Honey Content (and a warning)

 

Ever wondered what exactly is in honey? The answer is roughly as follows:-
Fruit sugar – 41%
Grape sugar – 34%
Water – 17%
Aromatic bodies, acids, pollens, etc. – 3%
Cane sugar – 2%
Dextrine, gums – 2%
Minerals – 0.2%
Vitamins – nil


Honey is significantly sweeter than table sugar and has attractive chemical properties for baking. Honey has a distinctive flavor which leads some people to prefer it over sugar and other sweeteners. Most micro-organisms do not grow in honey because of its low water activity of 0.6. However, it is important to note that honey frequently contains dormant endospores of the bacteria Clostridium botulinum, which can be dangerous to infants as the endospores can transform into toxin-producing bacteria in the infant's immature intestinal tract, leading to illness and, allegedly, even death.

The fantastic honey jar shown above is handmade by Mely Yancy in the USA.