Bees, Beekeeping and Honey

Early Honey History

Honey is as old as history is itself. One of the earliest evidence of honey

harvesting is on a rock painting dating back 8000 years, this one found in
Valencia, Spain shows a honey seeker robbing a wild bee colony. The bees were
subdued with smoke and the tree or rocks opened resulting in destruction of
the colony.

It is difficult to appreciate in today's world of convenience, high tech wizardry,

junk food and sugar substitutes, the value of honey. Humans have eaten it,
bathed in it, fixed their wounds with it and traded with it since history was
recorded. Archaeologists discovered honey comb in Egypt that had been buried
with the pharaohs in their tombs, the honey was preserved and was still
eatable.

In the old testament, the land of Israel was often referred to as the "land
flowing of milk and honey". God nourished Jacob with honey from the rock, and
gave Israel fine flour, olive oil and honey. John the Baptist ate locusts and wild
honey. Honey is mention in the scrolls of the Orient, the Talmud and Koran.

The Romans used honey to heal their wounds after battles. Hannibal, a great
warrior gave his army honey and vinegar as they crossed the alps on elephants
to battle Rome. During the 10 century, the Kings and Queens of England had
fermented honey wine (Mead), the Edmeades family produced some of these.

Honey has been used for many thousands of years, in fact most mans history
has references to it. Not surprising though, it is an organic natural sugar, has
no additives, easy on the stomach, if stored correctly will have an almost
indefinite shelf life and easily adapted to cooking processes.
"Man of Bicor." c. 15000 BC. Cueva de la Arana, Valencia, Spain

Bees, Beekeeping and Honey

Background to Bees
Mans love affair with sweet substances goes back to the time when he was a
hunter gatherer. His need for carbohydrate and fat were crucial to survival and
were difficult to find. Our old need for calories meant we have a tongue that
has many sugar receptors enabling us to recognise even weak sources of sugar.
Honey to early man was a miracle, a substance that was intensely sweet,
immune from spoilage and the level of sugar prevents micro organisms from
existing. The evolution of man to present day meant our love affair with honey
has continued and we have 'domesticated' the bee to suit our needs.

It is not entirely clear but about 4000 BC, the Egyptians started keeping bees in
a cylinder of unbaked hardened mud pots, stacking them in rows to form a
bank. Some beekeepers in Egypt moved their hives on rafts down the Nile,
following the blossoms. The Greeks modified the Egyptian design baking the
mud into a sturdier terra cotta. (1450BC). They called the honey "nectar from
the gods".
Another design using hollow logs hung from trees and is still used in Africa
today. Others include woven cylinders, skeps and rectangular boxes made from
wood. The theme is all the same, a long low cavity with a small entrance hole
at one end and a door at the other. It was in Europe where apiculture made its
greatest advances in development and bee biology. In 1851, Rev. Langstroth
from Philadelphia designed the Langstroth movable bee frame.

The ability of the honey bee to survive has been remarkable, it has been able to
adapt to the harsh environments of the world living in regions where man lives,
from the equator to beyond the arctic circle. Most of the domestic honey bees
have descended from a small number of queens from their original countries -
that is Europe and Africa and in these regions the honey bee has survived
through natural selection processes.
If honey bees were to disappear from planet Earth, man would have just 4
years until serious food shortages would result. The pollination services that
bees provide are numerous, think about the fruits, nuts, seeds, vegetables and
legumes we eat. Most of these are pollinated by the bee.
A brief history of honey
Exactly how long honey has been in existence is hard to say
because it has been around since as far back as we can
record. Cave paintings in Spain from 7000BC show the earliest
records of beekeeping, however, fossils of honey bees date
back about 150 million years! Its ‘magical’ properties and
versatility has given honey a significant part in history:

The earliest record of keeping bees in hives was found in the sun temple
erected in 2400BC near Cairo. The bee featured frequently in Egyptian
hieroglyphs and, being favoured by the pharaohs, often symbolised royalty.

The ancient Egyptians used honey as a sweetener, as a gift to their gods and
even as an ingredient in embalming fluid. Honey cakes were baked by the
Egyptians and used as an offering to placate the gods. The Greeks, too, made
honey cakes and offered them to the gods.

The Greeks viewed honey as not only an important food, but also as a healing
medicine. Greek recipes books were full of sweetmeats and cakes made from
honey. Cheeses were mixed with honey to make cheesecakes, described by
Euripides in the fifth century BC as being “steeped most thoroughly in the rich
honey of the golden bee.”

The Romans also used honey as a gift to the gods and they used it extensively
in cooking. Beekeeping flourished throughout the Roman empire.

Once Christianity was established, honey and beeswax production increased

greatly to meet the demand for church candles.

Honey continued to be of importance in Europe until the Renaissance, when the

arrival of sugar from further afield meant honey was used less. By the
seventeenth century sugar was being used regularly as a sweetener and honey
was used even less. As bees were thought to have special powers, they were
often used as emblems:
Pope Urban VIII used the bee as his emblem.

The bee was the sign of the king of Lower Egypt during the First Dynasty
(3,200BC).

Napoleon’s flag carried a single line of bees in flight, and his robe was
embroidered with bees.

In the third century BC, the bee was the emblem used on coins in the Greek city
of Ephesus.

The bee was the symbol of the Greek goddess Artemis.

The bee was the emblem of eros/cupid.

 What Is Honey?

Honey is an organic, natural sugar alternative with no additives that is easy

on the stomach, adapts to all cooking processes, and has an indefinite
shelf-life. It is made by bees and stored in wax structures called
honeycombs. Honey is used as a sweetening agent in a wide variety of
foods including baked goods, marinades, beverages, and more.

Fast Facts

 Shelf Life: Indefinite

 Where It's Found: Baking aisle or farmer's market
 Region: Honey is enjoyed around the world

What Is Honey?

Honey is a thick golden liquid that bees make from the nectar of flowering
plants. The bees produce the honey through a process of collecting nectar
and then regurgitating the nectar. Then water evaporates from the nectar
to produce the material we consume and know as honey. Bees perform
the vital service of pollinating fruits, legumes, vegetables, and other types
of food-producing plants in the course of their business of honey
production.

Honey is as old as written history, dating back to 2100 B.C. where it was
mentioned in Sumerian and Babylonian cuneiform writings, the Hittite
code, and the sacred writings of India and Egypt. Its name comes from the
English hunig, and it was the first and most widespread sweetener used by
man. Honey was valued highly and often used as a form of currency,
tribute, or offering. In the 11th century A.D., German peasants paid their
feudal lords in honey and beeswax. In the olden days, honey was used not
only in food and beverages but also to make cement, in furniture polishes
and varnishes, and for medicinal purposes.

Varieties

There are many varieties of honey. The color, taste, smell, and even
texture will vary greatly between varieties. The distinguishing factor is the
type of flower that the bee frequents. Clover honey will be quite different
from lavender honey. Some other varieties include:

 Acacia
 Alfafa
 Chestnut
 Orange blossom
 Sage

There are also different production processes which result in a wide array
of honey types. These include liquid in raw or pasteurized forms, whipped,
and honeycomb.

Honey Uses

Honey is a sweetener. In the kitchen, it can be used with nearly any

cooking method. It's tasty as is with apples, spread on top of crackers, or
mixed with yogurt. Honey can be used in baking, as a sweetener to tea or
beverages, or as a marinade ingredient. Honey can also be used as a
natural lip balm, moisturizer, or cough remedy.

How to Cook With Honey

Use honey from the bottle or jar. If you need to measure out precise
measurements, spray the measuring spoon with cooking spray before
dipping it into the honey. The honey will slide right off the sprayed spoon.
Honey can be used in place of sugar for most recipes, but it will affect the
texture of the food, especially in baked goods which may become more
moist and dense.

What Does It Taste Like?

Honey is a sticky, viscous material that is extremely sweet. It also may

taste quite floral, fruity, or woodsy. Depending on the type of honey (and
type of flower), you may be able to distinguish a specific taste, such as
lavender. To distinguish different honey tastes, a side by side taste
comparison can be a fun exercise.

Honey Substitute

Since honey is a sweetener, it can be substituted with sugar. The flavor

and texture may not be the same when you make the swap. To replace
one cup of honey, use 1 1/4 cups of sugar and 1/4 cup of an additional
liquid such as water or a liquid that is in the recipe. Another swap is one
cup of honey for 1/2 cup of sugar plus a 3/4 cup of corn syrup.

Honey Recipes

Tasty on its own, honey is included in a wide variety of recipes.

 Honey Roasted Peanuts

 Spiced Honey Cake
 Honey Marinated Buttermilk Fried Chicken

Where to Buy Honey

Honey can be found at most major grocery stores. It's often in either (or
both) the produce area and the baking aisle. Local honey can also be
found from beekeepers or local farmer's markets. Specialty food stores and
online retailers sell a wide variety of honey.

Storage

Honey is the one food that does not spoil. Keep it in a cool location out of
direct sunlight. It's original glass (or plastic) container is best. If your honey
begins to crystallize, it is not bad. Simply place the jar in warm water and
remix the honey.

Nutrition and Benefits

Honey has a small number of nutrients, but it's mostly sugar (in the form of
fructose and glucose). Honey does have antioxidants but it depends on the
bees and the plants from which the honey was produced. Per teaspoon,
honey has 21 calories and 4.5 grams of carbohydrate.