Our decision to use Sonoran Desert Honey as our only sweetener was based on supporting local business, it’s high quality, and our love of this golden nectar.

The honey we use in all of our tasty confections is Sonoran Desert, raw and unfiltered, poly-floral honey derived from a variety of desert wildflowers, such as cactus, mesquite, cat claw, palo verde & other flowering plants in the Sonoran Desert.

As you can imagine, we have been asked many questions over the years regarding honey. Following are some of the questions we have been asked.

What is raw and unfiltered?

Our honey is raw and unfiltered which means it is minimally heated and strained to remove foreign materials such as honeycomb, beeswax, and larger particles of natural debris. More pollen is found present in unfiltered honey than filtered.

Why is raw honey better?

It is closer to coming straight out of the hive with more nutritional benefits and there are many experiences that it can help with seasonal allergies. Honey is a good source of antioxidants, antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. Honey has been known to help sore throats and wounds.

Is crystallized honey bad?

Let’s start at the source. Honey bees keep their hive at an average temperature of 95 degrees F. Bee hives need to be kept at that temperature to produce honey and to keep the brood alive. In Arizona our temperature does fluctuate as it does all around the world.

So, how does the honey bee maintain the “perfect” hive temperature?

If the temperature reaches above the optimum hive temperature of 95 degrees F, the bees station themselves throughout the hive and fan their wings.This cools the hive to the optimum. Now this is what we call working together for the greatest good of the whole!

So what do the bees do to keep the hive warm in colder temperatures?

Heater bees!

When the weather turns cold, the bees cluster over the brood to keep the hive at the optimum temperature. The bees take turns moving around the hive in order to produce heat. That is how they keep the optimum hive temperature, again working together..

On to crystallization!

When honey is first extracted from the hive it will begin to crystallize. That fluid honey you find in the store, well, most likely has been heated to a high temperature, then filtered, removing the pollen and wax. High temperatures also destroy the valuable enzymes. So, you end up with no pollen or enzymes, but the honey won’t crystallize and stays fluid.

Honey is made up of a combination of mostly fructose, glucose and water. After the honey is extracted from the honeycomb the temperature changes which starts the crystallization process. The water in the honey starts to evaporate and the sugars separate and crystals start to form, and when one crystal starts they start to multiply. The cooler the temperature the faster honey crystallizes. Also, raw honey has more pollen and wax, and crystals will form onto them which encourages other crystals to form.

All of our honey crystallizes. The nectar to some degree does influence has fast a honey crystallizes. So in order to slow down the process we use glass jars, don’t refrigerate and keep the lid on tight. Why glass? Less porous than plastic. And we avoid plastic if at all possible.

So, what to do with those dang crystals? Well, leave them bee…they are fine and please do not throw it out! But, if you just cannot stand another crystal, don’t go rogue and put it in the microwave. We suggest a less invasive approach, by placing the jar, unopened, outside in the sun, or in a warm water bath with lid off until you have the consistency you want.. Let’s treat our honey with care.

Can diabetics consume honey?

Honey has been proposed as a sugar alternative for diabetics, but here, the jury still seems to be out. We found this article from Medical News Today an interesting read. We suggest speaking with your doctor about this and studies they may be aware of.

As we might have not answered all of your questions, we hope this helps give you some insight into the world of honey. We appreciate that nature has provided this beautiful ingredient to add to our diet and health.

How about Africanized bees?

Here in the southwest United States, all the feral bees are Africanized. This is true for many warm climates in North America. They are generally not dangerous unless they feel the queen is threatened. Then, they become very dangerous, so don’t go near the hive unprotected. However, when bees are out foraging, they most likely will not harm you. They’re more interested in gathering and bringing the nectar and pollen back to the hive. Avoid swatting at them, be calm, just quietly observe them, and you’ll be fine. The good news is the Africanized bees produce more honey and are generally more resistant to diseases than they’re domestic counterparts.

Honey bees are just one of many, many pollinators here in the southwest.

There are over 20,000 native bees worldwide and in Arizona alone are over 1000 species of bees, the honey bee being just one of them. Most ecosystems have existing populations of native bees. Their habitat can be greatly enhanced by limiting the application of broad spectrum insecticides and applying appropriate, least toxic, insecticides at times and in ways that minimize negative impacts to our beneficial insects. Examples of bee friendly insecticides are soaps, oils, microbial products (bacteria, fungi, and virus-based formulations), botanical products (neem, peppermint, clove oil, etc.), and physical barriers such as fabric row cover. These should be applied very early in the morning or in the evening when bees are not actively foraging. Bees are just one of the many pollinators that are important to our ecosystem. Pollinators which also include butterflies, birds and bats all have an important role in maintaining the health of the ecosystem and supporting agriculture by planting pollen grains, which in turn result in fruit and seeds. Working together.

Sonoran Desert Honey & Pollinators