All Your Questions Answered!
Why Raw Honey?
Raw Honey is honey straight from the hive and is usually strained, but not ultra-filtered or pasteurized. Raw Honey contains pollen, enzymes, flavonoids, antioxidants and other micronutrients that are usually filtered out or destroyed when honey is processed. Raw honey is a powerhouse of Phytonutrients.
Is Crystallized Honey Okay?
YES! Honey that never crystallizes or commercial honey usually will have added Corn Syrup to prevent crystallization. Pure Raw Honey NATURALLY crystalizes, especially Raw Lavender Honey (Honey that is made from bees foraging from lavender flowers) due to the higher glucose to fructose ratio. Crystallized honey has not spoiled and tastes exactly the same. Honey will never go bad and crystallized honey still has the same quality and flavor, just maybe a different color and texture.
If you prefer, you can temporarily reverse this natural process. Simply heat your jar of honey in a bowl of hot water (not boiling) for a few minutes before use. Repeat until desired consistency is reached. To keep honey "raw" and to preserve health benefits of raw honey, the temperature should stay under 110° degrees Fahrenheit.
How do I Infuse my Raw Honey with Lavender?
To add lavender flavor to your honey: gently warm 1 cup Honey on stove. Do not boil! Stir in 2 Tablespoons Dried Culinary Lavender Buds*. Turn off heat and cover. Let sit for approximately 24 hours or even longer if more lavender flavor is desired. Alternatively, you can add 2 Tablespoons of Dried Culinary Lavender to your jar of honey and set in a warm windowsill for several weeks. Strain out lavender.
Do I need to refrigerate Raw Honey?
We do not recommend refrigerating honey. Raw Honey does not go bad and may be stored at room temperature. Refrigerated honey becomes very hard and will be difficult to scoop out or pour.
*although all lavender is edible, culinary lavender is lavender from the angustifolia family which is preferred for culinary use as it contains less camphor. We prefer 'Royal Velvet' or 'New Zealand Blue' varieties for infusing into honey.
CDC recommends that Honey in any form should not be given to infants under 1 year of age.