Pardon the pun, but ‘raw’ and ‘organic’ are the buzz words on the lips of many a honey producer and consumer today. Attempting to eat well and making healthy choices can be confusing when trying to understand what is truly good for us, so let’s explore what they are and how they can benefit us.
What is raw honey?
Raw honey means it hasn’t been heated past the point of pasteurization. The temperature of honey within the hive is around 95’ Fahrenheit so raw honey retains its temperature and its nutritional qualities, the enzymes and the honey are active and alive. Honey that is classified as raw is not allowed to be pasteurized or processed. Texture wise, if you see honey that is cloudy, gritty or even lumpy then this type of raw honey has been carried from the hive pollen, honeycomb, beeswax and you might even see bits of bees. Don’t be put off as this is carrying even more of the benefits of the hive. Be wary of supermarket honeys carrying the label, ‘natural’ or ‘pure’, this doesn’t always mean it is raw. Commercial honeys sometimes have added sugar, water and flavourings.
What is organic honey?
Where raw honey is about the temperature and the texture, organic honey is about the flowers the bees collect their nectar from and knowing they are chemical free. Generally, beekeepers must ensure that the flowers within 3 to 5 miles of their hive are not sprayed in order to gain the organic label. The problem is that some bees might fly much further, so it’s difficult for beekeepers to guarantee that their honey is completely organic.
4 reasons you can’t guarantee your honey is organic
- Bees are furry, which is useful for pollen collection and also means their bodies readily gather all sorts of environmental particles. Any agrochemical applied anywhere within a colony's extensive reach can end up back in the hive.
- Beekeepers don't own the tens of thousands of acres surrounding their hives, they have no control over what their bees are bringing home.
- The hydrocarbon chains of beeswax retain certain pesticides, including those used by conventional beekeepers against the Varroa mite.
- Over time pesticide residues accumulate in the combs, so chemicals linger or build for years beyond the original applications. By itself this might not present a problem, except that beekeepers routinely buy and sell wax as starter comb. A recent survey of pesticides in commercially-available beeswax recorded 98% of samples contaminated with miticides.
(Source: Scientific American)
The challenges of sourcing organic honey
According to the UK newspaper, The Guardian, the bee population in the UK has experienced a sharp decline, partly because of the Varroa mite, the changing weather and the use of chemical pesticides. The European bee's foraging distance has been estimated as being up to 12km. So in order to get the organic seal a honey producer will have to prove that its bees have only foraged organically. In most places this is challenging or not even possible.
For honey to be certified organic, manufacturers have to meet a set of organic standards and conditions during the honey production (set by an organic agriculture certification body), which include source of the nectar, honey bees foraging area, bees management, honey extracting process, transportation, processing temperature, and packaging materials. Certification requirements vary from country to country, with some being less stringent than others. Dealing with different standards for organic honey from different sources can be confusing and one could question that some honeys that have been packaged and labelled as organic may not actually be the real deal. There also isn’t a specific rule that says organic honey can’t be pasteurized or processed so this means it might be organic but it could be devoid of all its nutrients and health qualities if it has been heated or treated.
Where to source raw honey
It seems to make more sense to me to retain the nutritional health benefits guaranteed with raw honey and buy honey sourced from ‘clean’ environments. That’s why I seek out remote locations and get to know my beekeepers and their practices, like the beekeeper co-operative I work with in the South of Yemen. They harvest the honey naturally bringing the purest form of honey, Raw Yemeni Sidr Do’ ani to the shelves of Balqees. The bees forage nectar from the Sidr trees that grow in the isolated mountains of the Wadi Do'an in the Hadramout region. The same goes for our Raw Catay Honey where the bee’s source pollen from Caa-tay flowers that grow in wetlands in the middle of the Parana River in Argentina. This is extremely rare honey and the beekeepers can only access the hives by boat at certain times of the year. There aren’t any pollutants to contaminate the flowers and the beekeepers take so much care and pride in their practices; respecting the bees is paramount in this naturally organic process.
Did you know it takes 12 bees a lifetime to produce a teaspoon of honey?
Friends of the Earth in the UK ask the consumer to consider the treatment of the bees and to ensure they come from healthy ecosystems. This means supporting beekeepers who raise their hives and follow best practices even if not completely organic. Natural beekeeping as advocated by naturalbeekeepingtrust.org puts the real producers first, the bees rather than the consumers. This resonates as I care a great deal about my customers and meeting their needs and demands but I also know best practice and happy bees makes for a better product. Bees are our pollinators so we need to protect them, this means reducing the use of chemicals and the over consumption that is leeching the hives leaving nothing for the bees, and to protect naturally from disease. Industrial scale beekeeping, whatever the type of honey, can do a lot of harm.
One thing for sure as consumers, do your own research and ask questions about your food and where it comes from. When it comes to raw versus organic ask yourself what is the healthiest option and always look to the source so you know it is coming from small beekeeper operations and avoid large corporations producing en masse.
So, what do you think? Let me know your thoughts and share your honey experience with me.
You might also like these posts:
367 thoughts on “Is raw honey the same as organic honey?”
crazy_fxor
Gioco su sti giochi da inizio anno e diciamocelo la ruota mi ha portato piu momenti buoni di quello che credevo. Non sono certo uno che sbrocca con le puntate, normalmente piazzo un paio di euro a spin e amen. Il lobby di Crazy Time e parecchio ricco: fra le 1800 circa macchinette mettendo dentro Pragmatic, Yggdrasil e NetEnt, per cui i classiconi del calibro di Book of Dead e Gates of Olympus ci sono tutti.
La parte live gira su Evolution e la differenza si sente. Dealer in carne e ossa, con qualche tavolo italiano in certe fasce orarie, e i vari game show restano quelli dove passo il grosso delle sessioni. Ogni tanto controllo le statistiche dei bonus round prima di sedermi, non che serva davvero, eh.
L’offerta di benvenuto su Crazy Time in questo periodo sta sul 150% fino a 400€ piu anche 100 giri gratis, distribuiti su piu giorni. Ti danno anche un piccolo no deposit dopo la verifica dei documenti. Il requisito di puntata e 35x, che non e regalato, meglio leggersi il regolamento: si trovano le condizioni complete direttamente su Crazy Time prima di metterci soldi.
Sui prelievi ho poco da dire. Sono andato di Neteller e i soldi arrivano entro le 24 ore, con la carta ci mette 2-3 giorni. C’e anche Bitcoin, anche se io resto sui bonifici classici. Si parte da 20€, registrazione rapida. La cosa che mi ha dato fastidio e stato il KYC: mi hanno rifiutato la bolletta due volte per un motivo assurdo.
Il supporto su Crazy Time ti risponde in italiano ed e gia qualcosa, anche se dopo mezzanotte ci vuole pazienza. Su mobile gira liscio dal browser, l’applicazione c’e per Android va, ma preferisco il sito. Licenza c’e quella maltese MGA, niente ADM, e questo per qualcuno e un punto a sfavore. Io intanto vado avanti, senza troppe pretese.
888starz_qpPn
Siedze na tej stronie juz jakies pol roku, glownie sloty, wiec napisze pare slow. W 888starz katalog gier jest spory — grubo ponad 3000 automatow, z tym ze czesc to praktycznie te same gry w innych skorkach. NetEnt ciagnie wiekszosc — Sweet Bonanza i Gates of Olympus chodza non stop, ale mam tez slabosc do Book of Dead. Jest tez Yggdrasil i Big Time Gaming dla lubiacych mocniejsza wariancje.
Sekcja live jedzie na Evolution, wiec wiadomo czego sie spodziewac. Prawdziwi krupierzy, sa nawet polskojezyczne stoly, te wszystkie teleturnieje typu Crazy Time w weekendy pekaja w szwach. Minus — stream lubi przyciac przy gorszym wifi, choc podejrzewam ze to bardziej moj router.
Powitalny pakiet w 888starz to podwojenie wplaty do mniej wiecej 1500 zl + 150 spinow, rozbite na kilka depozytow. Obrot x35 co jest w miare uczciwe, ale bez cudow. Byl tez maly bonus bez depozytu za sama rejestracje, ale to bardziej ciekawostka niz realna kasa. Swieze promocje sa opisane pod 888starz jak ktos chce porownac. Minimalny depozyt w okolicach 20-25 zl, zapis trwa moze dwie minuty, tylko KYC lepiej ogarnac od razu.
Wyplaty sa ok, bez dramatow. Skrill i Neteller zwykle tego samego wieczora, Visa/Mastercard wolniej, do trzech dni. Bitcoin schodzi najszybciej — ostatnio wyplacalem w USDT i bylo po 20 minutach. Obsluga 888starz gada po polsku, czat na zywo, srednio kilka minut czekania, choc raz trafilem na kogos kto ewidentnie kopiowal gotowce.
Na telefonie gram najczesciej — strona mobilna dziala plynnie, ale jest tez 888starz apk do pobrania. Wzialem apke na 888starz android bo szybciej sie odpala, nie zawiesza sie. Jedna uwaga — po sieci krazy cos w stylu 888starz apk mod, omijajcie szerokim lukiem, bierzcie plik wylacznie ze strony operatora. Kasyno ma licencje Curacao — wiadomo, nie polska, to juz kwestia indywidualna.
vox_mxon
Gram tu od jakichs pol roku, to chyba moge sie wypowiedziec. Wpadlem na to przypadkiem, ktos wrzucil link na innym forum, bez wiekszych oczekiwan. Sama biblioteka gier w Vox Casino robi wrazenie rozmiarem — Pragmatic Play, Play’n GO, NetEnt i Yggdrasil dostajesz w komplecie, wiec Gates of Olympus czy Book of Dead odpalisz bez szukania.
Osobiscie najczesciej siedze w dziale z krupierami. Evolution ciagnie tam praktycznie wszystko, obraz nie tnie nawet wieczorem. Na Crazy Time potrafie posiedziec za dlugo, choc nie ukrywam, ze matematyka tam bywa bezlitosna. Polskojezycznych krupierow jednak brak, trzeba dogadac sie po angielsku.
Bonus powitalny w Vox Casino wyglada na 100% do 1500 zl i dwiescie spinow, a spiny leca partiami przez piec dni, nie wszystkie naraz. Warunek obrotu x40 — standard, nic strasznego, ale i nie zadna sensacja. Prog wejscia to jakies 40 zl, rejestracja zajela mi doslownie dwie minuty. Aktualne kody promocyjne zawsze sprawdzam na vox casino kody bonusowe, bo w mailingu potrafia wyslac nieaktualne. Bez kodu wpisanego przy wplacie bonus po prostu nie wskoczy.
Wyplaty nie jest jakos dramatycznie wolne. Na Skrillu mialem srodki po jakichs czterech godzinach, przelew na Visa/Mastercard potrafi sie ciagnac dwa-trzy dni robocze. Da sie tez placic kryptowalutami, i to akurat najszybsza opcja. Weryfikacja w Vox Casino zajal mi dwa dni — dowod plus rachunek za prad, z tym sie trzeba pogodzic wszedzie.
Gdybym mial sie do czegos przyczepic — nie ma appki, tylko wersja przegladarkowa. Strona na telefonie dziala calkiem znosnie, jednak filtry gier na komorce sa tragiczne. Czat w Vox Casino odpowiada po polsku, czekalem gora piec minut, choc raz o trzeciej w nocy trafilem chyba na bota. Jak dla mnie w porzadku miejsce, ale limity depozytowe ustaw sobie od razu.
888starz_icMl
Gram tu od pol roku mniej wiecej, to chyba wystarczy zeby sie wypowiedziec. Trafilem tu przez kumpla, ktory wczesniej siedzial na innym serwisie. Wybor gier w 888starz jest ogromny — gdzies ponad 5000 pozycji, choc nie oszukujmy sie i tak grasz w te same 10 gier. Pragmatic, NetEnt i Microgaming dominuja, Gates of Olympus i Sweet Bonanza wisza w topce.
Bonus powitalny to 100% od wplaty i do tego darmowe spiny. Wpisujac 888starz kod promocyjny przy rejestracji warunki sa odrobine lepsze. Natomiast jedna rzecz mnie wkurzyla — wymagany obrot wynosi 40-krotnosc, a na to masz raptem tydzien. Za pierwszym razem mi przepadlo. Biezace oferty sprawdzisz na [url=https://anselmoweb.com.br/?page_id=6667]888starz kod promocyjny[/url] zanim sie zarejestrujecie.
Depozyty startuja od jakichs 20 zlotych, Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, Neteller — wszystko jest. Osobiscie wole BTC bo nie czekam na weryfikacje banku. Cashout na 888starz na e-wallet leci tego samego dnia, ale na karte potrafi zejsc i 2-3 dni. Weryfikacja KYC to standard — u mnie zeszlo jakies 12 godzin.
Live to w wiekszosci Evolution co jest chyba najlepsza opcja na rynku. Crazy Time i Monopoly Live — krupierzy realni, jakosc obrazu ok. Polskojezycznych stolow jest jednak malo. Na telefonie wszystko smiga w przegladarce, jest tez apka na Androida.
Obsluga w 888starz gada po polsku i to bez translatora. Czekalem srednio 3-5 minut. Dzialaja na licencji Curacao, co nie kazdemu podpasuje. Dla mnie liczy sie ze placa, ale trzeba miec to z tylu glowy.
lalabet_wiPa
Ben een paar maanden geleden bij Lalabet begonnen en niet gelogen dacht ik dat het weer zo’n doorsnee tent zou zijn. De lobby is gewoon dik in orde: zo’n 2500 tot 3000 games voor zover ik kan zien. Pragmatic Play, Play’n GO en NetEnt domineren wel een beetje, en de bekende namen zoals Book of Dead, Sweet Bonanza en Gates of Olympus zitten er gewoon tussen.
Waar ik zelf het meeste hang is het live gedeelte. Dat draait op Evolution en dat merk je meteen: mensen van vlees en bloed en soms zelfs een Nederlandstalige tafel, met Crazy Time en Monopoly Live erbij. De stream hapert bij mij nooit, ook op 4G in de trein.
Wat betreft dat welkomstpakket: ze geven 100% tot 500 euro met 200 spins erbij, plus 50 no deposit spins bij verificatie. Doorspeelvoorwaarde is 35x, niks bijzonders dus, maar ook niet crimineel. Ik heb het rustig doorgelezen op de site zelf, de achtergrond van de club vind je op Lalabet Review voor je je aanmeldt. Een account maken is zo gebeurd en de minimale storting is 10 euro.
Betalingen gaan via iDEAL, Visa, Mastercard, Skrill en Neteller, ook Bitcoin gaat er doorheen. Mijn cashout bij Lalabet was na anderhalve dag binnen, behalve die ene keer, toen was het vier dagen. Dat vond ik wel jammer: het documentencheck-gedoe kostte tijd, maar daarna was het geen gedoe meer.
Klantenservice zit in een chatvenster, antwoord komt doorgaans snel. Bij Lalabet werd ik netjes in het Nederlands geholpen, al moest ik een keer twee keer uitleggen wat ik bedoelde. Er is geen download-app, het schaalt netjes naar je scherm en met een snelkoppeling merk je het verschil niet.
Qua licentie zit het bij Curacao, dus niet onder de Nederlandse KSA — dat weet je dan. Bij mij is er in al die maanden niks misgegaan met uitbetalingen, al hou ik het bewust klein.