The story of honey is told by Honey. It is older than history itself. An 8,000-year-old cave painting in Spain depicts honey harvesting, and we know it’s been used for food, medicine and more by cultures all over the world since.
But honey isn’t about humans. It’s the natural product made by bees—one of our planet’s most important animals. Honey bees visit millions of blossoms in their lifetimes, making pollination of plants possible and collecting nectar to bring back to the hive.
Lucky for us, bees make more honey than their colony needs, and beekeepers remove the excess and bottle it. Just like they’ve been doing since the beginning of time.
The month we spend our entire year preparing for is finally here, and to us, it’s easily the sweetest month of the year – we are, of course, referring to National Honey Month! Since 1989, September has been deemed National Honey Month by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in order to create awareness and recognize the importance of honey bees and the benefits of honey as an all-natural, single ingredient.
With more than 300 unique varietals that range in color, flavor, and aroma and a slew of functional benefits both in and out of the kitchen, there is so much about honey to celebrate. From keeping your baked goods moist (and extending their shelf life) to balancing flavor in cocktails, honey is the one ingredient that spans the entire menu! Learn more about honey’s natural benefits.
But, of course, we wouldn’t be able to have such a sweet celebration without the hard work of the humble, busy honey bee. Fun Fact: the 60,000 or so bees in a beehive may collectively travel as much as 55,000 miles and visit more than two million flowers to gather enough nectar to make just a pound of honey! And not only do honey bees provide us with sweet honey, but they are also a vital part of our agricultural industry, pollinating nearly one in three bites of food you eat. Interested in helping out the bees? Check out these tips.
Now we all know that celebrations are sweeter with friends, and we’re so excited to be partnering with some wonderful bakers, brewers, chefs, brands and even a celebrity mom, so be sure to keep your eyes on our blog and social media channels for all of the delicious updates!
For more tips and inspiration, be sure to get social with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest for buzz-worthy news and our favorite honey-inspired recipes.
Happy National Honey Month!
Celebrate National Honey Month to help raise more awareness about protecting honey bees.
The Bee Conservancy have 10 Ways to Save the Bees.
Did you know that Bees might have emotions?
Entomologist Skepton Buchmann writes about “What A Bee Knows” (Ils and Press £24) suggesting that they might get frustrated, feel fear and like to play.
STEPHEN BUCHMANN, is a pollination ecologist specializing in bees, and an adjunct professor with the departments of Entomology and of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Arizona.
For many of us, the buzzing of a bee elicits panic. But the next time you hear that low droning sound, look closer: the bee has navigated to this particular spot for a reason using a fascinating set of tools. She may be using her sensitive olfactory organs, which provide a 3D scent map of her surroundings. She may be following visual landmarks or instructions relayed by a hive-mate. She may even be tracking an electrostatic path left by other bees.
His ideas are part of a growing body of research that could change the way we think about the natural world for ever.
Source: SIOUX Honey The Bee Conservancy Wikipedia Honey
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