I. Is honey being eaten by ants a result of low-quality honey mixed with sugar?

Honey being consumed by ants and surrounded by them is quite a "nuisance" that nobody wants to encounter. It affects aesthetics and requires time to remove. Furthermore, it raises concerns for users: whether the honey is adulterated with sugar or not.

There are hundreds of different types of honey available today

Many people believe that ants consuming honey is normal because honey naturally contains sugars. However, some people worry that the honey may be contaminated with sugar, artificial fragrances, etc., and therefore, they should not consume it due to potential health risks. So, which answer is correct? Let's find out all the details in this article with IVY HONEY.

II. Why do ants like to eat honey?

If you leave a jar of honey uncovered and unprotected, within a day or a few days, ants will swarm to it. They will crawl into the honey and indulge themselves. This is not a cause for concern because some types of ants have a sweet tooth. In honey, the main components are sugar, water, vitamins, etc. Specifically, it contains glucose and fructose. These two components make up about 60% of pure honey.

However, do not mistake these sugars for the ones we use in daily cooking. They are simple sugars that do not cause weight gain and are good for the consumer's health. Moreover, honey has a natural, enticing fragrance that makes it irresistible for ants.

You might not know this, but there is a type of ant that is as enthusiastic about sucking honey as bees, and that is the honey ant. They can detect sweet things very quickly, which becomes a headache for many people. Removing ants from honey can be quite a task, and besides that, the flavor of honey may be somewhat affected.

Therefore, ants eating honey are not related to honey being mixed with low-quality sugar. On the contrary, honey being consumed by ants may be pure, natural honey. During use, you should store the honey properly and avoid letting ants fall into the jar/bottle. Removing them can be time-consuming, and if not filtered properly, the honey's quality may change.

III. In which cases do ants not eat honey?

Honey has a sweet taste and an attractive aroma, so ants like it

You cannot determine the quality of honey based on whether ants eat it or not. In reality, not every delicious food is preferred by all creatures. There are still some ants that do not like honey due to the following reasons:

• Some types of honey have a slightly dark color and do not have a sweet, pleasant aroma, which makes ants uninterested. For example, honey from mangrove trees, acacia flowers, etc.
• Some types of bees produce honey that contains a natural antibacterial solution. This substance gradually diminishes during the harvesting process, but it does not completely disappear. Some types of ants may be resistant to this solution and thus avoid these types of honey.
• Honey that contains too much water and impurities and has lost its sweet taste can make ants stay away from it. In some cases, the honey may have fermented, causing ants to avoid it.
• Honey that contains preservatives or other harmful substances will make ants refuse to eat it.
• A place where honey is kept without ants regularly consuming sweet things.
• You buy natural honeycomb, and although there are no bees to protect the hive from ants, beeswax acts as a deterrent to ant consumption. Beeswax contains substances similar to petroleum, which repel insects.

Therefore, ants not eating honey can be due to honey being adulterated, honey being of low quality or other objective reasons. When encountering such cases, you should consider where the problem lies to use honey with confidence. Additionally, you should assess other factors such as the origin, color, taste, crystallization, and foaming phenomenon.

IV. Tips for choosing high-quality honey

High-quality honey is usually thick and clear, with a light and pleasant aroma and a smooth sweet taste

However, ants consuming honey alone is not enough to determine its quality. To choose truly high-quality honey, you need to consider several other factors. Specifically, the identification process includes the following criteria:

1. Identification criteria

People rely on four crucial criteria to identify high-quality honey, including its natural thickness, color, flavor, and impurities.

• Natural and consistent thickness without lumps. The honey droplets should have a consistent structure and sink when poured into a container. It is best to avoid choosing runny honey that may overflow on the surface, as it may be immature honey with a high water content, which is challenging to store.
• Beautiful color without separation (golden, dark yellow, dark brown, amber, etc.). There should be few or no gas bubbles on the surface to ensure uniformity. Avoid honey that has undergone changes and has unusual color and taste.
• The aroma of the honey should be fragrant, lightly sweet, and natural, not overly strong or reminiscent of chemical scents. Some types of honey have a naturally dark or tangy taste.
• The honey should not contain excessive debris or impurities, such as wax, young bees, dust, leaves, etc.
• Good honey is harvested during the right season when the honey is fully mature. It is best to avoid the rainy or off-season when honey is prone to be diluted and less viscous.

In addition, when buying honey, you should choose a reputable and trustworthy source. Avoid purchasing cheap honey from unknown origins, as using low-quality honey may lead to obesity, digestive disorders, diabetes, and fatty liver.

2. Delicious types of honey

• Mint honey (light green, rich and sweet, with a gentle fragrance)
• Coffee blossom honey (light fragrance, beautiful golden color, smooth sweetness)
• Multi-flower honey (dark brown, rich, and sweet, with a subtle floral aroma)
• Rubber tree honey (light yellow, with a mild and refreshing taste)
• Longan honey (pale yellow, with a strong and delicate aroma of jasmine flowers)

V. 100% pure IVY HONEY

Are you looking for a reliable source of 100% pure honey with high quality? Come to Ivy Honey, a renowned enterprise specializing in providing various types of natural honey:

• Coffee blossom honey
• Multi-flower honey (forest honey)
• Mint honey

The bee farm of Ivy Honey is located in Gia Lai, where various types of forest flowers thrive. The raw materials are carefully selected and free from pesticides, genetic modifications, etc. Moreover, Ivy Honey's factory is equipped with modern facilities to produce pure products, ensuring the health of consumers.

The bee farm of IVY HONEY meets VietGAHP standards

All our products undergo strict testing before being released to the market. We meet all livestock standards, including VietGAHP. Company standards include ISO 22000:2018, TCVN 12605:2019, etc.

Our commitment:

• No use of sugar or additives during processing and production.
• No preservatives or harmful substances.
• Application of advanced Nano Curcumin production technology to enhance product quality.
• Products meet international export standards.

So, ants consuming honey is a natural and common occurrence. Therefore, you should not rely solely on this factor to judge the quality of honey. To buy 100% pure natural honey, you need to equip yourself with knowledge and experience for identification. If you lack experience, contact Ivy Honey, and we will provide specific advice and answer any questions you may have. With our help, you can choose the most satisfactory honey products.