The Science Behind Honey's Eternal Shelf Life (2013)

(smithsonianmag.com)

20 points | by downbad_ 2 hours ago

6 comments

  • mhb 3 minutes ago
    > So if you’re interested in keeping honey for hundreds of years, do what the bees do and keep it sealed

    Doesn't this make honey somewhat less unique? Aren't there many foods that will keep for hundreds of years if kept sealed?

  • rickydroll 15 minutes ago
    2,000-year-old honey that's still edible? Oh, I so want to taste. My grandfather was a beekeeper, and I learned about the different flavors of honey as he harvested from different locations throughout the season.

    It's fun to purchase honey from beekeepers a hundred miles away and see how the flavor changes. I personally like late-season honeys, which tend to have richer flavors from late-summer and fall flowers.

    A rare treat I've had was honey from Pitcairn Island. This is how you get in the queue for a jar. https://pitkernartisangallery.pn/products/pipco-pitcairn-isl... https://livebeekeeping.com/honey/pitcairn-island-honey/

  • wolfi1 50 minutes ago
    I don't know for the US, but in Europe fake honey is a big problem. There were several grocery chains who had to call back their honey because of it
    • mhb 5 minutes ago
      Yes. Good episode about fake honey and its interaction with almond growing: https://freakonomics.com/podcast/beeconomics-101/
    • brk 42 minutes ago
      That has been a global problem, lots of it in the US as well. I tend to only buy honey from known local producers, either at specialty stores or street markets.
  • downbad_ 2 hours ago
  • ge96 1 hour ago
    Tangent vulture bees yuck
  • robthebrew 1 hour ago
    There is an interesting story (only slightly relevant) about glycerine. It was a pure liquid, held in many labs throughout the world. Until for some reason it crystallised in one lab. Wishing a short amount of time all the world's samples crystallised.