Honey has a tradition of being an effective, natural soother for throats and coughs. A study by a Penn State College of Medicine research team found that honey may offer parents an effective and safe alternative to over-the-counter cough medicine. The study found that a small dose of buckwheat honey given before bedtime provided better relief of nighttime cough and sleep difficulty in children than no treatment or dextromethorphan (DM), a cough suppressant found in many over-the-counter cold medications.

What is crystallization?
Crystallization or granulation is a natural process that occurs in honey which aids its preservation.  It does not indicate spoilage.  Honey is a supersaturated sugar solution out of which the glucose tends to crystallize. Some honeys crystallize quicker than others, depending on the nectar source.

Can I prevent the crystallization of my honey?
1. Store honey at room temperature to deter crystallization. Crystallization occurs most rapidly at cool temperatures (40º – 57ºF) therefore honey should never be stored in the refrigerator.
2. Prevent absorption of moisture in the air by tightly closing containers during storage.
3. Do not contaminate the honey with toast crumbs etc.
4. Use more honey! As honey ages, it will start to crystallize.

My honey has crystallized. Do I need to throw it away?
No. Crystallization can be reversed by heating. Place the honey container in a warm water bath for a period of time to return the crystals to liquid.

Raw honey is minimally heated to reverse crystallization and strained to remove foreign materials such as honeycomb, beeswax, and larger particles of natural debris. Frequently, raw honey is described as “unfiltered.” If pollen is present in honey, it is more likely to be found in raw honey than filtered honey.

Filtered honey is heated to reverse crystallization and reduce bacterial growth. It is processed through a filter press to remove more foreign material than the straining process. Honey Hunters offerings are Only Unfiltered Quality Honey.