While walking down the supermarket, you will come across a range of honey bottles in the aisles. You will certainly be fascinated by the jars labelled “pure,” “natural,” and “raw” honey. However, all that glitters is not gold.
Although it says the terms “pure”, “natural” and “raw”, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the honey is sourced from the authentic local sources. Most of the jars that you see on the aisles are either blended, heavily processed, or diluted.
How to differentiate local honey in London from the blended or processed ones? Here are a few smart tricks to help you buy the right one.
How to differentiate between a local honey and a blended jar?
Check the label properly
Authentic, locally sourced honey will be proudly advertised on the label. Look for labels that clearly state the part of London where the honey comes from. Do not trust vague phrases like “packed in the UK.” Ideally, the name of a local supplier, along with details of the apiary, will be mentioned on the label.
Does your ingredient list mention phrases like “blend of EU”? Then it’s not a purely locally sourced bottle. Once heated, the honey loses its natural enzymes and nutritional values. Hence, check the label before you buy.
Trust the taste buds
Local honey is pure and preservative-free. It has a floral and herbal flavour since it is packed directly after extraction. If the supermarket allows you to taste the honey before buying, do it.
If the honey tastes flat, overly sweet, or sugary, then it’s definitely processed and not the pure ones you’re looking for. Real honey has a flavour which varies from one season to another.
Enquire about the beekeeper
Sometimes buying from a known beekeeper is the best way to avoid blended products. If you know a trusted local supplier, get in touch for the authentic products. Again, you can get locally harvested honey from online suppliers. Check the ratings and customer reviews and make a fruitful purchase. Local producers are usually proud of their ventures and happy to talk about their hives. Since they are transparent, they are authentic and unique.
Do not fall for too low prices
Local honey is not cheap. They are affordable, certainly, but the process takes time and requires expert knowledge for a proper, flavourful outcome. Hence, you need to pay the required price. If you walk by a supermarket aisle with an extremely low-priced natural, local pure honey, then it’s definitely a trap. Do not fall for it. Check the other points and verify the product’s authenticity before making the purchase decision.
Spotting authentic local honey doesn’t require expert knowledge. However, you need to remain alert and avoid falling for the commercial traps. Read labels carefully, check online for local suppliers and buy wisely. To experience the natural taste of honey, buy from Bray’s Bees. We carefully harvest local honey, preserving its purity. Get the taste of unfiltered enzymes and naturalness in every spoon of honey. Check out the range of products.