Honey with the bees still in it?

[Violet]

Hello Avalonians

I need your advice on something.

I'm kind of into the alternative medicines with herbs and oils and that kind of stuff. And every winter I have a big honey jar to get me through the cold season.

Now, a friend of mine, who knows of this, brought me a jar from a friend of his who's a beekeeper. It's an exclusive present but...:confused: I did not know very well how to react.

It's a jar with the queen bee and all the other bees dead in it. It's supposed to have healing powers because the bees (and especially the queen bee) are still in it. I don't know, the beekeeper says a lot of people have used it for healing and that's it great.

I'm actually just worried about dying if I eat this stuff.

Has anybody of you ever heard of this way of creating healing honey?

[Marianne]

Hi Violet,
I have a beekeeping friend who has mentioned this to me ... he does not sell his honey this way, but rather strains it and does not process it further. I believe it's by definition called 'raw honey' at that point.
Since I haven't tried it, I can't comment on how well it works or doesn't. But it sounds gross to me. I would need to know what there is about the queen bee and dead bees that's more healing than the honey.

And there is only one queen bee per hive... that would greatly limit how many jars of this honey could be produced. It must be very expensive.

Next time I have a chance, I'll find out more, as this was only mentioned in passing.

All love,
Junebug

PS: Honey is naturally anti-bacterial, so I don't think you would get sick from eating the honey. Not the dead bees though. :)

[Lord Sidious]

They have found Roman amphorae with honey in them on the seabed in shipwrecks.
Still good, still anti bacterial.

[Violet]

Well, I certainly wasn't intending on eating the bees,...:eek:

Yes, I was told that the jar has only one queen bee and the rest are just workers. So, probably this is one hive's production. And yes, apparently it was expensive. But I usually get Manuka overseas and for a whole winter that's very expensive too (the medicinal version at least).

I was thinking of filtering every portion I intend to consume. But I'll leave all the dead bees in the original jar just so as to extend their effect on the honey (for the time it's stored and not being consumed).

[Violet]

They have found Roman amphorae with honey in them on the seabed in shipwrecks.
Still good, still anti bacterial.

And that's the power of honey. Do not underestimate.

[Violet]

Also, the smell is...kind of bitter, sour...All but sweet. Even Manuka smelled a bit more inviting.

This has set me thinking. Do you think honey gets processed with aromas or others for giving it a sweeter smell?

[bitworm]

If the (worker) bees that are in it were the ones tending the larvae, it's probably cause they secrete royal jelly. The bee larvae all start out the same, but depending on how much royal jelly the workers give to them during this phase, they could become workers, drones or another queen. Since it affects their DNA like such, I guess that's how people came to know about its healing powers.

Having the bees in the honey helps to preserve whatever royal jelly they may contain. And also honey is a partially digested product, so even for those with digestive issues, it should go down easy. But be careful, royal jelly is similar to nuts- some people are allergic to it and those who aren't sure whether or not they are allergic to it will find out real quick if they are.

[markpierre]

How do they get the queen bee and everyone else to jump into the honey?

[mosquito]

What puzzles me is how the bees get to be in the honey, is this some kind of mass suicide by the hive, or is it an act on the part of the beekeeper ?
And Why ?

[bitworm]

The workers die after a couple months, but if they are born close enough to winter, they can make it to spring because they stay huddled up in the hive all winter. Queens can go several years, but if you're experienced in apiculture (we just started some hives at our school), you can get them to 'make' more queens by strategically relocating the hive boxes. I'm guessing the keepers know about what percent of dead bees they are gonna have in their hive at any given time. And not all new colonies are going to make it. Maybe that's where the dead queens are coming from.

But if the queen did jump into the honey, no doubt there would be a lot of workers follow her into there.

[Violet]

If the (worker) bees that are in it were the ones tending the larvae, it's probably cause they secrete royal jelly. The bee larvae all start out the same, but depending on how much royal jelly the workers give to them during this phase, they could become workers, drones or another queen. Since it affects their DNA like such, I guess that's how people came to know about its healing powers.

Having the bees in the honey helps to preserve whatever royal jelly they may contain. And also honey is a partially digested product, so even for those with digestive issues, it should go down easy. But be careful, royal jelly is similar to nuts- some people are allergic to it and those who aren't sure whether or not they are allergic to it will find out real quick if they are.

This is very helpful, bitworm, I did not know beekeeping was so interesting. Amazing.

There's also a white bit in it. I think thats a larve.

Here's a pic by the way:
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/3011/photo0048m.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/15/photo0048m.jpg/)

[Samsara]

Ishhh... I would not touch that !
:fie:

[cloud9]

I don't have any knowledge about this but many years ago, my sister was having a delicious ice cream and suddenly she started to complain almost crying that something stung her in her mouth, after a few seconds she was screaming. There was a wasp or bee sting in the ice cream that entered her palate, it was really painful for her, for us it was a little tricky to grab it and pull it out.

If that's a good quality honey, I'd pass it through a good colander or filter, honestly I don't see the need to eat the bees at least there's a very good reason for it.

[Violet]

Oh dear, now who said we were going to eat the bees?

[Marianne]

Oh dear, now who said we were going to eat the bees?

I think we were just teasing about eating the bees, weren't we? LOL

[MargueriteBee]

So either the queen died or she was sacrificed, either way I wouldnt eat the honey myself. Dont like the energy of it.

[Marianne]

Funny, I was just talking to my beekeeper friends this week ... the wife makes acrylic paperweights from the bees who die naturally... she said she could never kill one of the bees. I know he treasures his bees and mourns when anything happens to them. I would feel the same if I had bees too.

[MargueriteBee]

Yeah Junebug, that's how I feel when one of the girls goes down, it is sad.

[Seikou-Kishi]

That looks awful :S

[Lord Sidious]

He says his name is raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalph. :p

[THIRDEYE]

hello violet...thankyou for this post...i get my honey straight from the hive and it is strained ...however the honey i get in jars still have the bees wax in it ...ive been using it homeopathically for years and not once ever got sick...now dead bees are a different subject all to geather i wouldnt think that the bees will make you sick...in some countries dead bugs are considered a delacacey...and you say your into homeopathic oils perhap this sight may open you up too some new scents...its called sunseye.com wonderfull products just thought i would pass this on to you...light love and abundance...thirdeye....

[TigaHawk]

I think its very funny you are all getting squeemish over dead bee's in honey...


When honey itself is bee spit/goo


hehehehe

[DeDukshyn]

I just read that dead bees in honey is a symbol of authenticity - http://www.shearadiance.com/2011/04/26/the-case-of-the-dead-bee-in-the-honey/

It indicates a high quality honey from first party sources - Although this is a practice that appears not aesthetically acceptable everywhere. The point about the royal jelly is likely true as well (from a previous poster). I'd strain it, then test for allergy - if it tastes fine I'm sure it is - honey is incredibly stable.

[nearing]

That doesn't look at all appetizing. I would be more afraid of an allergic reaction with that stuff than anything else. Strain well!!

[Violet]

I think its very funny you are all getting squeemish over dead bee's in honey...


When honey itself is bee spit/goo


hehehehe

Haha, never looked at it that way,...Perhaps because we can't discern the spit from the honey anymore?

[Violet]

I just read that dead bees in honey is a symbol of authenticity - http://www.shearadiance.com/2011/04/26/the-case-of-the-dead-bee-in-the-honey/

It indicates a high quality honey from first party sources - Although this is a practice that appears not aesthetically acceptable everywhere. The point about the royal jelly is likely true as well (from a previous poster). I'd strain it, then test for allergy - if it tastes fine I'm sure it is - honey is incredibly stable.


I took this quote from the website:


Honey producers strive to ensure there is a dead be or two in the honey to convince buyers of the authenticity of their product.

I must have a very authentic honey then, going by the number of bees in it. LoL. I'll test this stuff and let you all know how it went...And if I don't,...well that's also information.

¤=[Post Update]=¤


hello violet...thankyou for this post...i get my honey straight from the hive and it is strained ...however the honey i get in jars still have the bees wax in it ...ive been using it homeopathically for years and not once ever got sick...now dead bees are a different subject all to geather i wouldnt think that the bees will make you sick...in some countries dead bugs are considered a delacacey...and you say your into homeopathic oils perhap this sight may open you up too some new scents...its called sunseye.com wonderfull products just thought i would pass this on to you...light love and abundance...thirdeye....

And to you :yo:

[Davidallany]

Also, the smell is...kind of bitter, sour...All but sweet. Even Manuka smelled a bit more inviting.

This has set me thinking. Do you think honey gets processed with aromas or others for giving it a sweeter smell?

The honey from the northern Iraqi mountains is delicious, rich and not too sweet, I find the honey in Canadian markets not as thick and a bit sweeter.

[Davidallany]

Here's a pic by the way:
How did they die then drowned in the honey?

[Unified Serenity]

Actually, honey is bee vomit ;). I don't find that pic very appetizing either, so just strain it and I bet it's delicious. I love orange blossom honey from South Florida. There is a local brand that is clover honey which is excellent. Honey definately changes flavor depending on the flowers that the bees visit. I ate a chocolate covered bumblebee once, it was crunchy and tasted great. Of course I think nearly anything covered in dark chocolate would probably taste great.

[Ruby L.]

Unprocessed honey is also a great healing agent on wounds and burns; it reduces the inflammation, soothes and heals.

Applied topically, honey absorbs moisture from wounds and burns, depriving bacterias the environment it needs to thrive in. Also, when in contact with the wound, an enzyme in the honey is activated, creating a low level of hydrogen peroxide. Cool eh?

Honey also makes a highly effective face mask! It feeds, moisturises and heals your skin:

- Spread a tablespoon of good honey on your face
- Gently tap (like typing) all around with the tip of your fingers (for about 10 mins.)
- Wipe off with a warm, damp facecloth
- Admire your refreshed and dewey skin

[Violet]

Here's a pic by the way:
How did they die then drowned in the honey?

I have no idea. It's a gift.

¤=[Post Update]=¤


Actually, honey is bee vomit ;). I don't find that pic very appetizing either, so just strain it and I bet it's delicious. I love orange blossom honey from South Florida. There is a local brand that is clover honey which is excellent. Honey definately changes flavor depending on the flowers that the bees visit. I ate a chocolate covered bumblebee once, it was crunchy and tasted great. Of course I think nearly anything covered in dark chocolate would probably taste great.

Anything? ;)

¤=[Post Update]=¤


Unprocessed honey is also a great healing agent on wounds and burns; it reduces the inflammation, soothes and heals.

Applied topically, honey absorbs moisture from wounds and burns, depriving bacterias the environment it needs to thrive in. Also, when in contact with the wound, an enzyme in the honey is activated, creating a low level of hydrogen peroxide. Cool eh?

Honey also makes a highly effective face mask! It feeds, moisturises and heals your skin:

- Spread a tablespoon of good honey on your face
- Gently tap (like typing) all around with the tip of your fingers (for about 10 mins.)
- Wipe off with a warm, damp facecloth
- Admire your refreshed and dewey skin

Good honey, ey? So what's the worse honey you can have in your opinion?

[Ruby L.]

Good honey, ey? So what's the worse honey you can have in your opinion?

Processed and sold in a squeezy bear-shaped, plastic bottles.

[Violet]

Good honey, ey? So what's the worse honey you can have in your opinion?

Processed and sold in a squeezy bear-shaped, plastic bottles.

Or, anything under 2 dollars/ 500 grams.

[Marianne]

Honey also makes a highly effective face mask! It feeds, moisturises and heals your skin:

- Spread a tablespoon of good honey on your face
- Gently tap (like typing) all around with the tip of your fingers (for about 10 mins.)
- Wipe off with a warm, damp facecloth
- Admire your refreshed and dewey skin

Ruby, that sounds lovely -- I'm going to do that soon. :) I used to use a honey oatmeal mask.
Off topic: Are you an herbalist? You know lots of good stuff. (Back on topic)
Thanks for sharing.

[blufire]

I am a bee keeper and medicinal herbalist.

I actually gasped when I saw the picture.

I would NOT eat this honey but I would use this particular honey in poultices and other topical healing situations. I would very carefully heat it in a water bath to liquefy and run it through my vitamix (bees, larvae, comb and all) and then store in dark colored glass jars in a dark area. I would wait for about 3 or 4 months before using to watch “what it does”. One red flag the honey is tainted is if mold or other growth appears on top within this time frame.

This honey is not from the part of the hive where the bees produce and store the honey that is gathered by beekeepers for “food”. This honey was gathered from the part of the hive where the queen bee lives and the honeycomb is used to “grow” drone and worker bees (hence the white larvae in the picture). I would question the beekeeper on why he destroyed a hive in this way. I doubt seriously the queen is in that mess. I have a feeling that this hive was struck either by disease (colony collapse disorder) or the hive lost their queen and began dying from lack of fertilized larvae and chaos.

It is true when harvesting honey several bees always die in the process. They are simply filtered out or in my case I pick them out because I like the bits of honeycomb. The queen never has been in my harvested honey . . . . she is carefully protected not only by me but her little brave soldiers.

Honey is either dark or light colored and different flavors because of where the pollen was gathered. Even honey produced in the different seasons is unique.

[Violet]

I am a bee keeper and medicinal herbalist.

I actually gasped when I saw the picture.

I would NOT eat this honey but I would use this particular honey in poultices and other topical healing situations. I would very carefully heat it in a water bath to liquefy and run it through my vitamix (bees, larvae, comb and all) and then store in dark colored glass jars in a dark area. I would wait for about 3 or 4 months before using to watch “what it does”. One red flag the honey is tainted is if mold or other growth appears on top within this time frame.

This honey is not from the part of the hive where the bees produce and store the honey that is gathered by beekeepers for “food”. This honey was gathered from the part of the hive where the queen bee lives and the honeycomb is used to “grow” drone and worker bees (hence the white larvae in the picture). I would question the beekeeper on why he destroyed a hive in this way. I doubt seriously the queen is in that mess. I have a feeling that this hive was struck either by disease (colony collapse disorder) or the hive lost their queen and began dying from lack of fertilized larvae and chaos.

It is true when harvesting honey several bees always die in the process. They are simply filtered out or in my case I pick them out because I like the bits of honeycomb. The queen never has been in my harvested honey . . . . she is carefully protected not only by me but her little brave soldiers.

Honey is either dark or light colored and different flavors because of where the pollen was gathered. Even honey produced in the different seasons is unique.

Blufire, this is very helpful. Sorry, I scared you with my picture :eek: Now, because you conclude with saying that honey is either dark or light colored, I'm also giving a side view here:

http://img571.imageshack.us/img571/3193/photo0050e.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/571/photo0050e.jpg/)

Perhaps the top view gave put us on a wrong track? Not sure. The "mess" is the top layer and below that is a clear fluid honey. Either way, I'm careful and have not yet tried it out. I was planning to, but perhaps I'll just stick to topical applications for the moment.

I wonder how this beekeeper could get to the living place of these bees and intentionally destroy them without getting hurt. Don't the bees get very agressive when someone tries to do that. So, are you saying that these bees were not working at that time and they were killed and then sprinkled on top of the honey they produced in some earlier stage?

Now that we're on the subject and a lot of honey novelties are coming up - btw I've never learned so much about honey as in this one topic - I have another honey, also from a beekeeper and which is of a much harder structure. To me looks like just sugar crystals mixed with honey. Which is why initially I thought it wasn't authentic. I've never eaten such hard honey but it's actually really yummie. Also said to be of "special" effect.

http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/5682/photo0051j.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/844/photo0051j.jpg/)

[mahalall]

It could be clever marketing of what appears to be the dregs of spun/filtered honey?
dUr3hsH9UVE

[conk]

They have found Roman amphorae with honey in them on the seabed in shipwrecks.
Still good, still anti bacterial.

And that's the power of honey. Do not underestimate.

Yes, honey is a healing food. Do not doubt it for a second. Natural, locally sourced, unprocessed, unheated, unfiltered, totally raw. Lasts forever. A cocktail of honey, unprocessed apple cider vinegar, and lemon juice will benefit us greatly! Likely have to dilute it with a little water or the vinegar will make you pucker.

[Violet]

Well, the advice given here is actually a bit contradicting. So, I decided to give it a try.

These are the results. I filtered out the mess. It's a very pungeant honey, as I said. We've had a few cough problems in the house lately. None of those who used this honey internally have died so far.

On the contrary, I've never seen flu and cough disappear so fast.

External application is also very soothing. No irritations or other abnormalities.

There is no mould formation detectable from the day I received it.

[Star1111]

If the (worker) bees that are in it were the ones tending the larvae, it's probably cause they secrete royal jelly. The bee larvae all start out the same, but depending on how much royal jelly the workers give to them during this phase, they could become workers, drones or another queen. Since it affects their DNA like such, I guess that's how people came to know about its healing powers.

Having the bees in the honey helps to preserve whatever royal jelly they may contain. And also honey is a partially digested product, so even for those with digestive issues, it should go down easy. But be careful, royal jelly is similar to nuts- some people are allergic to it and those who aren't sure whether or not they are allergic to it will find out real quick if they are.

This is very helpful, bitworm, I did not know beekeeping was so interesting. Amazing.

There's also a white bit in it. I think thats a larve.

Here's a pic by the way:
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/3011/photo0048m.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/15/photo0048m.jpg/)

Nooooooooooooooooo waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay would I even attempt to eat that I'm afraid !!

[Star1111]

Actually, honey is bee vomit ;). I don't find that pic very appetizing either, so just strain it and I bet it's delicious. I love orange blossom honey from South Florida. There is a local brand that is clover honey which is excellent. Honey definately changes flavor depending on the flowers that the bees visit. I ate a chocolate covered bumblebee once, it was crunchy and tasted great. Of course I think nearly anything covered in dark chocolate would probably taste great.

Unified Serenity

I do LOVE you, you are so lovely...................I couldn't stop laughing when you said that you had eaten a chocolate covered bumblebee - that made me really laugh so THANK YOU!!

But seriously we need all the buzzy bees we can get so unless they die 'naturally' lets try not to eat them. :)