Why Is Honey Sweet and Can Honey Not Be Sweet?

Honey is mostly sugars such as fructose and glucose and a few others (there are other components to honey but that's for another article or post.) derived from plant nectars, sometimes honeydew, and rarely other sources. The nectar is collected and processed by the honey bee using enzymes in the bee's stomach and the moisture content extracted in the hive. Consequently honey will always be sweet. Just in case you were wondering the flavor of honey is derived from the nectar source and most plant nectars are already sweet although mostly water.

Nectar is mostly water and has a low sugar content relative to honey. The bees carry it back to the hive and store it in cells. Bees will fan at the entrance of a hive to keep air moving through the hive. This regulates temperature and facilitates evaporation or reduction of the water content. Think about cooking down a sauce to thicken it and concentrate the flavor. There are other enzymatic actions that transform the collected nectar into honey. Remember I mentioned this earlier when I said it occurs in the bee's stomach, but the reduction of the water content is the main activity in the hive.

So why then do we sometimes get honey that may be bitter, sour, or smell foul? Well, again it's the plant source. In Jamaica where I live, we have a tree called Bitter Wood. Honey from this tree has a sweet and bitter flavor and I've also read of people experiencing sour and foul-smelling honey. This experience is caused by natural plant oils, tannins, etc which exist in the plant’s nectar. The honey is still sweet in flavor and sugar content but may have a sour or bitter aftertaste.

Additionally, honey that has been heated or manually processed can also lose some of its natural sweetness. Of course, adulterated or contaminated honey can also have an unappealing odor or taste.

So yes honey can taste bitter or sour but it will always be sweet.

If you are in or visiting Jamaica, please visit Earle's Apiaries for your honey supplies you can also check out my Facebook page for more info about Earle's Apiaries 

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional before making any dietary changes.