Honey in Rum Bottles - Questions

[tranquilo_dude]

So I've been buying this honey that comes in rum bottles at the local farmers market. I'm wondering if someone here knows about the standard way this honey is processed or extracted from the comb. Do they heat the honey up at any point from harvest to bottling? All Dominicans I've asked (including my dairy farmer) have told me no, but my Haitian moto guy told me they heat it to extract it. Not sure if he knows what he's talking about or not.

Also it might just be hype but some have told me they mix it with water or something else. All of my stuff has tasted pure, it drops on the table and beads up nicely so not sure how often this stuff is diluted. Anyone know? Of course the seller says its pure.

Any information on the above 2 questions would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[JD Jones]

I'd guess what the Haitian meant is they use some sort of heat or smoke to get the bees away from the hives to harvest the honey.

I've never heard of adding water to honey but I have seen honey with sugar added. Lord knows why.

I'll let you guess why they use rum bottles.

 

[tranquilo_dude]

I'd guess what the Haitian meant is they use some sort of heat or smoke to get the bees away from the hives to harvest the honey.

I've never heard of adding water to honey but I have seen honey with sugar added. Lord knows why.

I'll let you guess why they use rum bottles.

How did you know they added sugar?

 

[AlterEgo]

There is a guy down the road from us who leases part of his property to a beekeeper for his hives. They truck the honey out of there in large drums. No idea what happens to it afterwards. I also buy the rum bottle honey 😀

 

[bob saunders]

Russ Offord, a Canadian guy here in Jarabacoa sells his in glass jars- very good honey. We buy ours in gallon water jugs and it is unpasteurized very good honey. We have bought some that has been very runny so I don't know what they mixed it with. We pay a 1000 pesos per a gallon.

 

[JD Jones]

How did you know they added sugar?

I have found it at the bottom of the bottle. It could be natural as I'm no expert, but it sure looks like sugar.

 

[AlterEgo]

I have found it at the bottom of the bottle. It could be natural as I'm no expert, but it sure looks like sugar.

Sometimes honey crystallizes and it looks exactly like sugar at the bottom. If you heat it, it usually flows again.

 

[Buffness]

Also it might just be hype but some have told me they mix it with water or something else. All of my stuff has tasted pure, it drops on the table and beads up nicely so not sure how often this stuff is diluted. Anyone know? Of course the seller says its pure.

Any information on the above 2 questions would be appreciated. Thanks

Some , if not most honey producers dilute nectar-made honey with molasses and sugar syrup in order to boost their profits.

Sometime ago , mi esposa did some tests to check the purity of honey sold at supermarkets here in DR and said most if not all failed . I actually did the flame test myself on the Cohen brand honey - failed ! You can test the purity yourself...many videos online ...definition of “pure honey “ varies .

 

[JD Jones]

I learn something new every day.

 

[janlindy]

put a teaspoon of honey in a bowl add some water and swirl around you should see the comb . not sure this test purity but the less of a comb you see less pure ????

 

[tranquilo_dude]

Some , if not most honey producers dilute nectar-made honey with molasses and sugar syrup in order to boost their profits.

Sometime ago , mi esposa did some tests to check the purity of honey sold at supermarkets here in DR and said most if not all failed . I actually did the flame test myself on the Cohen brand honey - failed ! You can test the purity yourself...many videos online ...definition of “pure honey “ varies .

all food sold at supermarkets is crap, especially anything with a brand name

I'm specifically referring to the local honey sold in rum bottles, looking for someone who specifically knows if the honey is heated or mixed

I'll have to talk directly to a beekeéṕer, but of course he'll just tell me that the rum honey is crap, mixed and heated, but his isn't

 

[william webster]

Rum bottles.... wine bottles.... 1/2 gal and gallon jugs....everything

In my area, I was directed to a store/colmado that had unadulterated honey
Ask around - old ladies in particular

 

[bob saunders]

all food sold at supermarkets is crap, especially anything with a brand name

I'm specifically referring to the local honey sold in rum bottles, looking for someone who specifically knows if the honey is heated or mixed

I'll have to talk directly to a beekeéṕer, but of course he'll just tell me that the rum honey is crap, mixed and heated, but his isn't

Where is local for you? The Dominican Republic is a big place.