Honey as nature intended

Five Hive Five Dock

HONEY AS NATURE INTENDED

Cold extracted honey, direct from the hive

The Power of Honey

Honey isn’t just delicious, it’s also packed with health benefits:

Antioxidant powerhouse - Loaded with antioxidants, our honey helps boost immunity and combat free radicals in the body

Natural Energy Source - With its blend of natural sugars, our honey provides a sustained energy boost without the crash of refined sugars

Soothing Properties - Whether you’re healing a sore throat or in need of a natural wound healer, our honey’s antibacterial properties can offer relief and promote healing.

Why choose raw honey?

Minimal processing

Raw Honey

Raw honey is minimally processed and typically undergoes minimal filtration and heating. It is extracted from the honeycomb and strained to remove large particles of wax and debris, but it retains most of its natural enzymes, pollen, and other beneficial compounts

Commercial honey

Commercial honey undergoes extensive processing including pasteurisation, and filtration. Pasteurisation involves heating honey to high temperatures to kill any yeast cells and extend shelf life. Filtration removes imputrities, including pollen, wax, and air bubbles, resulting in a clearer appearance.

Nutritional Content

Raw Honey

Raw honey retains a higher concentration of nutrients compared to commercial honey. It contains enzymes, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and amino acides, which may offer various health benefits.

Commercial honey

The heating and filtration processes used in commercial honey production can degrade or remove some of the natural enzymes, antioxidants, and other beneficial compounds present in raw honey. As a result, commercial honey may have a lower nutritional value compared to raw honey.

Flavour and Aroma

Raw Honey

Raw honey often has a more complex flavour profile and richer aroma compared to commercial honey. Its flavour and aroma can vary depending on the nectar sources visited by bees and the region where it was produced.

Commercial honey

Commercial honey may have a milder flavour and aroma due to the filtration process, which removes some of the volatile compounds responsible for the characteristic taste and smell of raw honey.

Texture

Raw Honey

Raw Honey may have a thicker consistency and contain small particles of wax and pollen, giving it a more textured appearance.

Commercial honey

Commercial honey is typically smoother and more uniform in texture due to the filtration process, which removes particles and impurities. Commercial honey is less prone to crystallisation, which in raw honey, is a good indication that it is untreated and therefore more pure.

Health Benefits

Raw Honey

Raw Honey is believed to offer a range of health benefits due to its higher concentration of antioxidants, enzymes, and other bioactive compounds. These may include enhanced immune function, improved digestion, alleviation of allergic conditions, and wound healing properties, amongst others.

Commercial honey

While commercial honey still contains some beneficial compounds, the processing methods used may reduce its overall nutritional value and potential health benefits.

How we source our honey

Honey, is in essense an organic product. However, we are not able to actually certify our honey as organic for the following reasons:

While we do not use any chemical treatments or feed suppliments for our bees, due to some of our hives being urban bee hives, and since bees forage up to 8 kilometres from the hive, we cannot guarantee that our distant neighbours have not used inorganic treatment of their gardens.
We use Flow hives for the extraction of our honey. We believe that this is a more sustainable and ethical practice for harvesting honey since it causes less disturbance to the bees both during extraction and hive inspections. This practice reduces stress to the bees promoting overall colony health and lowers the risk of injury to the bees than traditional removing of comb from the hive, cutting wax cappings and centrifugal extraction of honey. However, the use of Flow hives does mean that artificial combs are placed in the hive where the bees deposit their honey. Being artificial and not a natural material, means that Flow hives are inelidgable, at present, for organic certification.

What body systems can honey help?

Honey can help support almost all of your body systems.

Immune System

Honey contains antioxidants including phenolic compunds and flavonoids which can strength the immune system by neutralising harmful free radicals and reducing oxidative stress. It’s antimicrobial properties can help fight off pathogens, potentially reducing the risk of infections

Cardiovascular system

Some research suggest that honey can help improve cholesterol levels by raising HDL and lowering LDL and triglycerides. Furthermore, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties may help protect against heart disease by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in the artieries.

Digestive System

Honey has traditionally been used to aid digestion and alleviate digestive issues such as indigestion, bloating and constipation. It contains enzymes that support the digestion and absorption of nutrients, as well as prebiotics that promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut.

Skin and Wound Healing

Honeys antibacterial properties help prevent infection while its anti-inflammatory effect reduce swelling and promote tissue regeneration. Honey’s humectant properties also hel moisture the skin making it an effective ingredient for skincare products.

Respiratory system

Honey is often used as a natural remedy to soothe coughs and sore throats. Its thick consistency help coat the throat, providing relief from irritation, while its antimicrobial properties may help fight infection. Its anti-inflammatory effect may also help reduce inflammation in the respiratory tract.

Nervous system

There has been research to suggest that honey may have neuroprotective effetcs, helping to protect brain cells from damage and promote cognitive function. The antioxidants in honey may reduce oxidative stress in the brain, while its natural sugars providce a steady source of evergy for optimal function.

Musculoskeletal System

Endocrine System

The anti-inflammatory properties of honey may alleviate symptoms of musculoskeletal conditions such as arthritis and muscle soreness. Additionally, honey’s natural sugars can provide a source of energy for physical activity, supporting muscle function and recovery

While honey should be consumed in moderation by individuals with or at risk of diabetes, honey may have beneficial effects on blood sugar control. It has a lower glycemic index than refined sugars and some honeys have been studied for their potential to improve insulin sensitivities.

Honey crystallisation

Is it safe to eat??

Crystallised honey is still safe to eat and retauns all of its nutritional properties. It can be gently heated to dissolve the crystals (with care not to overheat and degrade the honey quality). But what factors contribute to honey crystallisation?