When choosing natural honey, buyers first of all pay attention to the taste, aroma and appearance of the beekeeping product. But it is worth noting that nectar has other, more important characteristics by which its quality is determined. The specific gravity of natural bee honey is a determining factor when purchasing a healing delicacy. How to correctly calculate the main indicator of the quality of a valuable delicacy, we will understand further.
What do weight and quality have in common?
The basic properties and quality of the natural gift directly depend on the density of the beekeeping product. In turn, this parameter is determined by the amount of moisture and additional components of natural nectar.
With increased moisture content, this characteristic decreases. If foreign components in the form of sugar, starch, flour or other elements are added to the composition of the sweet, the specific gravity of such a product increases. Also, the density of the healing gift increases after heat treatment.
Important! Unscrupulous sellers and beekeepers use chemical compounds that are harmful to the human body to dilute the valuable bee delicacy.
Density of quality honey
The main parameter that determines the naturalness of a natural gift is the moisture included in the composition of the sweet. In a high-quality bee product, the amount of liquid varies from 15 to 21% and corresponds to a density of 1350 to 1500 g per 1 l3. Accordingly, 1 kilogram of honey will take approximately 2/3 of a liter container.
The valuable sweetness itself is hygroscopic, quickly absorbing moisture from the air. Its composition is also influenced by external factors, storage conditions and keeping bees.
- The amount of moisture in a treat is determined by its variety. The nectar of different plants is characterized by a unique composition of carbohydrates, vitamins, mineral elements and water.
- The density of the bee gift is influenced by the climatic conditions under which the insects obtained it. If the sweetness is collected in rainy weather, the moisture content in such a delicacy is higher.
- The maturity of the beekeeping product also affects quality parameters. If young, unripe honey is pumped out of the hive, the composition of water in such a delicacy is much greater.After entering the hive, insects place the nectar in the honeycombs, where it remains for some time to evaporate excess moisture. Next, the honeycombs are sealed with wax, and the bee’s gift is fermented, collecting valuable nutrients and beneficial substances. Only fully ripened sweetness, with a specific gravity of 1400 to 1500 g per 1 liter, contains the maximum concentration of vitamins, healthy sugars, acids, macro- and microelements.
- If storage conditions are violated, the density of the natural gift can also change upward or downward. The product quickly absorbs moisture from the air, so sweets stored in loosely sealed containers contain more liquid.
Important! If, upon purchase, the quality parameters are below the standard, such a beekeeping product is not worth purchasing.
Specific gravity of honey
The density of a high-quality bee gift is calculated by the ratio of the amount of ordinary water and a medicinal product for the same volume of container. The average value of this parameter per liter container is 1400 g. The maximum weight of nectar in a jar with such a volume can reach 1500 g.
Calculation example
To independently calculate the specific gravity of a healing treat you will need:
- capacity 1 l;
- water in the amount of 1 liter;
- natural bee honey;
- scales.
The empty container is weighed and the resulting value is remembered. The average weight of a glass liter jar is approximately 400 g. Next, water is poured into it and the liquid level is noted. After removing the liquid from the jar, add the prepared sweetness to the previously noted level. The weight of the empty container is subtracted from the total mass. The result obtained is the specific gravity of healthy sweetness.Using the same principle, you can calculate the density of any type of bee gift.
Dependence on quality
The natural beekeeping product is divided into many varieties with individual indicators of density, vitamin, chemical and biological composition.
- May nectar is considered the most liquid. The same delicacy is obtained from sunflower, clover and acacia.
- The thicker consistency of the product is ripened from linden, chestnut, sweet clover and buckwheat.
- The nectar collected by insects from dandelions is characterized by a dense and viscous structure, which is why the delicacy made from it is very thick.
- Heather nectar has a jelly-like consistency, and honeydew, a natural gift, due to the resins included in its composition, is considered the most sticky.
The ratio of nectar humidity and its density:
| Composition of water in honey | Specific gravity per 1 l3 |
| 21 % | 1410 g |
| 20 % | 1415 g |
| 19 % | 1421 g |
| 18 % | 1428 g |
| 17 % | 1435 g |
| 16 % | 1445 g |
| 15 % | 1450 g |
Important! Each grade has its own density parameter, which corresponds to the liquid included in the product.
Temperature dependence
The quality of the treat is also affected by storage temperature. Under conditions of elevated temperature, the density of nectar can increase from 10 to 15%. When storing sweets in the refrigerator, its quantity decreases by 5-10%.
Weight of honey in various containers
In order to purchase a quality product in markets and stores and correctly use bee nectar at home, you need to know how much sweetness fits in different containers:
- in a teaspoon – from 8 to 10 g;
- in a tablespoon – from 23 to 25 g;
- in a 0.5 liter jar - from 700 to 750 g;
- in a container with a volume of 1 liter - from 1400 to 1500 g;
- approximately 3 kg of valuable product fits in a 2 liter container;
- a 3-liter jar can hold from 4 to 4.5 kg of natural delicacy.
The 40-liter cans that beekeepers use to transport beekeeping products contain up to 60 kg of natural, undiluted natural gift.
