Frequently Asked Questions
Posted: November 07, 2019
Does honey expire?
Honey is recognized as the only food that never expires. Over time it can lose some flavor, become darker, or even crystallize but is still edible.
What if my honey crystalizes?
If your honey crystallizes, simply place the bottle in warm water to use again. Do not heat the honey in the microwave as this can kill the beneficial antioxidants and other qualities of raw honey.
Can I give honey to my baby?
Babies under a year old should not be given any honey. This is because honey can, very occasionally, contain a spore of a bacterium called clostridium botulinum. This can cause a rare form of food poisoning (botulism) in babies.
What does "raw" and "unfiltered" mean?
Raw honey is straight from the beehive and is not pasteurized or processed. Raw honey is defined as "honey as it exists in the beehive or as obtained by extraction, settling or straining without adding heat." Commercially sold honey is heated at a high temperature to make it appear smoother and prevent fermentation but also kills off antioxidants. This also can remove pollen which contains vitamins, amino acids, essential fatty acids, micronutrients, and antioxidants. (Healthline.com)
How do you measure honey?
By law, honey is sold by weight, not volume. 8 ounces of water is equivalent to 12 ounces of honey.
Why is honey different colors at different times of the year?
Honey color and taste are determined by the available nectar sources available to the bees for foraging. Spring honey tends to be lighter in color with a mild flavor while fall honey is usually darker with a stronger flavor.
I picked up my nuc, now what?
You can read instructions for how to install your nucleus colony here.
Why did my bees die?
What was your last mite count? Did you treat for mites? What is your plan for managing mites? You will only see varroa mites on your bees if they are heavily infested with mites. The diseases and health issues caused by mites are the number one killer of honey bees and if you don't have a treatment plan in place to manage varroa, your hive will be dead within 2 years if not much sooner. Other common reasons for the death of a colony are starvation, excess moisture, equipment failure, or pests such as bears or skunks.
Wax moths or small hive beetles didn't kill your hive. A healthy colony of bees can keep those pests in check so if your colony is overrun with these pests, it is likely they were suffering from another issue that weakened them.