There are three tests to identify a pure honey namely through: dissolving test, burning test and stain removal test. Aside from the tests, there are few things to consider when identifying a genuine honey such as: the presence of ants, texture, density, acidity, flavor and aroma, and the cost.
It is difficult to distinguish pure honey from diluted or fake one by simply looking at the appearance. There are three tests to determine the pureness of honey, which are as follows:
Dissolving test
Get a glass of water and pour some amount of honey and observe. It is considered diluted if it completely dissolves in water, but if it settles at the bottom of the glass as a solid lump, then it is genuine and pure.
Burning test
Gather all needed materials for the test namely honey, lighter, candle and matchstick. Dip the candle wick into the honey while, removing the excess. Light the candle using a matchstick and observe the effect. If the wick starts to burn, then the honey is pure. The opposite happens if the honey is not genuine.
Stain removal test
Another way of identifying pure from a fake honey is through stain removal. Pour a small amount of honey on a cloth and wash after a few minutes. If the stain persists after washing then it is not pure.
Aside from the three tests, here are some tips on how to figure out fake from genuine honey:
Presence of ants
Watch for ants near the vicinity where honey is located. Ants do not go near pure honey unlike the fake one, which contains high amount of sugar.
Texture
Pure honey is coarse and thick in texture compared to the fake one, which is more fluid and clear.
Density
Pure honey is denser than the fake one containing a mixture of water. Therefore, it does not go through the fabric easily once spilled.
Acidity
The pH level of a pure honey is higher compared to the diluted honey. This acidity prevents the growth of bacteria; therefore, allows preservation of honey.
Flavor and aroma
One way of distinguishing a genuine from a fake honey is through its taste and smell. A genuine honey has a more distinct taste and aroma over the fake one, which contains more artificial sweetener.
Cost
Since pure honey is rare due to the limited production by the giant bees, it costs a lot higher than the fake or diluted honey.
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