I. Is honey foaming when soaked with herbs harmful?

Properly soaking honey with herbs can enhance its value and provide numerous health and beauty benefits, effectively treating certain diseases.

Honey foaming naturally

Many people wonder if it's safe to soak honey with herbs and encounter foaming. To answer this question accurately, you need to consider various factors. If the foaming is a natural reaction, then it can be used without concern. However, if the quality of the honey is compromised, it is best not to use it to avoid potential health risks.

II. Why does raw honey foam easily?

Honey foaming is a natural phenomenon that does not affect its quality. Here are some common reasons that lead to honey foaming

1. Honey source

There are numerous types of honey, typically divided into two groups: farm honey and forest honey. Farm honey is harvested from bee farms where humans manage the hives, care for the bees, and bring them to areas with flowers to collect honey. Examples include coffee blossom honey, peppermint honey, coconut blossom honey, etc. Forest honey (wild honey, bee fly honey) is obtained from naturally occurring beehives without human intervention.

Forest honey contains a more diverse range of components as bees collect nectar from various types of flowers. Consequently, it tends to foam more than farm honey. Manual harvesting from heights or long-distance transportation can also cause honey to foam. The foaming rate may vary depending on the type of honey, whether it is farm honey or forest honey.

2. Raw honey not processed  

Raw honey, after harvesting, contains many impurities such as wax, young bees, dust, etc. It also has a high water content, usually over 18%. If it is not processed industrially, such as through dehydration, fermentation treatment, filtering, etc., it is more prone to foaming. This is why pure honey that has undergone processing rarely encounters issues like foaming, crystallization, or spoilage.

3. Improper storage

Honey stored in a high-temperature environment, exposed to direct sunlight, or with a loosely sealed lid is more likely to foam. In such cases, if left for a long time, it can alter in color, taste, and quality, which is not ideal for health.

III. How to handle foamed honey soaked with herbs?

Handle foamed honey properly

Health experts recommend using industrially processed honey to soak with herbs. Processed honey is clean, pure, and of good quality. It also has a longer shelf life and is less likely to spoil compared to raw honey.

1. Causes

When soaking honey with herbs, the foaming level depends on the type of honey used. Forest honey tends to foam more than farm honey. However, if industrially processed honey is used, the occurrence of foaming is less likely. The reasons for foaming may vary, and we have discussed them in detail above.

Apart from the natural reaction, other reasons may lead to honey foaming when soaked with herbs, such as:

• Using low-quality honey that is not pure.
• Using herbs that have not been properly cleaned and dried.
• Using containers (bottles/jars) for soaking that have not been cleaned, disinfected, and dried.
• Leaving the lid open, allowing air to enter, and increasing water content, providing a favorable environment for bacterial invasion.
• Storing honey in hot and sunny places or areas with low humidity.

2. Safe handling

You can start using honey soaked with herbs after about one month. However, the mixture is more potent and valuable after around 5 to 6 months. If you notice that your soaked honey has foamed and undergone changes in smell, taste, and color, such as turning dark brown or black, having a sour taste, or smelling foul and moldy, it is best not to use it. It may be spoiled and could cause poisoning or health problems.

If the honey still retains its original smell and taste despite foaming on the surface, you can simply remove the foam and continue using it. During usage, avoid using wet utensils (spoon, chopsticks) to scoop or take honey. Also, refrain from dropping foreign matter or cold water into the container, as these actions can damage the honey, making it difficult to store properly.

Ensure an even ratio of honey to herbs when soaking. Fill the container with honey, completely submerging the herbs, without any herbs floating on the surface, by using clamps or fixatives.

IV. Using honey correctly

Consuming honey in the morning helps detoxify toxins

Using honey at ideal times during the day brings different benefits.

• In the early morning, it helps detoxify toxins.
• 30 minutes before bedtime, it helps regulate blood pressure and is good for the cardiovascular system.
• 30 minutes after meals, enhances digestive health.
• 30 minutes before meals, it helps balance stomach acid and reduces gastric pain.

However, with honey soaked in herbal remedies, you need to pay attention to the appropriate time/quantity of use as follows:

• Honey soaked with ginseng should be used twice a day in the morning or noon, and not consumed after 5 pm. Because it can cause insomnia and fatigue.
• Honey soaked with Saffron is best taken in the morning or in the evening, 30 minutes after a meal. This product reduces stress and promotes good sleep.
• Honey soaked with turmeric can be used at any time during the day.
• Appropriate honey dosage: Only 2 - 3 teaspoons of honey should be used daily.
• Do not use honey on an empty stomach as it may cause irritation, nausea, and easy stomachache.
• Children under 12 months old should not use honey.
• Do not use honey soaked with herbal remedies if you are allergic or have been advised not to use it by a doctor.

V. IVY HONEY natural honey

During the 4-year journey of building and developing the brand, Ivy Honey always maintains the motto of working with heart and vision to gain customers' trust. And that has become a reality when from 2019 - 2022, Ivy has grown from 2000 boxes to 9000 boxes. All the honey products provided by the company have been warmly received. Every day, we are delighted to receive positive feedback from customers.

Modern beekeeping techniques in hive boxes

With modern techniques and VietGAHP orientation: no feeding of sugar, no antibiotics, no residue of plant protection, and no genetically modified. Ivy's hive farm has harvested various types of pure honey. Typical examples are mint honey, coffee blossom honey, forest honey (multi-flower honey), and rubber honey. The product quality meets ISO 22000:2018, TCVN 12605:2019, and so on.

The fragrant honey drops are carefully cared for and go through numerous processes such as sieving, reducing water content, treating yeast, etc., to produce pure products, preserving the value of raw honey, and limiting bacterial invasion.

We gather raw honey from the outlying farms (avoiding the rainy season and harvesting in the right flowering season). Then, we transport it to the processing plant in Gia Lai for in-depth processing with modern technologies. These include coarse filtering, vacuum water reduction, yeast treatment, ultrasonic crystallization breaking, etc. This helps limit the risk of spoilage, foaming, and crystallization of honey.

If you are looking to buy quality honey, please contact Ivy Honey for advice.