Mmm, local honey. If you’re a human being (which you are because you’re reading this article), then you probably love honey.
As far back as there’s been human civilization, people have loved the sweet, ooey-gooey goodness of honey. In fact, rock art dating back 10,000 years in Spain shows human being gathering honey, and people have been bee-keeping for at least 9,000 years.
Old friends: European honeybees, the producer of most of the global supply of honey. Photo courtesy @mikolichhoney on Instagram.
Suffice it to say, there’s a lot of history between us and honeybees, so it’s understandable that we all love honey.
5 Amazing honey facts
There are probably a bajillion amazing honey and honeybee facts, but here are 5 of our favorites:
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- For every pound of honey made, bees had to fly 90,000 miles and forage 2 million flowers.
Honeybee foraging California wildflowers. Photo courtesy @mikolichhoney on Instagram.
- Due to its unique chemical composition and anti-microbial properties, honey is the only food that does not spoil. (Technically, salt, sugar, and dried rice store virtually forever too, but you wouldn’t eat them as-is.)
- Honey contains healthy enzymes, vitamins, and minerals. It’s also one of the only foods in the world that contains pinocembrin, an antioxidant associated with improved brain functioning.
- Not only can honeybees count, they’re one of an elite group of highly intelligent species that can understand the concept of zero. (Also making the list: humans, rhesus monkeys, vervet monkeys, chimpanzees, and African grey parrots.)
- A single honeybee colony can contain up to 60,000 bees and produce up to 100 pounds of honey per year.
What did one bee say to the other bee who asked what her favorite bee fact was? “None of your beeswax.” Honeybees have a sense of humor too.
Health Benefits of Honey
Remember when grandma said you’d better take honey for your sore throat? Well, she was right since honey does indeed help cure a sore throat.
Mmm, fresh cut honeycomb. Photo courtesy @mikolichhoney on Instagram.
Honey has other proven health benefits as well, including:
- antibacterial properties that make it effective at treating wounds, rashes, and burns;
- kills pathogens such as E. coli and salmonella;
- can help heal stomach ulcers;
- improves athletic performance in endurance athletes.
The scientific “jury” is still out as to whether honey has any impact on major diseases such as cancer, heart disease, or diabetes.
It’s also important to note that each type of honey has slightly different nutritional and medicinal properties depending on:
- where in the world the bees live;
- the season in which the honey was produced; and
- the type of plants the honeybees foraged.
Our personal favorite type of honey? Local honey created by bees that have been raised responsibly and ethically by their human caretakers.
Looking for the buzz on local honey in San Diego? We’ve got you covered! One of the very best: Mikolich Family Honey.
San Diego Local Honey
We’re proud to offer local honey from two amazing sources:
- Mikolich Family Honey – For over 40 years, Mikolich has offered local, seasonal varietals of honey. Their honey is not blended, flash heated, pasteurized, or fine filtered.
- Sage Mountain Farm – Sage Mountain (whose story we’ve highlighted previously) offers raw, unfiltered honey produced right on their farm.
Sage Mountain Farm’s raw, unfiltered, local honey.
Both of these local San Diego honey producers do things right, producing the finest local honey available. Their honey is chock full of healthy vitamins, minerals, local flower pollen, and healthy compounds to help you feel your best – and to help your sweetened foods taste their best.
If you need a honey fix or want to stock up your pantry, order Mikolich honey or Sage Mountain honey today!
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