HONEY, Just For Yougi Bear

Honey is "manufactured" in one of the world's most efficient
factories, the beehive. Bees may travel as far as 55,000 miles
and visit more than two million flowers to gather enough nectar
to make just a pound of honey.

The color and flavor of honey differ depending on the bees' nectar
source (the blossoms). In fact, there are more than 300 unique kinds
of honey in the United States, originating from such diverse floral
sources as clover, eucalyptus and orange blossom. In general, lighter
colored honeys are mild in flavor; while darker honeys are usually
more robust in flavor.

Honey is primarily composed of fructose, glucose and water. It also
contains other sugars as well trace enzymes, minerals, vitamins and
amino acids.

The Honey Bees' Second Shift

In addition to gathering nectar to produce honey, honey bees perform
a vital second function--pollination. About one-third of the human diet
is derived from insect-pollinated plants, and honey bees are
responsible for 80 percent of this pollination.

Pollination is the fertilization of a flowering plant. It occurs when pollen
is transferred from the anthers of a flower to the ovules of that or
another flower. Honey bees are responsible for pollinating a variety of
fruits, vegetables, legumes and more.
 

The Delicious Forms of Honey

Most of us know honey as a sweet, golden liquid. But, in fact, honey
can be found in a variety of forms. 
 

Liquid Honey
Free of visible crystals, liquid honey is extracted from the
honey comb by centrifugal force, gravity or straining.
Because liquid honey mixes easily into a variety of foods,
it's especially convenient for cooking and baking. Most of
the honey produced in the United States is sold in the
liquid form.

Creme (or Spun) Honey
While all honey will crystallize in time, creme honey (also
known as spun honey, sugared honey or whipped honey)
is brought to market in a crystallized state. The
crystallization is controlled so that, at room temperature,
the honey can be spread like butter. In many countries
around the world, creme honey is preferred to the liquid
form.
 

Comb Honey
Comb honey is honey that comes as it was produced--in
the honey bees' wax comb. The comb, as well as the
honey, is edible!
 

Cut Comb
Cut comb honey is honey that has been packaged with
chunks of the honey comb.
 
 
 
 

Note to PARENTS

Your Baby's Tummy isn't Ready for HONEY!
 

 DO NOT add honey to your baby's food, water or formula. 

 DO NOT dip your baby's pacifier in honey. 

 DO NOT give your baby honey as medicine. 

Honey may contain bacterial spores that can cause infant botulism - a
rare but serious disease that affects the nervous system of young
babies (under one year of age). Botulism spores are common and may be found in dust, soil and uncooked foods. Adults and children
over one year of age are routinely exposed to, but not normally
affected by, botulism spores.

 The following are symptoms of infant botulism. Call your doctor
 immediately if your baby:

                   *    is too weak to suck or cry as usual ;
                   *   does not want to feed or cannot swallow ;
                   *    has weak arms, legs or neck  &
                   *   suffers from constipation for more than three days .