Minerals present in honey create a difference in the final presentation of the product. Pale honeys have about a 0. Darker honey can have a content of around 0. Mineral levels and antioxidant properties have a positive correlation. This means that darker honey — those with more minerals — are more antioxidant than lighter-colored honey. Some honeys have antioxidant levels that rival tomatoes and sweet corn. A jar of dark honey is in no way an indication that the honey is bad. From the source to the storage, the honey hue is determined at each stage of the process of honey.
You may be getting darker honey because of:. The color of the pollen grains can make a big difference in the tone of the end product. As bees tend to the hive, they bring pollen grains on their legs that inevitably mix with uncapped honey. Some pollen, like that of a lily, with its dark red grains, has a distinctive color capable of staining. The honey produced from a lily flower reflects the grain. Due to seasonal variations in blooming, bees from the same hive and foraging in the same area can produce honey of different coloration.
If one floral species blooms at the beginning of the honey flow and another at the end of the season, the same bees will produce honey of different color and flavor.
The amino acids and main sugars in honey — fructose and glucose — caramelize in the presence of heat. This activity is called the Maillard reaction. It happens in other foods as well. For example, the reaction causes browning in meat.
In the processing and storage of honey, the liquid is exposed to heat. The methods for processing exist to stabilize honey and keep the quality, color, flavor, and composition steady for the consumer. If misapplied, they can deteriorate color. To keep honey from crystallizing or fermenting, the producers pasteurize the liquid at high heat. In the pasteurization process, honey can be exposed to high temperatures that trigger the Maillard reaction.
Storage is also a concern in relation to heat. Storage is the exposure of honey to low amounts of heat over long periods. But health wise, it could be a more popular choice than light color honeys. It is not yet entirely clear which components of honey determine the antioxidant capacity of honey. The combined activity of phenolics, peptides, organic acids, and enzymes appears to be responsible for its antioxidant activity; however these compounds are not the only contributors Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Thus, even though Tasmania Leatherwood, a relatively dark color, heavy scented honey, has a huge loyal fan base, some people find it too perfumed and overpowering to be acceptable as a sweetener.
The color of honey varies according to their botanical origin and the weather of the place where the plants grow. In general, dark honeys have higher mineral contents e. Also, the darker the honey color, the higher the phenolic and flavonoid contents and the antioxidant levels, which are critical in counteracting free radicals responsible for triggering the aging process and diseases such as cancer , hypertension and high blood cholesterol and diabetes General Medicine, ; Food Chem.
However, note that many of these dark honeys are often sold in the creamed form and hence appear as much lighter in color compared to the liquid form. More on effects of creaming honey in: Sticky Facts about Cream Honey. Well-known for their strong medicinal properties, these honeys are highly prized and sought after as natural alternative remedies for synthetic drugs in treating a myriad of health conditions and ailments such as cough, flu, infections, skin problems, and poor immunity.
For instance, the famously healing Manuka honey with UMF certified labels can command a price ten times more than regular honey. Gladly accept it and eat it even if you are not too agreeable with the taste. It is likely to contain some really healthful stuff in it! If you are located in Singapore, check out the dark, rich and aromatic honey by Bee Healthy. Honey is being reinstated as an antibiotic for treating cuts, burns, insect bites, eczema and psoriasis, and fungal infections.
0コメント