Why honey turns black: causes of darkening during storage and what to do

Due to the special biological composition, natural honey can be stored for a very long time. There can be several reasons why honey exfoliates or turns black. Experienced beekeepers say that over time, the product is able to naturally crystallize, change color or aroma. But the main thing is that with the right storage conditions, the delicacy will retain its useful qualities.

Causes of darkening of honey

Usually, natural nectar is not processed or filtered. Thanks to this, useful substances are preserved in the product, and the delicacy can be used for medicinal purposes. A change in the appearance of a product can be caused by a number of reasons:

darkened when stored at temperatures above + 20 °C;
storing sweets in aluminum containers (the product may react with aluminum, which leads to the release of metal into food);
coniferous honey acquires a rich dark color over time. Bees on trees collect honeydew - sweet secretions of insects, or honeydew - sugary vegetable secretions on trunks;
unaged nectar can become moldy if stored improperly;
high amount of glucose in the sweet also contributes to the appearance of a dark liquid on the surface of the product.

Natural chemical reactions can also cause the product to darken if stored for a very long time even under normal conditions. Amino acids contained in sweets react with furfural, sugar, hydroxymethylfurfural. As a result of this process, special elements are formed - melanoidins, which give the delicacy a dark shade.

Can I eat this honey?

Natural dark-colored honey is formed by collecting honeydew or honeydew from coniferous trees (spruce, pine, fir, larch). Such a product is considered much he althier than traditional honey, since it contains an increased amount of minerals and vitamins. The delicacy exhibits antipyretic, analgesic, tonic and wound-healing effects. Useful as an adjunctive therapy in the treatment of diseases:

arthritis;
angina, cold;
tuberculosis;
insomnia, weakened immune system;
dermatitis, some skin diseases.

It is noteworthy that this product practically does not cause allergic reactions, since it does not contain plant pollen. However, it should be borne in mind that the sweetness is capricious in storage, as it is characterized by increased hygroscopicity. You need to store the delicacy in the refrigerator, otherwise it will quickly turn sour.

If the product darkens due to improper storage or the presence of any foreign matter, then it is not recommended to eat it.

What to do in case of darkening

Beekeepers note that depending on the storage temperature, honey may change taste, smell, color. A common phenomenon is crystallization, in which the hue of the delicacy sometimes acquires a dark-saturated hue. To destroy sugar crystals, the container with nectar is placed in a bowl of warm water for 1-1.5 hours. The shade of honey is unlikely to change as a result of the procedure, but the taste and useful qualities will not deteriorate.

If the sweetness has turned black as a result of improper storage and the appearance of mold, then heating or cooling will not work to fix the problem. And such a product is not recommended for consumption.