A Bitter Truth Behind Black Honey
Black Honey…
Black honey is one of the most promoted products, but contrary to what you might think, the reality is alarming. There is no such thing as black honey; it is actually a result of boiling and repeatedly heating cane sugar, which transforms it into a product resembling honey in texture. This product consists of over 60% sucrose (table sugar), an extremely high concentration that should not exceed 5% in natural honey. Moreover, this is not produced by bees but is an industrial process.
What Are the Benefits of Black Honey?
In truth, black honey or white honey offers no benefits. All claims about the benefits of black honey are fraudulent, and there is no scientifically documented research confirming its supposed advantages. Honey should not be named after a specific color; instead, it is classified according to the type of flowers from which the bees collect nectar, such as citrus honey, Sidr honey, or eucalyptus honey.
What Are the Uses of Black Honey?
If we consider black honey to be a type of honey, it is used as a substitute for white sugar. However, in our view, this alternative is unhealthy, contrary to what is often promoted. Its exposure to heating and boiling raises the HMF levels in the honey, turning it from a beneficial substance into a potentially carcinogenic one.
Is There Black Honey Produced in Jordan?
Based on our experience and credible sources, despite the variations in honey color depending on its type, black honey is not produced in Jordan. Particularly, Sidr honey is often misrepresented as black, which is inaccurate. The true color of Sidr honey ranges from medium to light amber, depending on the bee’s location and the blooming of other flowers during the Sidr season. The black honey marketed as Sidr could be hazardous to your health, as it does not exist as a natural product in the Jordanian environment.
What About Naming Honey by Color, Whether Black or White?
Scientifically, honey is named according to the types of flowers from which bees collect nectar, not by color. However, some terms are used for marketing purposes, but they are not accurate, such as black honey and white honey, which do not provide a clear indication of the nectar source that produces this honey
