How to distinguish between genuine and fake bee candy

Distinguishing the authenticity of bee candy can be achieved by observing its color, smelling its aroma, tasting its taste, testing its viscosity, and checking its crystalline state. There are many ways to fake bee sugar, such as adding sucrose, maltose or blending with pigment essence, which needs to be identified in a comprehensive way.

1. Observing Color

The natural color of bee honey varies from light amber to dark brown depending on the source plant, with good transparency but not too clear. Fake bee candy often has overly bright or uniform colors and may contain artificial colors. After being left to settle, there may be a small amount of flocculent sediment in the form of pollen or beeswax components.

2. Smell

True honey has a natural floral fragrance corresponding to honey source plants, such as sweet locust honey and rich jujube honey. The false bee candy has a single and pungent smell, or has obvious syrup flavor and essence flavor. A small amount of honey can be placed in a warm water cup, and the true honey aroma will slowly release with the heat.

3. Taste

True bee candy has a sweet and lingering taste, with a slight spicy sensation in the throat and a long-lasting aftertaste. Fake bee candy has a sudden and brief sweet taste, which may appear sour or bitter. When real honey dissolves in water, it forms filamentous sinking, while fake honey often dissolves quickly or produces suspended solids.

4. Test viscosity

Dip chopsticks in honey and lift it up. True honey will pull out slender and flexible threads, which will bounce back into beads after breaking off. Fake honey mixed with water drips quickly and is difficult to draw. In low temperature environments during winter, the viscosity of real honey will naturally increase, while fake honey may remain liquid.

5. Check the crystallization Status

Most royal jelly will gradually crystallize at low temperatures, with fine and soft crystalline particles that are easy to melt when twisted. Sugar mixed fake honey crystals are hard and rough, or exhibit layering phenomenon. A few honey varieties, such as locust blossom honey, are not easy to crystallize and need to be judged by other methods.

When purchasing bee candy, you should choose a legitimate channel and check the product testing report. True bee sugar is rich in enzymes, minerals and vitamins, but diabetes patients still need to control their intake. Daily storage should be sealed and protected from light, avoiding high temperature and humid environments. If fermentation or mold growth is found in bee candy, it should be immediately stopped from consumption. It is recommended to prioritize purchasing bee candy products with geographical indication certification, and pay attention to the ingredient list and nutrition information on the product label.