Pure honey is produced by bees without any chemicals or additives or anything extraneous to the hive.
However, pure honey does not have to be organic. Since beekeepers do not have direct control over the bees that are looking for flowers to feed on to make honey, the honey they produce may not be completely organic.
Therefore, pure honey does not refer to the method of obtaining honey, but to the content of honey produced by the honeybees.
Organic honey can then be defined as honey from certified organic wild flowers that follow organic beekeeping protocols, and it has some specifications to follow.
*What is organic honey?* Organic honey, also called organic or bio-honey, is honey made from certified organic wild flowers. To be considered organic, it must comply with the protocols required for organic beekeeping.
In addition, locally harvested honey must have an appropriate certificate to guarantee this. This means that honey is only considered organic when it is made from flower nectar without pesticides or herbicides. In addition, no chemicals are used on the bees in whatever form.
*Characteristics of organic Honey* Organic honey has many characteristics that make it different from traditional honey in terms of handling the process of honey making.
The most important aspect of the production of organic honey is *Apiary location.*
Organic honey apiaries should be located away from cities and large growing areas, or in areas where pollution can occur. Instead, they are usually found in wild or mountainous areas. As a result, organic beekeepers are much better able to ensure the purity of their honey.
*Construction of hive and other components*
Hive should be constructed using natural materials that are devoid of artificial products or chemical products that can harm the bees. Like some beekeepers use polystyrene hives, this doesn’t fit into organic honey as the hive is made of petrochemical byproduct.
Kindly note that the fact that honey is produced inside such material doesn’t mean it is not edible.
*How to identify organic honey* Under current regulations, organic honey must be packaged with a specific and legible label. So anyone can easily find it just by looking at the logo.
Today, virtually all honey termed “organic” are ordinary honey because we are yet to get organic certification from the EU.
Shine your eyes, beware of a naked man who wants to sell his shirt.
- Dr. Bidemi Ojeleye is the Founder/Coordinating Director of the Centre for Bee Research & Development (CEBRAD), and the Chief Servant of Tropicalbee Honey, Ile Ife, Osun State.
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