We buy honey from a local beekeeper, sometimes the honey is the classic, runny honey and other times it’s hard, white and somewhat grainy (looks similiar to fat). What’s the difference?
In: Chemistry
Honey is a super-saturated solution of two sugars: glucose and fructose. The proportions of these two sugars are characteristic of the plants the bees fed on to make their honey. It’s the glucose that crystallizes, so some types of honey are more resistant to crystallization because they have low glucose.
Since it’s super-saturated, it’s a natural chemical process that some of the sugars eventually come out of solution. Honey will even crystallize when it’s still in the comb.
Crystallized honey is actually a sign that the honey is high quality. It’s fairly simple to turn your honey back into a smooth liquid again by heating it. The best way to do this is to put your honey in a bowl of warm water and slowly letting it warm up.
Latest Answers