093. Honey
Honey is made by bees using nectar from flower. The variety produced by honey bees is the one consumed by humans. Honey produced by other insects and bees has distinctly different properties.
Honey bees change nectar into honey by regurgitation, and store it as a primary food source in wax honeycombs inside the beehive. Bee-keeping encourages overproduction of honey.
Honey has attractive chemical properties for baking, and a distinctive flavor so that some people to prefer it over sugar and other sweeteners. Most micro organism do not grow in honey. So honey stays fresh for a very long time.
Honey has a long history of human consumption, and is used as a sweetener and for flavouring. It also has a role in religion and symbolism. Flavours of honey vary based on the nectar source, and various types and grades of honey are available.
It is also used in various medicinal traditions to treat ailments. Honey collection is an ancient activity. Humans apparently began hunting for honey at least 10,000 years ago.
In ancient Egypt, honey was used to sweeten cakes and biscuits, and was used in many other dishes. Ancient Egyptian used honey for embalming the dead. The fertility god of Egypt, Min was offered honey.
The art of bee-keeping appeared in ancient China. In the book “Golden Rules of Business Success” there are some parts mentioning the art of bee-keeping and the importance of the quality of the wooden box for bee keeping that can affect the quality of its honey.
The Mayans used honey for culinary purposes, and continue to do so today.
Some cultures believed honey had many practical health uses. It was used as an ointment for rashes and burns, and to help soothe sore throats when no other medicinal practices were available.
093. Honey | Tastes, flavours and benefits
