If you regularly consume honey, you know that it is a super healthy product due to the multiple health benefits it provides. Furthermore, it is a very versatile ingredient in cooking. Perhaps, for this reason, good-quality honey is often expensive. The significant point, however, is how to know if the honey we are buying is, in fact, of good quality.
Initial test
Even before purchasing the product, the first of all possible tests is to check its physical appearance (even without opening the package) and the composition stated on the label. The texture should always appear smooth but at the same time consistent. The smell (if opening the container is allowed) should be sweet, and if you have the opportunity to try it, you should consider that the sensation is a tickling in the throat.
Likewise, as mentioned, the packaging must contain information about the product, indicating whether it is natural, the type of flower used (orange or eucalyptus, for example), and whether it is organic. The point here is that producers can label with ambiguous and misleading words. That’s why we recommend that you take one of the tests below to find out what you’re buying pure honey in Pakistan.
Thumb test
Material:
- None
Indications:
The most straightforward test of all to identify whether honey is pure is to put a few drops on your finger.
Results:
If honey slides on your finger like a liquid, it means it is not pure and has added sugar to preserve its flavor. On the other hand, if the product doesn’t slide over your finger because it’s too thick, you’re probably looking at a natural product.
Water test
Material:
- Spoon
- glass of water
Indications:
To perform this test, just put a spoonful of honey in a glass of water.
Result:
If honey is pure, it will remain at the bottom of the glass without changing its consistency. If honey is not natural, it will dissolve in water. The more it dissolves, the less natural the product will be.
Bread test
Material:
- a stale and hard bread
Indications:
The test consists of pouring a large amount of honey on the crusty bread and checking the result in about 10 minutes.
Result:
If, after 10 minutes, the bread has softened, this indicates that the honey has been dissolved in water and is not pure. On the other hand, if the product is pure, the bread will remain intact.
Test with fire
Material:
- cotton
- lighter or matchbox
Indications:
First of all, it is necessary to mention the importance of being cautious when using fire. And care must be taken when checking the purity of honey, as it is a flammable product.
For this test, you should cover the cotton with a few drops of honey. With the help of a lighter or a match, bring the honey from the cotton into contact with the fire.
Result:
Because it is flammable, pure honey should catch fire immediately; if not, it means the product is probably tampered with.
Vinegar test
Material:
- Spoon
- Water
- vinegar
Indications:
For this test, mix a spoonful of honey with a bit of water and a few drops of vinegar.
Result:
If the honey is pure, no reaction will occur; however, if the mixture does generate a little foam, you are faced with an indication that is unnatural or that it has been diluted.
Heat test
Material:
- a container to heat (pot, pan, etc.)
- stove
Indications:
You need to pour a little into a container and place it on the stove for a few minutes.
Result:
Pure honey, under high temperatures, tends to caramelize. On the other hand, a contaminated product will start to generate smoke, causing the water to be diluted to evaporate and burn the excess.
Iodine test
Material:
- Spoon
- Water
- iodine
Indications:
As with the vinegar test, you need to mix a spoonful of honey with a bit of water and a few drops of iodine.
Result:
If the mixture results in a dark tone, the indication is that it is adulterated with flour or starch. If not, you can be sure that it is pure.
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