Honey has long been a sweet addition to our food. Embraced for its sweet taste and natural antimicrobial properties, honey has been used in food and drink recipes, as a healing ointment, and even as an offering to gods in ancient cultures all over the world.
But where does this delicious liquid gold come from? In this blog post, we'll explore the origins of honey and the role that bees play in its production, discuss the best ways to store honey in glass honey jars, and share a fun recipe idea that uses honey. Let’s get started!
Bees & honey production
Bees are an essential part of our environment, supplying us with honey, beeswax and pollination services. Without these industrious insects, many of the plants we rely on for food and medicine wouldn’t exist.
We owe a great deal of the biodiversity and healthy ecosystems that form the backbone of life on Earth to the hardworking honeybee. Bees are truly remarkable creatures that deserve our protection and respect!
The sweet liquid gold that we’re acquainted with today comes from the skilled labour of bees. Honey bees collect nectar from flowers and store it in their hives. After being regurgitated into the honeycomb cells, a complex process of dehydrating and ripening begins until the end product is finally ready to harvest. This process also helps preserve it for longer periods of time, meaning that it will often last longer than other forms of sugar.
Glass honey Jars
Once harvested, honey should be stored properly to retain its flavour and texture for as long as possible. The best way to do this is by storing your honey in glass jars like the range of honey jars we stock here at JBC.
This prevents oxidation and keeps moisture out so that your honey stays fresh for longer periods of time. Be sure to label each jar with a date if you have multiple batches; this will make it easier to keep track of when each batch was made so you know when it's time to replace it.
Additionally, raw or unfiltered honey can usually be kept fresh for two years when stored in an air-tight glass jar in a cool place. If you’re looking for the perfect honey jar, we stock various sizes from 156ml to 850ml jar sizes. Take a look and then contact us today to order yours.
A few fun ways to use honey at home
There are a variety of fun ways to incorporate honey into your life. For starters, you can add some sweetness to your morning smoothie or oatmeal bowl with a tablespoon of raw honey.
Honey is also delicious when used in baking, cooking, and as a topping for pancakes, waffles and French toast. You can also use honey to sweeten tea and coffee, making them even more enjoyable!
If you’re feeling creative, why not try out some recipes that involve honey as a primary ingredient? You can make sweet glazes for meat dishes like pork ribs or salmon, or even mix it into salad dressings and sauces, or you could simply sweeten up your roast carrots.
Let your imagination be your guide with this liquid gold!
Fun recipe idea: honey-glazed carrots
This easy side dish combines sweetness with savoury flavours for an unforgettable side dish! Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (177°C). Then wash 3-4 carrots before slicing them into thin strips or cubes. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper before drizzling them with 2 tablespoons (30ml) melted butter or olive oil, 1 tablespoon (15ml) lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons (30ml) honey.
Bake for 20 minutes before sprinkling with freshly ground pepper or herbs like rosemary or thyme for additional flavour. Enjoy!
Honey is truly one of nature's most delightful gifts! It has been enjoyed by humans for thousands of years and continues to be one of our favourite sweeteners today thanks to its unique flavour profile and health benefits.
We hope this blog post has helped you better understand how bees produce this sugary treat, how best to store it in glass honey jars, and given you some inspiration on how you can use it at home!