How to tell raw honey from processed honey

Walk down any supermarket aisle and every honey claims to be pure. But "pure" isn't the same as raw — most commercial honey is heated and finely filtered so it stays clear and runny on the shelf for years. Here is how to tell the difference.

1. Raw honey crystallises

Because raw honey still contains pollen and hasn't been heated, glucose crystals form over weeks or months. A jar that stays perfectly clear for years has usually been heated or ultra-filtered.

2. It is often slightly cloudy

Tiny particles of pollen and wax give raw honey a soft haze. That's flavour and character, not dirt.

3. The label says one thing

The only ingredient should be honey. Words like "honey syrup", "blend" or "with added" are red flags.

What about the water and flame tests?

Home "tests" — dropping honey in water, trying to light it, the thumb test — are unreliable. Moisture, temperature and floral source change how real honey behaves. The only dependable check is a laboratory test, which is why we test every batch and print batch codes on our lids.

Good honey tastes of somewhere. If every jar tastes identical, it has probably been blended and processed.