WHAT WE DO

HONEY FROM NECTAR
Nectar is not quite honey. During the forage bees will secrete an enzyme to the nectar. Once stored in the comb the moisture content of the nectar is lowered by a process called "fanning".Fanning is accomplished when bees cause air to circulate over the honeycomb by using their wings as fans. When the moisture content of the nectar is low enough, a beeswax capping is put over the honeycomb to complete the process.

BEESWAX
Beeswax is created by a gland in the honeybee that is activated when bees gorge themselves on honey and cluster quietly for a day or two in a corner of the hive.   This enables the gland to secrete beeswax which the bees use to build honeycomb and cap stored honey.   These tiny secreted particles will always remain intact but may peel, this wil look like dust on your candle.   This is called a "bloom".   To remove, just gently polish your beeswax with a soft cloth.   This bloom is not a mould.

SPOILAGE
Honey will store indefinitely if harvested below a moisture content of 18%.

FACT: Greek ruins have produced urns of honey over two thousand years old that had not spoiled. Bacteria cannot reproduce in honey. There are few, if any, environments more sterile than the interior of a beehive. It is for this reason that honey was used to treat wounds in antiquity and is still being used for medicinal purposes in many parts of the world today.

TO LIQUIFY
Gently heat creamed honey to liquify it. GENTLY!. Honey will dissolve much more quickly than butter or margerine in the microwave. 10-15 seconds is usually sufficient. Hot water surrounding the container offers a gentler approach with little chance of overheating.
Each time that honey is heated, delicate flavours and enzymes are destroyed and the quality is compromised. Ballard Honey is unpasterized in order to preserve it's natural "raw" flavour.

WHATS ON THE LABEL
Much of the Canadian honey on store shelves is mixed with poor quality foriegn honey and subsequently labelled "Canada #1 White".
It can usually be recognized by it's dark colour and and less than subtle flavour. Our honey is produced solely on our apiary in northern Alberta and is truly "CANADA #1 WHITE".