its nutrients removed – it likely also has some added sugars. For most people, eating honey that is full of added sugars would defeat the point of having honey.

Eating a spoonful of sugar every single day will likely have no real advantage and should be replaced with raw honey for that purpose. In terms of eating healthy, pure honey is NOT good for you, especially for diabetics.

However, if you simply want to eat some delicious and sweet honey, or use it in your everyday recipes and desserts, pure honey would be perfect for the job! Pure honey is simply not a good choice for anyone who is trying to eat healthily.

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Thanks for reading! We hope this article helped you determine the differences between pure and raw honey! If you have any questions or anything to add, please comment down below. Also, if you are curious about where to find local raw honey in your area, check out our honey farm locator!