Frequently Asked Questions About Honey

MY HONEY IS STARTING TO CRYSTALLIZE IN THE JAR. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
It’s actually a sign of high quality honey. … Honey is a super-saturated solution of two sugars: glucose and fructose. 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.

Honey is likely not to crystallize if stored at room temperature. To re-liquid your crystallized honey, stand the lightly sealed jar into a container of warm water for 20 minutes, or run under a hot tap, never put honey in the micro-wave.

WHAT IS THE SHELF LIFE OF HONEY?
You don’t have to toss that honey! Even if honey had been sitting on your shelf for 2,000 years, that honey would still be as good as the day you opened it. Honey has been discovered in Egyptian tombs thousands of years old. In a nutshell, well-stored honey never expires or spoils, even if it’s been previously opened. Honey will taste best during its first few years.

DOES HONEY HELP MY ALLERGIES?
Honey has been anecdotally reported to lessen symptoms in people with seasonal allergies. But these results haven’t been consistently duplicated in clinical studies. The idea isn’t so far-fetched, though. Honey has been studied as a cough suppressant and may have anti-inflammatory effects.

CAN BEES MAKE HONEY FROM JUST ONE KIND OF FLOWER?
Single flower honey is the result of two conditions. First, the target plant must predominate so the bees have little choice of plants. Second, the beekeeper must time the introduction of the hive and the actual harvesting of the comb to coincide with this blooming period.

WHY DOES ONE HONEY TASTE DIFFERENT FROM ANOTHER?
Honey expresses many characteristics including color, texture, viscosity, taste, smell, and how quickly it crystalizes. These characteristics vary based on what plants the hive’s bees have been collecting nectar from.

WHY SHOULD CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN 1 NOT BE GIVEN HONEY?
Infant botulism is caused by a toxin (a poison) from Clostridium botulinum bacteria, which live in soil and dust. The bacteria can get on surfaces like carpets and floors and also can contaminate honey. That’s why babies younger than 1 year old should never be given honey.

CAN HONEY HEAL WOUNDS? IF SO, WHY DOES IT WORK?
The sugar naturally present in honey has the effect of drawing water out of damaged tissues (known as an osmotic effect). This reduces swelling and encourages the flow of lymph to heal the wound. Sugar also draws water out of bacterial cells, which can help keep them from multiplying. Antibacterial effect.

WHY ISN’T BEE NATURAL HONEY PASTEURIZED?
Pasteurizing honey is a very different thing than pasteurizing milk or other dairy products, and it’s done for very different reasons. Because of its low moisture content and high acidity, bacteria and other harmful organisms cannot live or reproduce in honey, so pasteurization is not done for that purpose.Pasteurized honey has a weak “sugary” flavor and maintains few health benefits. We suggest you eat honey that has not been pasteurized.

IS BEE NATURAL HONEY KOSHER?
The Gemara explains: This is because honey is not an actual part of the bee. Bees function only as carriers and facilitators. Honey is better described as flower nectar which is Kosher. The nectar enters the bee’s honey sac and is transformed into honey.

Frequently Asked Questions About HONEY BEES?

ARE HONEY BEES DISAPPEARING?
Pesticides, pollution, parasites, infections and other threats continue to threaten colonies of honey bees worldwide. In the United States, up to one-third of commercial honey bee colonies vanish each year. That loss harms farmers, who rely on honey bees to pollinate many important crops. We suggest to help the honey bee population to grow….Start keeping some beehives. Do not use neonicotinoids and don’t buy plants treated with them. Plant a diverse variety of bee loving flowers.

WHAT IS COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER (CCD) AND WHAT IS THE CAUSE?
The term “Colony Collapse Disorder”, or CCD, is often incorrectly used as a blanket term to refer to the trend of bee decline. However, this decline has a number of causes and takes a number of forms. CCD only refers to  phenomenon characterized by the sudden — overnight, in some cases — loss of the vast majority of the hive, leaving a queen, full brood (larvae) cells, and full honey stores behind. In collapsed hives, no dead bees are found, puzzling scientists and posing a major challenge to the study of the disease. The USDA has been studying the phenomenon since 2009, when it became apparent that Colony Collapse was not something that would disappear on its own.CCD, while alarming, is not the main reason behind the mass die-off of the bees, and is much less common today than when we first learned about it in the media. 

CAUSES OF HONEY BEE POPULATION DECLINE?
Research on the possible causes of honey bee population decline is currently ongoing, and there has been progress! Most recent evidence points to a combination of factors as the culprit -– according to the USDA, these factors include  “parasites and pests, pathogens, poor nutrition, and sublethal exposure to pesticides.” 

10 Ways to Save the Bees

Here are a few easy ways you can help

         1. Plant a Bee Garden
One of the largest threats to bees is a lack of safe habitat where they can build homes and find a variety of nutritious food sources. By planting a bee garden, you can create a habitat corridor with plants that are rich in pollen and nectar. You don’t need a ton of space to grow bee-friendly plants — gardens can be established across yards and in window boxes, flower pots, and planters. You can also get involved with local organizations and governments to find opportunities to enrich public and shared spaces.

        2. Go Chemical-Free for Bees
Synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides, and neonicotinoids are harmful to bees, wreaking havoc on their sensitive systems. Avoid treating your garden and green spaces with synthetics. Instead, use organic products and natural solutions such compost to aid soil health and adding beneficial insects that keep pests away like ladybugs and praying mantises.

       3. Become a Citizen Scientist
Join a global movement to collect data on our favorite pollinators! Gather photos and other information about native bees. Together, we can learn about the bees in various sites and cities and identify opportunities for nurturing them.

       4. Provide Trees for Bees
Did you know that bees get most of their nectar from trees? When a tree blooms, it provides hundreds — if not thousands — of blossoms to feed from. Trees are not only a great food source for bees, but also an essential habitat. Tree leaves and resin provide nesting material for bees, while natural wood cavities make excellent shelters. With deforestation and development on the rise, you can help bolster bee habitats by caring for trees and joining tree-planting parties in your area.

       5. Create a Bee Bath
Bees work up quite a thirst foraging and collecting nectar. Fill a shallow bird bath or bowl with clean water, and arrange pebbles and stones inside so that they break the water’s surface. Bees will land on the stones and pebbles to take a long, refreshing drink.

       6. Build Homes for Native Bees
Did you know that, with the exception of honey bees, most bees are solitary creatures? 70% of solitary bees live underground, while 30% live in holes inside of trees or hollow stems. Species like bumble bees build their nests in undisturbed land, and you can provide safe haven for them by leaving an untouched plot of land for them in your garden! “Bee condos” — which have small tube “apartments” — allow species like mason bees to take up residence. They’re easy to make or purchase. Our Sponsor-a-Hive program places solitary bee homes in gardens, schools, and communities around the U.S. and Canada.

      7. Give Beehives and Native Bee Homes
Keep honey bees, nurture native bees, or help gardens and schools around the U.S. and Canada grow food and strengthen local environments. Our Sponsor-a-Hive program creates safe havens for precious pollinators in underserved communities by supplying the tools, gear, and education needed to successfully home bees.

       8. Teach Tomorrow’s Bee Stewards
Inspire the next generation of eco citizens with guides, lessons, and activities to get them buzzed about bees! Educators can use our collection of free resources to bring nature and ecology into the classroom — and the hearts of children everywhere.

       9. Host a Fundraiser
Host a fundraiser online or do something you love to help #BeeTheSolution. Your #BeeTheSolution fundraising events create community building and information sharing opportunities that inspire while raising funds for The Bee Conservancy programs. It’s an easy, fun way to make a serious impact.

       10. Support Local Beekeepers and Organizations
Local beekeepers work hard to nurture their bees and the local community. The easiest way to show your appreciation is to buy locally-made honey and beeswax products. Many beekeepers use products from their hives to create soaps, lotions, and beeswax candles. Plus, local honey is not only delicious — it is made from local flora and may help with seasonal allergies! You can also give time, resources, and monetary donations to local beekeeping societies and environmental groups to help their programs grow.

WHERE DO I FIND INFO TO START BEEHIVES?
We refer people to Better Bee Farms website. They can supply all the woodenware, smokers, bee suits and other equipment required to keep bees. You can find bee instruction at your local bee club, on line and at various learning institutions such as Cornell, Ithaca, NY.

Frequently Asked Questions About BEE NATURAL BODY CARE PRODUCTS

DO YOUR PRODUCTS CONTAIN SULPHATES, PARABENS OR PETROLEUM INGREDIENTS?
Bee Natural Body Care is committed to formulating the best natural skin care products that help people keep their skin healthy and beautiful. Only the best natural organic ingredients are used in making Bee Natural Body Care products including our raw Setauket Gold Honey.

There are no sulphates, parabens or petroleum ingredients used in our products. All our ingredients are plant derived and sourced with the highest quality in mind.

ARE ESSENTIAL OILS HARSH ON SKIN?
“Most of the components in oils can significantly irritate and damage skin. Common examples include fragrant ingredients like limonene, citronellol, and eugenol, which are all present in fragrant plant oils. Our products contain a very small amount of essential oils compared to the overall formula. Our products include natural SPF ingredients such as PROPOLIS. This resinous mixture, which bees collect from plants and use to seal and protect the hive is rich in antioxidants that offer protection against UVB and UVA. RASPBERRY. STRAWBERRY. SHEA BUTTER. ALOE VERA

IS THERE A SHELF LIFE ON YOUR HEALTH AND BEAUTY PRODUCT?
Our Skin Care products do expire and due to using natural preservatives most of our products self life is 2 years unopened and 1 year opened. This expiration varies and many of our products will last longer than that due to storage conditions and climate.