Why honey is cloudy: reasons why a fresh product can be thick and opaque
Honey is a very popular product, the demand for which is constantly increasing. Bee nectar contains many vitamins and minerals. It is well digested and helps to cope with many diseases. However, valuable properties are characteristic only for a natural product. Today, there are many ways to make counterfeit, so people are wondering why honey becomes cloudy.
How honey becomes cloudy
The higher the glucose content in the composition, the faster the process of crystallization of the substance begins. Therefore, many people are sure that the cloudy product is a fake.If bee nectar immediately changes texture after purchase, this often indicates a change in storage temperature.
Today there are many ways to check the naturalness of honey. It is important to take into account honey plants, collection time, storage features. Nectar that is stored at high temperature will retain a liquid consistency for a long time. It will thicken as the ambient temperature drops. However, sometimes the mass becomes cloudy right in the hive. This happens when the air temperature is low outside and there are few bees.
When pumping nectar with a centrifuge, the molecules interact with the air and together with it penetrate the device. This also creates a hazy feeling. At the same time, honey can be pure from impurities and be of high quality.
Can fresh honey be thick and opaque
Fresh nectar can also be thick and opaque. This is due to the presence of sediment. It often includes small fragments of honeycombs, remains of insect bodies, wax impurities.
It is worth considering that even a purified product can be thick and opaque. This is due to the beginning of the crystallization process. Some varieties begin to sugar after a few years of storage, while others become viscous as early as 2 weeks after pumping.
Cloudy consistency is associated with late honey collection. This often happens during adverse weather conditions. If a certain variety is not collected in time, the bees begin to add pollen from other plants to the honey mass. The result is a mixture of nectars. It is characterized by rapid crystallization.
Only unripe honey is considered dangerous. It has a short shelf life and poor composition. After some time, such a product begins to ferment. This process is accompanied by the formation of a precipitate and the appearance of a cloudy consistency.
The reason for the cloudiness of the transparent honey
If some time after the purchase, the transparent honey becomes cloudy, do not think that it is a fake. Such a sign often indicates the beginning of the process of thickening or crystallization. This indicates the high quality of the product. Crystallization in no way affects the composition of honey. It can be used to strengthen the immune system and improve the functioning of the body.
Change in temperature conditions contributes to the acceleration of the sugaring process. The optimal parameters for honey are + 13-15 degrees. At higher rates, the nectar will remain liquid for a long time. If lower parameters are observed, the substance will quickly become thick. Therefore, honey will acquire a cloudy consistency.
At temperatures above +40 degrees, crystals are not produced in the substance, and glucose evaporates. As a result, the product loses its usefulness.Moreover, the product can harm a person. The fact is that an excess of fructose and a minimum glucose content often provokes severe allergies.
The cloudy texture of honey does not always indicate its low quality. It is often associated with honey crops and storage conditions. However, sometimes this texture indicates that the product is not fully ripe. The use of such nectar should be avoided.
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