During periods of prolonged drought and in the absence of flowering honey plants, green bee honey is often pumped out of hives. Also, a bee product mixed with propolis may acquire a greenish tint. Why honey, beloved by many, becomes an unusual color, what types of green delicacy can be found on the shelves of markets and shops, and why it is useful, we will look into the details further.
Types of green honey and differences
The appearance of an unusual color in a familiar product is explained by the absence of honey plants in the habitat of bees.But insects need daily nutrition, and they begin to collect sweet nutrients from coniferous and deciduous trees. Such compounds secreted by plants are called honeydew, and it is they that give the delicacy its unusual color and taste.
There are two types of bee product:
- natural honeydew honey acquires a green or emerald hue thanks to the trees from which insects collect nutrients and beneficial substances;
- nectar mixed in certain proportions with propolis also becomes greenish.
Important! Any of the above products is characterized by a high content of vitamins and minerals necessary for the functioning of the human body.
Composition and calorie content
The honeydew variety of honey is significantly different from the usual nectar. It consists of micro- and macroelements, organic acids and vitamins, but does not contain pollen.
The green product is characterized by a high content of iron, manganese, cobalt and potassium, B vitamins, ascorbic, nicotinic and folic acids. The green delicacy is distinguished from the usual bee nectar by its lower sugar content. The moisture composition in such a product is also higher, reaching up to 17%. 100 g of green honeydew contains up to 330 energy units, the product is considered high-calorie.
Natural honeydew nectar is used in folk and traditional medicine for the prevention and treatment of many diseases:
- green delicacy activates brain activity, relieves fatigue, increases the body’s resistance to physical and mental stress;
- protects the body from the development of tumors;
- promotes proper functioning of the cardiovascular system;
- has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects;
- used in the complex treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Interesting! The ancient Egyptians used the green variety of bee nectar to treat diseases of the digestive tract and genitourinary system.
Making green honey with propolis at home
You cannot prepare honeydew honey yourself, but you can mix nectar with propolis at home.
To do this you will need:
- any bee flower nectar in the amount of 200 g;
- bee glue in the amount of 10 g;
- a container for mixing ingredients and a saucepan for a water bath.
Propolis is crushed. To simplify the task, it is best to freeze bee glue and then grind it using a regular grater. Next, the bee glue is melted in a water bath. Honey is also slightly heated in a water bath and mixed with propolis, thoroughly kneading the ingredients until a mass of homogeneous consistency is obtained.
Important! The resulting healing product contains many beneficial properties, but is also a strong allergen, which must be taken into account by people with a predisposition to allergies.
Storage and shelf life
Store the honeydew product in glass or ceramic containers with a tightly closed lid. Due to the low sugar content, natural green delicacies cannot be stored for long periods of time and quickly turn sour. To extend the period of use of the healing product, containers with the product are placed in a dark, cool place.
Honey prepared from nectar and propolis is stored for a long time, just like any other type of flower product.
How to spot a fake
To purchase a natural honeydew product, you first need to familiarize yourself with its main characteristics:
- the color of natural honeydew honey depends on the plants from which insects collected nutrients and can have shades from light green to bright emerald;
- The taste of the beekeeping product is also not standard, with a pronounced bitterness;
- there are no floral or fruity notes in the aroma and aftertaste;
- the consistency of the green delicacy is viscous, viscous and elastic;
- the product is practically not subject to crystallization, quickly sours and deteriorates.
Important! Real honeydew honey is determined by the presence of flakes in the boiling mixture; their absence indicates a fake product.
Storage
Store rare, healing honey in a dark, cool place, under a tightly closed lid. The product, made independently, is stored like ordinary flower nectar.
