Barberry honey is a yellow monofloral honey variety with a pleasant taste. It is produced from honeybees pollinating and extracting the nectar of the berberis plant (commonly known as the barberry plant).
Barberry Honey
Barberry is a good plant for honeybees as it gives an abundance of nutritious nectar between May and June.
The moment the honey bee harvests the barberry nectar it is mixed with an enzyme within the honeybee’s mouth. The enzyme itself is otherwise known as invertase or the “bee enzyme” which is secreted from the honeybees glands.
When the honeybees return to the hive they will pass the berberis nectar they have gathered between their mouths further mixing the nectar with the “bee enzyme” reducing the water content and converting the nectar to honey.
They will then deposit the barberry honey into wax cells, but at this point the water content will be too high. In order to reduce the water content the honeybees will fan their wings above the wax cell. By doing this they will evaporate some of the water.
Once they’ve finished the process the barberry honey will have a water content roughly below 20%. It will then be capped and the honeybees will repeat the process all over again. The honey bees produce between 30 and 35 pounds of honey per acre of barberry plants. This is a remarkably low yield for a plant that is turned into monofloral varieties of honey.
The best barberry plants for honey bees to pollinate are those that are grown in dense concentrations. This is typical when the plant is cultivated for commercial purposes.
At the same time, like any other plant source, berberis that is grown organically, without the use of harmful pesticides and insecticides will result in a higher yield.
This is because unfortunately the pesticides and insecticides can harm individual bees and whole colonies.
Healing Wounds and Burns There has been positive effects of using raw honey on wounds & burns reported. Reducing The Duration of Diarrhoea According the NCBI consumption of raw honey has been shown to reduce the severity & duration of diarrhoea. Preventing Acid Reflux Research has shown that with honey lining the oesophagus and stomach, it actually can reduce the upward flow of undigested food and stomach acid. Fighting Infections Scientists in 2010 reported that honey through its protein (defensin-1) has the ability to kill bacteria. Relieving cold and cough symptoms Its been proven that honey may prove beneficial in relieving cold and cough symptoms. The World Health Organisation actually recommend honey as a natural cough remedy. Rich In Antioxidants High quality raw honey contains many helpful antioxidants. These include phenolic compounds like flavonoids and organic acids. Can Lower Triglycerides Triglycerides are associated with insulin resistance and are a major driver of type 2 diabetes. Multiple studies have linked regular honey consumption with lower triglyceride levels, especially when it is used to replace sugar. This is based on raw honey, filtered or pasturised honey will break down and diminish these benefits.
An interesting benefit of honey, such as barberry honey, is that it can enhance the healing process of the body. While boosting antioxidants, it also helps to support the functions of the immune system. Additionally, barberry honey is high in minerals that promote nerve and muscle health such as copper, magnesium, iron and copper.
If you’re looking for a way to speed up recovery on wounds, or soothe respiratory symptoms or symptoms of the common cold, barberry honey is great for all of these things. It is also believed that barberry honey can do things to help to regulate blood sugar levels in those who have diabetes, reduce risks of high blood pressure, and even help in the treatment of anemia.
Because of the low levels of a bacteria that could be potentially harmful, you should never give honey to any child under one year of age. Women who are pregnant or nursing should also avoid ingesting honey, due the transfer of bacteria to the baby.
Like anything else, eating too much honey can actually be harmful. Overeating barberry honey in one sitting can cause distress in your gastrointestinal tract. This means you could experience constipation, diarrhoea, bloating, and other uncomfortable symptoms.
Honey is a highly-concentrated sugar substance and can promote high blood sugar and unwanted weight gain if eaten in excess.
