It may seem strange to eat foods that are raw or unpasteurized. Things like milk and meat, in particular, are almost never consumed this way, but honey is a pantry staple that can in fact be eaten and enjoyed in its raw or unpasteurized state.
Though there is nothing wrong with eating processed honey, like the kind you’d find in a regular grocery store, unpasteurized honey is actually better for you, and that’s exactly why we carry it here at Knapp’s Country Market.
Pasteurized and unpasteurized honey pretty much taste the same, but they sure don’t look the same. Unpasteurized honey is that which has not been excessively heated, or pasteurized. This explains why it isn’t clear like commercial honey. It is almost milky looking and this murky appearance means that it still contains bee pollen granules, bee propolis, vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants and enzymes that are all really good for you. Heating or pasteurizing honey kills these nutrients.
Unpasteurized honey is also considered to be “alive” because it still contains all of these essential nutrients and enzymes that make it easier for humans to digest.
Unpasteurized honey is comprised of fructose and glucose, two simple sugars that don’t have to be processed by the body. They enter the blood stream, are more slowly absorbed and don’t produce as much of a blood sugar rush as sugar does. And without sugar, unpasteurized honey also contains fewer calories.
If unpasteurized honey has all of these benefits then why do commercial producers pasteurize it at all? The answer is simple and twofold: pasteurizing honey increases its shelf life and improves its appearance. That’s it.
We recommend unpasteurized honey to our customers and even use it in baking. One tablespoon of honey is equal to one-and-a-half tablespoons of sugar, making it a pretty easy substitution. Plus, it lasts for a really long time in the pantry. If it crystallizes you can easily return it to its liquid state by letting it sit in a pot of hot water until it is liquid again.
For a great selection of unpasteurized honey, please visit Knapp’s Country Market at 8076 Wellington Rd. 124 in Guelph.
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