Top 5 amazing facts about honey

A home remedy, a favorite dessert, or an indispensable part of tea. From the hidden delicacy of early tribal societies to a way of paying taxes in medieval times, honey is truly miracle food, present in every stage of human history and development.

Even if you're not a fan of insects, we have to be grateful to bees for giving us this incredible natural sweetener. Read five incredible facts about honey and what distinguishes it from all other food products.

1. MILLIONS OF YEARS OF HISTORY

This story begins about 130 million years ago, at the time when flowering plants (plants with flowers) first appeared, and a few million years later when bees began to diverge from the wasp family.

At some point in that ancient history, bees began to produce honeyThe earliest evidence of honey production, which researchers have found in the form of fossilized remains, dates back approximately three million years.

On the other hand, humans only started collecting honey a few thousand years ago. Drawings in an ancient cave found in Valencia show a human being collecting honey from beehives. The drawings are believed to have been created 15,000 years ago. Today, there are approximately 20,000 species of bees on earth, but only a small number produce honey.

The type of bee that we use today in commercial beekeeping throughout Europe and the rest of the Western world is called Honey bee, one of only 8 species of honey bees.

2. UNLIMITED DURATION

Honey is really superfood, one of only a few species that we think has an indefinite shelf life. There are reports that researchers have found edible honey in Egyptian tombs that are several thousand years old. Believe it or not, scientists ventured out and tasted the honey, only to discover that it was still edible, thanks to its airtight containers.

Its longevity can be explained by its chemical composition. Honey is hygroscopic, which means it contains little moisture in its natural state, making it an unsuitable environment for bacteria to grow.

Bees put in a lot of effort to give honey such “magical” properties. During the process of converting nectar (the main ingredient of honey) into honey, bees flap their wings intensely to extract additional moisture from the initially watery substance.
Also, bees have a special enzyme in their stomach that helps them separate the nectar into gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide, which is used to prevent the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms within the honey itself.

One of the main misconceptions we have about honey is that it goes bad once it is  crystallizes. Although the honey most often found in stores is heat-treated and processed to eliminate particles, raw or organic honey still contains pollen and enzymes that can cause it to crystallize. If your honey has crystallized, it hasn't gone bad; just warm it up slightly.

3. OVER 300 DIFFERENT TYPES OF HONEY

The diverse and deep flavor of honey is determined primarily by classify the type of flower from which the nectar was collected. When you see a jar of honey that is labeled “acacia honey” or “sage honey,” it means that the source of the nectar comes from that type of flower.

Texture, taste and medicinal properties Honey is highly dependent on the flower from which the nectar is collected. Since hardworking bees collect nectar most of the year, even stationary hives can produce different types of honey depending on the flowers growing in their environment. 

Currently on the market there are over 300 different types of honey, each with a specific flavor profile and health benefits. We're sure you can name at least ten types of honey based on distinctive flowers that grow near you. The most recognizable among them are:

• Acacia honey – when you imagine the perfect jar of honey, this type of honey is probably the first thing that comes to mind. Sweet-tasting with mild floral tones, this honey is rich in flavonoids, which help fight heart disease and some types of cancer. Thanks to its antibacterial properties, this honey is also used to help treat acne and other skin conditions.
• Flower honey – is produced from the nectar of various meadow flowers. Its color, flavor, and intensity can vary depending on the type of flowers blooming. Although there are efforts to achieve a standardized flavor by blending this honey from different sources, there is a good chance that floral honey will always differ in flavor. Rich in antioxidants, it helps fight seasonal allergies and mild health problems.
• Linden Honey – this sweet, slightly yellow honey is the perfect choice for a warm cup of herbal tea before bed. Unfortunately, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find these days, as the wood from which bees collect nectar is increasingly used to build houses and household furniture. We hope that it will be more widely available in the future, given that neuropaths recommend it for fighting coughs, bronchitis and for natural detoxification of the body.
• Chestnut honey – with a unique aroma and bitter taste, this dark honey comes to us from the very heart of the forests. The complex and mysterious taste of this honey makes it an excellent side dish to serve with aged cheeses, fresh pears and rich meat dishes. Daily consumption of this honey helps in losing excess weight and helps in maintaining body weight. 

Certain types of honey may be perfect for baking, while others are tastier when consumed straight from the jar. Some help fight infections, while others are ideal for treating high blood pressure and cuts.

All honey lovers truly live in incredible times, and the only way to be sure is to get them all. try it out.

4. MEDICAL PURPOSES OF HONEY

The earliest evidence of honey being used for medicinal purposes dates back to ancient Mesopotamia. As we mentioned earlier, honey is resistant to bacterial growth, so it was often used as a natural treatment for cuts, infections and burns.

Today, it is used to boost immunity, treat stomach ulcers, and even seasonal allergies. In addition to its health benefits, it is often used in natural home remedies and personal care products such as shampoos, lotions, and conditioners.

Thanks to its numerous medicinal properties, we have developed our Apimel plus A line that helps maintain the health of the body and naturally strengthens immunity throughout the year.

5. HONEY AND EVOLUTION

Conducted research has shown that honey played a significant role in human evolution. Early hunter-gatherer societies depended on high-calorie foods that could satisfy everyone quickly energy needs.

Between hunting animals and gathering wild fruits, honey was considered a “strange” food that was prized by many tribes. Not surprising, since honey is the only food that contains all the elements necessary to sustain life, including water.

Although our ancestors did not have access to today's information, their highly developed instincts directed them towards this type of food. It is these instincts that have been passed down from generation to generation and persisted into modern times.

This is supported by a study conducted in 2007, in which scientists asked a group of people to identify the locations of individual foods in a huge and densely visited market. Men and women were the most successful in finding high-calorie foods such as honey and olive oil, even if they don't like it and don't tend to consume it.

Since we started working in 1994, we have learned that for the successful production of honey, it is necessary to provide the bees with ideal conditions, because even the slightest change can disrupt their rhythm. As they themselves are perfectly organized, everything related to them must be just like that - perfectly.

See the wide offer Apimel products based on honey that will strengthen your immunity, make meals sweeter, and your skin smoother.