Facts About Honey

Health Benefits of Local Raw (Unpasteurized) Honey

  • Helps with Seasonal Allergies
  • Carries Antibacterial Properties
  • Anti microbial
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Anti-fungal
  • It Can Help Lower Blood Pressure
  • Helps Improve Cholesterol
  • Can Lower Triglycerides
  • Promotes Burn and Wound Healing
  • Can Help Suppress Coughs in Children
  • Immune Boosting
  • Rich in Antioxidants
  • Help digestive issues
  • Prebiotic
  • Soothe a sore throat

 

Fireweed Honey - why is it so good for us?


Every summer, when fireweeds are in bloom, we bring our bees to the backcountry of BC to collect precious nectar from the little pink-purple flowers that adorn the fireweed plant. This is where our most prized Fireweed Honey comes from! They’re considered to be the “Champagne of Honey” as fireweed honey is renowned for its fine, remarkable flavour and medicinal properties. Not only do they take longer to crystallize, they are also wild, which makes them equal to, if not better then organic!


It is considered to be the 'Champagne of Honey'! 5 reasons why:

1. It is a very difficult honey retrieve

2. It is wild, making it the same, or some would argue, better than organic

2. It is highly medicinal

3. It takes much longer to crystallize (Crystallization explained below)

4. And of course the taste. It is some of the best honey you'll ever try!

5. It is the first plant to grow after there's been a forest fire or clear cutting. It helps to replenish the earth so the forest can regenerate. The fireweed plant it self carries many medicinal properties and these transfer to the honey. 

Blueberry Honey

Taken from the tiny white flowers of the blueberry bush, the nectar makes a honey which is typically light amber in colour and with a full, well-rounded flavour. Blueberry Honey has one of the highest levels of Anti-oxidants.

Why does honey crystallize? 

You know when honey gets hard and granular tasting? It has not gone bad. It is actually the natural preservation process of honey. Honey will never expire. It was found in tombs in Egypt and was still edible. Crystallization happens over time or if honey is cooled (so don't store your honey in the fridge). Honey should be stored at room temperature. It is possible to get honey back to liquid form... no not the microwave, as this will pasteurize it (killing all of the good things). You can place it in a pot of hot water up to 100 degrees. I usually use a turkey thermometer to keep track. It is a slower process, but it ensures you maintain all of honey's health benefits.

Buyer Beware

When buying honey from the grocery store, most times it has been altered and only just resembles honey. It is usually pasteurized (good for some things, but definitely not honey) This means it has been heated past 120 degrees. This process kills everything including all of the health benefits listed above. Another thing that is very common, is it can also have rice or corn syrup added to 'water it down' and make it stretch further. I recommend watching a great series on Netflix called Rotten. Episode 1 is all about the honey industry.

We recommend knowing where your honey comes from. Your local beekeeper. Golden Meadows Honey Farm is our family apiary. All of our honey in our store comes from our bees. We harvest our Blueberry honey in June and in July we go out to get Fireweed Honey which we harvest August. 

Disclaimer: This information is not intended to replace medical advice, nor is it recommended for people to stop their prescribed medication(s). The information written on this page is intended for general purposes