Honey: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
|||
| Line 175: | Line 175: | ||
==== Monofloral ==== | ==== Monofloral ==== | ||
[[Monofloral honey]] is made primarily from the nectar of one type of flower. Monofloral honeys have distinctive flavors and colors because of differences between their principal [[nectar source]]s.> To produce monofloral honey, beekeepers keep beehives in an area where the bees have access, as far as possible, to only one type of flower. In practice, a small proportion of any monofloral honey will be from other flower types. Typical examples of North American monofloral honeys are [[clover]], [[orange blossom]], [[Salvia|sage]], [[Tupelo (tree)|tupelo]], [[buckwheat]], [[fireweed]], [[mesquite]], [[sourwood]], [[cherry]], and [[blueberry]]. Some typical European examples include [[thyme]], [[thistle]], [[Ericaceae|heather]], [[acacia]], [[dandelion]], [[sunflower]], [[lavender]], [[honeysuckle]], and varieties from [[Tilia|lime]] and [[chestnut]] trees. | [[Monofloral honey]] is made primarily from the nectar of one type of flower. Monofloral honeys have distinctive flavors and colors because of differences between their principal [[nectar source]]s.> To produce monofloral honey, beekeepers keep beehives in an area where the bees have access, as far as possible, to only one type of flower. In practice, a small proportion of any monofloral honey will be from other flower types. Typical examples of North American monofloral honeys are [[clover]], [[orange blossom]], [[Salvia|sage]], [[Tupelo (tree)|tupelo]], [[buckwheat]], [[fireweed]], [[mesquite]], [[sourwood]], [[cherry]], and [[blueberry]]. Some typical European examples include [[thyme]], [[thistle]], [[Ericaceae|heather]], [[acacia]], [[dandelion]], [[sunflower]], [[lavender]], [[honeysuckle]], and varieties from [[Tilia|lime]] and [[chestnut]] trees. In [[North Africa]] (e.g. Egypt), examples include clover, [[cotton]], and [[citrus]] (mainly orange blossoms). The unique flora of Australia yields a number of distinctive honeys, with some of the most popular being [[yellow box]], [[blue gum]], [[ironbark]], bush [[List of Eucalyptus species|mallee]], Tasmanian [[Eucryphia lucida|leatherwood]], and [[macadamia]]. | ||
==== Polyfloral ==== | ==== Polyfloral ==== | ||
| Line 311: | Line 311: | ||
[[Mad honey disease|Mad honey intoxication]] is a result of eating honey containing [[grayanotoxin]]s. Honey produced from flowers of [[rhododendron]]s, [[Kalmia latifolia|mountain laurels]], [[Kalmia angustifolia|sheep laurel]], and [[azalea]]s may cause honey intoxication. Symptoms include dizziness, weakness, excessive perspiration, nausea, and vomiting. Less commonly, low blood pressure, shock, heart rhythm irregularities, and convulsions may occur, with rare cases resulting in death. According to the FDA, honey intoxication is more likely when using "natural" unprocessed honey from farmers who may have a small number of hives because commercial processing, which pools of honey from numerous sources, dilutes the toxins. | [[Mad honey disease|Mad honey intoxication]] is a result of eating honey containing [[grayanotoxin]]s. Honey produced from flowers of [[rhododendron]]s, [[Kalmia latifolia|mountain laurels]], [[Kalmia angustifolia|sheep laurel]], and [[azalea]]s may cause honey intoxication. Symptoms include dizziness, weakness, excessive perspiration, nausea, and vomiting. Less commonly, low blood pressure, shock, heart rhythm irregularities, and convulsions may occur, with rare cases resulting in death. According to the FDA, honey intoxication is more likely when using "natural" unprocessed honey from farmers who may have a small number of hives because commercial processing, which pools of honey from numerous sources, dilutes the toxins. | ||
Toxic honey may also result when bees are proximate to [[Tutu (plant)|tutu]] bushes (''Coriaria arborea'') and the vine hopper insect (''[[Scolypopa australis]]''). Both are found throughout New Zealand. Bees gather honeydew produced by the vine hopper insects feeding on the tutu plant. This introduces the poison [[Tutin (toxin)|tutin]] into honey. Only a few areas in New Zealand (the [[Coromandel Peninsula]], Eastern [[Bay of Plenty Region]] and the [[Marlborough Sounds]]) frequently produce toxic honey. Symptoms of tutin poisoning include vomiting, delirium, giddiness, increased excitability, stupor, coma, and violent convulsions. To reduce the risk of tutin poisoning, humans should not eat honey taken from feral hives in the risk areas of New Zealand. Since December 2001, New Zealand beekeepers have been required to reduce the risk of producing toxic honey by closely monitoring tutu, vine hopper, and foraging conditions within {{convert|3|km|mi|abbr=on|frac=2}} of their apiary. | Toxic honey may also result when bees are proximate to [[Tutu (plant)|tutu]] bushes (''Coriaria arborea'') and the vine hopper insect (''[[Scolypopa australis]]''). Both are found throughout New Zealand. Bees gather honeydew produced by the vine hopper insects feeding on the tutu plant. This introduces the poison [[Tutin (toxin)|tutin]] into honey. Only a few areas in New Zealand (the [[Coromandel Peninsula]], Eastern [[Bay of Plenty Region]] and the [[Marlborough Sounds]]) frequently produce toxic honey. Symptoms of tutin poisoning include vomiting, delirium, giddiness, increased excitability, stupor, coma, and violent convulsions. To reduce the risk of tutin poisoning, humans should not eat honey taken from feral hives in the risk areas of New Zealand. Since December 2001, New Zealand beekeepers have been required to reduce the risk of producing toxic honey by closely monitoring tutu, vine hopper, and foraging conditions within {{convert|3|km|mi|abbr=on|frac=2}} of their apiary. Intoxication is rarely dangerous. | ||
=== Folk medicine === | === Folk medicine === | ||
| Line 321: | Line 321: | ||
Honey collection is an ancient activity, long preceding the honey bee's domestication; this traditional practice is known as [[honey hunting]]. A [[Mesolithic]] rock painting in a cave in [[Valencian Community|Valencia]], Spain, dating back at least 8,000 years, depicts two honey foragers collecting honey and honeycomb from a wild bees' nest. The figures are depicted carrying baskets or gourds, and using a ladder or series of ropes to reach the nest. Humans followed the [[greater honeyguide]] bird to wild beehives; this behavior may have evolved with early hominids. The oldest known honey remains were found in [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] during the construction of the [[Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline]]: archaeologists found honey remains on the inner surface of clay vessels unearthed in an ancient tomb, dating back between 4,700 and 5,500 years. In ancient Georgia, several types of honey were buried with a person for journeys into the afterlife, including linden, berry, and meadow-flower varieties. | Honey collection is an ancient activity, long preceding the honey bee's domestication; this traditional practice is known as [[honey hunting]]. A [[Mesolithic]] rock painting in a cave in [[Valencian Community|Valencia]], Spain, dating back at least 8,000 years, depicts two honey foragers collecting honey and honeycomb from a wild bees' nest. The figures are depicted carrying baskets or gourds, and using a ladder or series of ropes to reach the nest. Humans followed the [[greater honeyguide]] bird to wild beehives; this behavior may have evolved with early hominids. The oldest known honey remains were found in [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] during the construction of the [[Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline]]: archaeologists found honey remains on the inner surface of clay vessels unearthed in an ancient tomb, dating back between 4,700 and 5,500 years. In ancient Georgia, several types of honey were buried with a person for journeys into the afterlife, including linden, berry, and meadow-flower varieties. | ||
The first written records of beekeeping are from [[ancient Egypt]] | The first written records of beekeeping are from [[ancient Egypt]], where honey was used to sweeten cakes, biscuits, and other foods and as a base for [[unguents]] in Egyptian [[hieroglyphs]]. The dead were often buried in or with honey in Egypt, [[Ancient Mesopotamia|Mesopotamia]] and other regions. Bees were kept at temples to produce honey for temple offerings, mummification and other uses. | ||
In southern [[Illyria]] (present day [[Albania]]), the Iron Age [[Illyrians|Illyrian]] tribe of the [[Abroi]] were known for preparing [[mead]], a wine from honey, as documented by [[Hecataeus of Miletus]] in the 6th century BCE. | In southern [[Illyria]] (present day [[Albania]]), the Iron Age [[Illyrians|Illyrian]] tribe of the [[Abroi]] were known for preparing [[mead]], a wine from honey, as documented by [[Hecataeus of Miletus]] in the 6th century BCE. | ||