How to Tell if Your Honey Is Truly Raw (Spoiler: Ours Is)
Not all honey is created equal. If you’ve ever stood in the grocery store wondering why one jar of honey is clear and golden while another is thick and opaque, you’re not alone. The difference often comes down to one important word: raw.
As a Vermont beekeeping business, we’re proud to offer truly raw honey—straight from the hive, just the way nature intended. But what does that actually mean? And how can you tell if the honey you’re buying is the real deal?
Let’s break it down.
🍯 What Is Raw Honey?
Raw honey is honey that has not been pasteurized, filtered, or heated to high temperatures. It’s extracted from the hive, gently strained to remove large wax particles or debris, and poured straight into jars. That’s it.
Raw honey still contains:
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Natural enzymes
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Pollen from local flowers
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Antioxidants and vitamins
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Trace amounts of beeswax and propolis
These compounds are exactly what give raw honey its powerful nutritional and antimicrobial properties—along with a complex, rich flavor.
🔥 Why Regular Store-Bought Honey Isn’t the Same
Most commercial honey is pasteurized (heated to high temps) and ultra-filtered to give it a smooth, clear look and extend shelf life. While that might look appealing on a store shelf, the process destroys many of the beneficial nutrients and enzymes found in raw honey.
Some commercial brands even blend honey from multiple countries or add sweeteners like corn syrup. That’s a hard no from us.
🕵️♀️ How to Tell if Honey Is Truly Raw
Here are a few simple ways to know what you’re getting:
✅ 1. Read the Label Carefully
Look for terms like:
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“Raw”
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“Unfiltered”
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“Unpasteurized”
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“Single-source” or “Local”
If it just says “pure honey,” that’s not the same as raw. Pure only means there are no added sugars—it can still be processed.
✅ 2. Check for Crystallization
Raw honey will eventually crystallize—this is a good thing! It means the honey hasn’t been heated to high temps, and the natural sugars are behaving just as they should.
If your honey is always liquid, perfectly clear, and never crystallizes… it’s likely been pasteurized.
✅ 3. Look at the Texture
Raw honey is usually:
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Thicker
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Cloudier
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May contain tiny bits of pollen or wax
This natural, slightly grainy texture is part of its charm—and a sign of authenticity.
✅ 4. Ask Where It Comes From
A good beekeeper will always tell you:
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Where the honey was harvested
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What flowers or regions the bees foraged from
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When it was bottled
Transparency is a great sign you’re getting the real deal.
🐝 Why Our Honey Is 100% Raw (and Proud of It)
At our Vermont apiary, we take pride in keeping our honey as close to the hive as possible. Our process is simple, small-batch, and seasonal—no pasteurization, no additives, no shortcuts.
We lightly strain our honey, hand-pour it in small batches, and let it speak for itself. Every jar reflects the unique blooms and wildflowers of our local landscape.
If it crystallizes on your shelf? That’s just nature doing its thing. (And it’s easy to soften with a warm water bath if you prefer it liquid.)
🌼 Final Thought: Know Your Source, Trust Your Jar
Raw honey doesn’t need to be flashy or filtered—it just needs to be honest. Whether you’re drizzling it on toast, stirring it into tea, or using it in your skincare routine, knowing that your honey is raw means you’re getting all the flavor and all the benefits, exactly as the bees made it.
Spoiler alert: Ours is. 🐝✨
And we wouldn’t have it any other way.
