Unripe honey: what it is and signs, how to bring it to normal

Quality honey contains many valuable vitamins, minerals, micro and macro elements. Due to this, the product is in high demand, especially during beriberi and the cold season. However, unscrupulous beekeepers often sell fakes to people, trading in unripe honey. This bee product is low in vitamins and has too little shelf life.

What is this?

This term refers to a natural, not artificial product. However, its key disadvantage is the high moisture content. This negatively affects the shelf life of the substance.

Unripe honey is obtained by pumping it out of the hives ahead of time - before it ripens to the desired consistency and is saturated with useful substances. Of course, such a beekeeping product does not harm he alth. However, it has a very short storage period. Already after 1-2 months, the mass begins to ferment and foam.

How to determine the immaturity of honey?

To determine the maturity of a substance, experts recommend paying attention to its viscosity. As a rule, it is inversely proportional to water content. To check the viscosity, it is recommended to draw weight from the container. If you lower the spoon into the jar and take it back out, you will get the feeling that all the honey is rising up.

The viscosity of centrifugal honey also indicates its maturity. If you pick up a product on a spoon and start twisting it, a mature and thick product will literally be wound on a spoon. At the same time, unripe - will begin to drain. It is worth noting that the speed of rotation of the spoon is in no way reflected in the results.

If the honey is not ripe enough, from a spoon raised 35 centimeters in height, the substance will begin to flow in intermittent streams. At the same time, the mature mass flows down in a continuous stream. It is the viscosity that prevents it from breaking.

The weight of 1 liter of honey is also considered a sign of maturity. Without packaging, it should weigh more than 1.4 kilograms. Unripe honey will weigh less than 1 kilogram.

Another manifestation of an unripe product is the heterogeneity of its structure, or the separation of a substance in a container. This composition does not pose a he alth hazard. At the same time, it crystallizes much worse. Sometimes there is partial crystallization at the bottom. At the same time, the mass remains liquid from above and can begin to ferment.

Some unscrupulous manufacturers add starch to the composition. It is believed that this product helps to make the mass thicker. Checking the content of this substance is quite simple. To do this, put a little honey in the container and add hot water. Then mix the composition thoroughly and add a few drops of iodine. If the product turns blue, then it contains starch.

Useful properties

Unripe honey contains a lot of moisture - well over 20%. Therefore, it contains few useful substances and does not have a therapeutic effect. However, the fresh product does not pose a he alth risk. If the honey has stood for a while, you can not use it. After 1 month of storage, the product will begin to foam and ferment.

What to do with unripe honey

Sometimes there are situations when the product of beekeeping needs to be quickly collected. In such a situation, there is a risk of getting unripe honey, which will lead to its rapid fermentation. Beekeepers measure the amount of moisture with a refractometer.

If the humidity is above the standard by 1-2%, the product should be brought to standard parameters. To do this, you need to hold it in a closed container for 1 month. In this case, the temperature should be + 15-20 degrees. If the moisture content of the product is 23-30% when pumping, it is recommended to bring it to maturity.

To reduce moisture content, do the following:

1. Leave the mass in special small containers or settling tanks for 2 weeks.
2. Burn out the liquid that has risen to the surface.
3. Leave the container open. In this case, gauze should be placed on top. It needs to be changed several times.
4. Turn on the electric oven and fans. Thanks to this, it will be possible to make the air in the room drier. The temperature should be +35-40 degrees.
5. During evaporation, stir the product 3-4 times a day.

It will take several days to bring the substance to the required moisture content. As a result, it will acquire the desired consistency. At this stage, the mass must be transferred to a clean container and tightly closed.

Harm and contraindications

Unripe honey is considered the safest counterfeit. It has a natural composition and differs from a high-grade product only in early harvest.

At the same time, unscrupulous sellers try to improve the appearance and consistency of a fake.To do this, they use various thickeners, the main of which is starch. It can cause allergies in some people. Other hazardous components include chalk and gypsum. They accumulate in the body and harm the kidneys.

Unripe honey contains a lot of moisture and contains a minimal amount of nutrients. In addition, it has a very short shelf life. Therefore, when buying a product, it is important to control its consistency.

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