Is it possible to buy quality liquid honey in winter
Honey is an indispensable product during the cold season to boost your immunity and maintain your well-being. However, many people find that even in the winter, even in markets and other outlets, sellers offer a variety of honeys to buy, and consumers tend to look for liquid honey, which is often associated with freshly spun honey.
„Honey that has just been extracted is liquid and then thickens and crystallises, or curdles, quite quickly. A white layer of glucose is visible on the surface of the honey – this is the sign of good quality honey. In Lithuania, bees do not start collecting spring honey until April or May, so during the winter months, unless the honey from the honeydew is liquid, which is what the honey label should say, otherwise good quality honey should have already hardened. Lipchius honey – is a unique type of honey, produced by bees not from nectar, like regular honey, but from the sap of the plant“, – explained Vaida Devėnaitė, Chief Specialist of the Animal Products Division of the Food and Veterinary Policy Department of the State Food and Veterinary Service (VMVT).
Quality honey, if bought in winter or autumn, should not be liquid. Otherwise, it may be last year's honey that has been heated at high temperatures. This process severely alters the nutritional value of the product and causes the honey to lose its valuable properties.
„Checking the quality of your honey is easy. First of all, it is always advisable to check the origin of the honey, which must be indicated on the label, and it is always worth paying attention to the colour, consistency and even the smell of the honey. Make sure that the honey is not foamed, as bubbles in the honey mass or a sour taste indicate that the honey may have fermented. Honey that has become stratified may also indicate that it is not of the best quality. If you want the best quality honey, we recommend that you buy from beekeepers who label their honey and carry out laboratory tests on honey quality parameters for self-monitoring purposes and share them publicly," assured the VVMT.
How to distinguish real honey from mixed honey?Consumers can also find a variety of honey flavour mixes on the shelves. These blends are often made from honey from several producers in several countries to make them more attractive to consumers. Consumers should therefore remember the following values on the label when choosing the quality of honey they want:
- „EU honey blend“ – means that it is a honey produced by mixing honey produced in apiaries in several EU countries (e.g. Polish and Lithuanian, etc.).
- „Non-EU honey blend“ – indicates that the honey is made by blending honey produced in apiaries in non-EU countries (e.g. Chinese and Ukrainian, etc.).
- „Mixture of EU and non-EU honey“ – confirms that the honey has been produced by mixing honey from several countries of origin: honey produced in apiaries in EU countries with honey produced in apiaries in non-EU countries (e.g. Lithuanian honey with Chinese honey, or others). It is likely that such a product may contain only a small proportion of Lithuanian honey.
These honey blends have undergone technological processing (heating, blending, homogenisation) which may affect the quality, taste and consistency of the product. It has been observed that imported honey and blends are always more fluid.
Honey quality is checked regularly
The HMVT periodically samples honey from the market and from honey producers for compositional and quality criteria, as well as after receiving reports on honey from other competent authorities in the EU, or in response to reports from consumers, to check whether the honey placed on the market complies with the requirements of the legislation.
No non-compliance with the honey composition and quality criteria was found in the samples taken during the planned controls in 2024. However, last year a report was received from the Lithuanian Beekeepers' Union concerning the possible marketing of adulterated honey. The investigation revealed that the honey referred to in the notification did not meet the requirements for authentic honey and the trader was obliged to withdraw the products from the market.
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