Comb honey is one of the most natural food products as it is produced without human intervention. It is honey stored, sold, and consumed together with its beeswax comb. In our country, it is considered a delicacy, but originally, all honey was comb honey.
Bees store every collected and stored honey as comb honey, but based on market demands, only this honey made from acacia honey is available for sale.
What is comb honey?
Bees themselves create the comb from beeswax. Beeswax is the “secretion” of bees. The beeswax comb consists of hexagonal cells with a golden yellow color. The bees store mature acacia honey in these cells, which are covered with a cell cap made of a mixture of beeswax and propolis to prevent water absorption. These combs are simply cut into pieces, then packaged in small bags or placed in jars filled with honey by beekeepers. Therefore, comb honey does not undergo any technological processes before it reaches consumers’ tables.
It is usually sold in jars with acacia honey, ensuring that it does not come into contact with air before consumption. Acacia honey is commonly used because it remains liquid for a long time. Its crystallization can take up to 1-2 years, so it can preserve the comb honey pieces for extended periods, even months.
Comb honey or extracted honey?
Comb honey has a more delicious and fragrant taste compared to extracted honey since it does not come into contact with oxygen in the air. This prevents oxidation, and it retains the flavor, aroma, and beneficial effects of beeswax produced by the bees. It also has a higher biological value than honey because beeswax contains various vitamins, especially vitamin A, and other active substances that the body can utilize when chewed together with honey.
Benefits of comb honey:
- Respiratory illnesses
- Nasal congestion
- Sinus and frontal sinus inflammation
- Reducing symptoms of hay fever
- Preventing and treating pollen allergies
- Digestive disorders
It has a general immune system strengthening effect, like most honey types. It contains numerous minerals, trace elements, and vitamins, especially vitamin A.
Consumption
Its honey can be consumed on its own by chewing or used as a flavoring. It is recommended to consume approximately 40-50 grams of comb honey per person to achieve the desired beneficial effects on the body.
For consumption, it is advisable to serve it in small diced pieces on a plate and consume it as it is. Every part of comb honey is edible, but some people prefer not to swallow the beeswax.
Another way to consume comb honey is by scooping it from the comb using a spoon or a plate. This way, less beeswax is taken into the mouth, making it easier to swallow.
Comb honey contains valuable substances that can exert their effects most effectively when the remaining beeswax residue is also swallowed during chewing. Some individuals may have difficulty swallowing the beeswax residue, so a great solution for them is to continue chewing it even after extracting the honey.
There are no known side effects of consuming this honey, so it can be safely used at any age.
Purchasing this special honey is not always easy because it is not widely available in stores since comb honey is a specific type of honey. Those who want to taste this extraordinary honey with its unique flavor profile and significant healing properties should search for it at beekeepers or in organic stores.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey
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