BK: I am quite sure there are checks against gross impurities in honey by importing countries' health depts. For example dead bees, larvae, ash, debris etcv. are very easily detected and could not get thru. The real bad stuff are the antibiotics and sugary syrup adulterants, like high-fructose corn syrup which are hard to detect. High fructose corn syrup is widely used by Chinese and Indian exporters as well as re-sellers in the USA or Europe.
Health and nutrient benefits of honey, at best, are not quite measurable. But what sets honey apart from other sweeteners is its flavor. That is one of the most significant attributes of pure LOCAL honey, its unique flavors. There is nothing to beat that. Bees forage in a small area surrounding their hives. It is no farther than 1.5 miles to 2 miles at most. And the flavor of the honey is dependent on the type of nectar producing plant in a particular area. Therefore they also vary widely from neighborhood to neighborhood. This unique characteristic of LOCAL honey is lost in commercially sold honey, because the packers mix up honey from many different areas and promptly lose their unique flavors. And to make matters worse, when they add adulterants like high-fructose corn syrup, it is entirely destroyed. c On Aug 30, 2011, at 3:24 PM, bbar...@aol.com wrote: > Dear Chandan > > I am no longer interested in bee-keeping but the following piece followed the > earlier one and I have to forward it to you. I had to edit it a little in > order to > shorten it without damaging the core. > A question. As you know, honey is collected from the forests of Nepal, West > Bengal, Assam and rest of India by contractors of the Forest dept. > This is not the same honey as produced by bee-keepers.These wild bees build > their hives on top of very tall trees of the forests. Their honey is full of > dead bees, larvae, ashes and all sorts of impurities. Is this honey also > exported? Is there any quality check somewhere? > -bhuban > > Stripe-suited workers create a new buzz at stock exchange > By Tom Lowe > > DIEGO RAVIER > Xavier Rolet, CEO of the London Stock exchange. Bee keeping in la Verrier > > > Ceramic Bee Box - Skep > Attractive fully functioning nester > for bees £19.50 next day delivery. > www.ArkWildlife.co.uk/CeramicBeeBox > > Beekeeping Supplies > Everything You Need > For You & Your Bees > www.PaynesBeeFarm.co.uk > > Beekeeper's Clothing > Great Quality Beekeeper's Clothing. > Buy Now - Free P&P With Every Order > BeechwoodBees.co.uk > > The London Stock Exchange is to welcome thousands of new worker drones next > month, by introducing bees to its rooftop in the City. > > Europe's largest stock exchange, the fourth biggest in the world, has taken > delivery of two beehives which will receive their 100,000 residents in a > fortnight . > > It is a step that will strike many as eccentric, both in the City and > outside, but the Exchange's chief executive Xavier Rolet, an avid beekeeper, > is excited about the move, which he says is a small effort to address the > threat to Europe's dwindling bee populations. The honey will be given as > corporate gifts. > > Related articles > Leading article: Honey money > Search the news archive for more stories > Honey bee numbers across Europe and North America have been falling in recent > years, raising concerns for their future. It is hoped that the LSE's warmer > central London location, overlooking St Paul's, will help its new colonies > survive the winter. > > According to the London Beekeepers Association: "Urban bees have a wide range > of forage, as the gardens and green spaces in cities contain a rich variety > of trees and flowers. This, and the slightly milder weather, means that the > beekeeping season is longer and usually more productive than in rural areas." > > With concern mounting over bee populations, the number of hobbyist beekeepers > is on the rise, and the LSE is only the latest business organisation to > install apiaries on its premises. Mr Rolet, 51, keeps 50,000 bees at his > private estate in Provence. The former Bank of England governor Robin > Leigh-Pemberton and the Business Secretary Vince Cable are beekeeping > enthusiasts, and the Japanese investment bank Nomura has installed two hives > at its London site. > > Like the new LSE project, Nomura's apiary was set up in partnership with a > not-for-profit social enterprise, The Golden Company, and offers > underprivileged young people the opportunity to help sustain the hives and > learn business skills. > > The Exchange hopes that employees will get involved. A spokesman said: "Local > people and communities, including underprivileged children, will be able to > help look after the hives, and employees will also have the chance to help." > > Natural remedy > > * Honey has been used for centuries to treat everything from sore throats to > cuts, burns and digestive problems and can help against seasonal conditions > such as hay fever. > > * Locally produced honey, as the kind one might find at an open-air market, > has the added benefit of carrying traces of pollen from the area. It is > thought these spores and pollens can help build an immunity or tolerance to > the toxins which cause hay fever. > > * The Urban Honey Collective (www.urbanhoneycollective.co.uk) keeps a > database of beekeepers by area to help honey-lovers to find honeys close to > home. > > * It is also worth remembering that when exposed to temperatures of around > 50C (122F) or more, the enzymes in honey are destroyed – and with them, any > beneficial effects. So if putting honey in a hot beverage is your thing, > remember to let the drink cool a little first. > > > _______________________________________________ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
