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We shouldn't eat honey!

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Chestnut Tue 31-Mar-26 15:43:04

Well I never knew this, but eating honey actually harms the eco system.

Google confirms it:
"Consuming honey, particularly commercially produced honey, can contribute to the decline of wild bee populations, largely because the honey industry drives a high demand for managed honey bees (Apis mellifera), which directly compete with wild, native bees for resources. While many people keep bees to "save the bees," conservation scientists argue that this often harms biodiversity because honey bees are agricultural livestock, not endangered wildlife."

There are over 270 species of bee in the UK and 24 types of bumble bee and they are endangered. So anyone who loves wild bees should try to save them rather than eating commercially produced honey.

Just to add, there is a programme on BBC iPlayer called 'My Garden of a Thousand Bees' which is absolutely amazing and deserves an award. Start watching and you won't be able to stop.

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Allira Thu 02-Apr-26 21:31:37

I bought some local honey from the farm shop a couple of weeks ago.

It has crystallised and is so solid I bent the teaspoon trying to get it out of the jar!

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Wyllow3 Thu 02-Apr-26 21:43:38

That usually happens after it's been in the cupboard for a year...

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ViceVersa Thu 02-Apr-26 21:57:55

Stick in the jar in hot water and it should fix the problem - or take the lid off and give it a quick blast in the microwave. And before anyone comes at me, those tips came from the local beekeeper we get honey from.

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MaizieD Thu 02-Apr-26 22:03:53

Wyllow3

Amazon has quite a few all UK honey including specifying "collected from bees in Somerset" etc etc" (I cant afford Manuka honey. Is this likely to be OK?

Manuka honey is nothing special. Any pure honey will have the same properties. Just find a local Beekeepers group and buy from their producers.

Though, if you insist on organic and can't find British do go on contributing to the Bezoz $billions...

I do fail to understand why people are still buying from Amazon when its billionaire owner is a Trump sycophant and cheerleader.

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MaizieD Thu 02-Apr-26 22:06:12

Wyllow3

That usually happens after it's been in the cupboard for a year...

Honey keeps for ever and is used as a preservative by some people.

I was going to suggest the microwave blast, too...

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Allira Thu 02-Apr-26 22:08:00

ViceVersa

Stick in the jar in hot water and it should fix the problem - or take the lid off and give it a quick blast in the microwave. And before anyone comes at me, those tips came from the local beekeeper we get honey from.

If I'm not using it all at once, will the rest be ok and keep? ?
I have with the last remnants of a jar of cheaper honey, microwave method.

I'm the only one who eats it.

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ViceVersa Fri 03-Apr-26 07:45:16

Allira

ViceVersa

Stick in the jar in hot water and it should fix the problem - or take the lid off and give it a quick blast in the microwave. And before anyone comes at me, those tips came from the local beekeeper we get honey from.

If I'm not using it all at once, will the rest be ok and keep? ?
I have with the last remnants of a jar of cheaper honey, microwave method.

I'm the only one who eats it.

Yes it will. It will be fine to use.

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Lynette55 Fri 03-Apr-26 21:29:49

We have some hives that belong to a local beekeeper. Not commercial at all but they do produce beautiful raw honey. We also have hundreds of wild bees if varying sorts and sizes. They coexist quite happily. Get your honey from a local beekeeper not the supermarket where it’s mass produced and quite possibly not pure.

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Allira Fri 03-Apr-26 21:54:42

ViceVersa

Allira

ViceVersa

Stick in the jar in hot water and it should fix the problem - or take the lid off and give it a quick blast in the microwave. And before anyone comes at me, those tips came from the local beekeeper we get honey from.

If I'm not using it all at once, will the rest be ok and keep? ?
I have with the last remnants of a jar of cheaper honey, microwave method.

I'm the only one who eats it.

Yes it will. It will be fine to use.

Thanks!

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Shel1951 Sun 05-Apr-26 09:47:48

My friend is a bee keeper and this is where I get my honey, its local and helps with asthma I get from hay-fever, I have mild asthma but during hay-fever time it gets worse .I start it on toast in October.
The honey I get is solid and so the jar lasts the season.
I believe if it stays runny it has something added to it.
The shop honey is very different, it stays runny and all the honey in the jar are
the same colour, mine can vary in colour depending on the flowers the bee take the pollen from

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Ladyleftfieldlover Sun 05-Apr-26 11:59:36

Shel1951

My friend is a bee keeper and this is where I get my honey, its local and helps with asthma I get from hay-fever, I have mild asthma but during hay-fever time it gets worse .I start it on toast in October.
The honey I get is solid and so the jar lasts the season.
I believe if it stays runny it has something added to it.
The shop honey is very different, it stays runny and all the honey in the jar are
the same colour, mine can vary in colour depending on the flowers the bee take the pollen from

OH is a beekeeper. The honey he gets from his bees starts off runny. When I help him to put it in jars it can get everywhere! As time goes on it begins to crystallise. Some people like a firmer texture. If you prefer it soft simply put the jar in a bowl of hot water. If OH has a lot of jars which have crystallised he has a special honey warmer - basically an old fridge with a light bulb in it!

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Shel1951 Mon 06-Apr-26 16:05:13

Yes when she syphons it its runny, but in time it crystallised, I just pop a lump on toast and it ok to spread , I also put it in my camomile tea when its hot but not too hot, I don't want to kill off the good bacteria,

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Jamfriedplumpy Thu 09-Apr-26 13:23:19

Basgetti you could try substituting stevia for sugar (check it out with your Mum’s GP/Doctors first). This may help prevent future cavities and dental visits! My parents were diabetic and both had a very (Anglo-Indian family, read incredibly!) sweet tooth. We cheated a bit as they got older smile

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Basgetti Fri 10-Apr-26 10:43:10

Thanks, but she wouldn’t have that. She carries her honey everywhere with her.

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