Honey It is an ingredient that is very important for the health of the entire body and is worth using regularly. As the editors of the portalzdrowie.interia.pl write, “it is a natural cure for many ailments. It has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial and antiallergic properties. In addition, it supports brain function, affects memory and concentration, improves digestion and relieves constipation.” However, many questions arise around him.
On social media you can come across videos promising quick answers to the question: is honey real? People who publish such materials have various ideas. They light matches, watch streams of honey flowing from the spoon, and dip the honey in water. The problem is that none of these methods will tell us anything about the authenticity of the honey. Experts have no doubt – this is an internet show, not a real quality analysis.
Home honey tests may actually look very impressive, but experts have no doubts about this. Only false conclusions can be drawn from such tricks.
– These methods have no diagnostic value – says Przemysław Rujna, Secretary General of the Polish Chamber of Honey. – Each type of honey behaves differently. It dissolves differently and crystallizes differently. This is a matter of physics, not “truth”. Honey is a complex biological product. It contains natural sugars, enzymes, pollen, and its composition depends on the weather, plants and region. Therefore, there is no single “test of truth”, he adds.
Dissolving in water is not proof
One of the most popular home “tests” to check the authenticity of honey is to put a bit of honey in water and see if it dissolves. Meanwhile, all honey contains natural sugars and a little water, so it will dissolve after contact with water. The intensity of this reaction is not determined by the authenticity, but by the type of honey. Linden honey is more liquid, while rapeseed honey is thicker. The water temperature is also important here. If it is higher, the reaction will be completely different.
A match dipped in honey is not a quality test
Another pointless idea to check the authenticity of honey is to dip a match or its wick into the honey and try to light it. Enthusiasts of this method assure that if such a match does not light, the product is counterfeit. However, experts have no doubts – natural honey is moist, which is why the match does not want to burn.
A trickle from a spoon? Nothing could be further from the truth
According to some internet experts, honey poured from a spoon should flow in a smooth, continuous stream and form a characteristic pyramid. However, the truth is completely different – honey behaves differently depending on the species and temperature.
Real honey always crystallizes? Not necessarily
As experts emphasize, this is a half-truth. Indeed, most natural honey crystallizes over time, but the pace of this process depends on the type of honey. While, for example, acacia honey can remain liquid for many months, rapeseed honey solidifies in just a few weeks.
– Moreover, some producers control this process to make the honey easier to use and so-called Honey creaming is a legal, safe processing method, not a scam – emphasizes Przemysław Rujna.
Okay, but if all these Internet methods can be put aside, then so be it How to tell if honey is real?
First of all, stay calm. The quality control system in our country is extremely rigorous. Recently, a meeting of the Committee on Agriculture was held, where attention was drawn to the fact that only a small percentage of the inspected batches of honey raised any concerns.
According to the Polish Chamber of Honey, in 2024, 1,046 batches of honey were inspected (over 21,000 tonnes), issuing only 3 negative decisions, which constitutes 0.29%, and in 2025 – until October – 604 batches, of which only 4 (0.66%) were not admitted to trading. Based on this data, we can see that no honey ends up on store shelves by accident. Each jar is thoroughly tested, also in terms of the presence of antibiotics and pesticides.
– You don’t need a match or a glass of water to tell if honey is real. All you need is a bit of knowledge and common sense. Check the label: name, manufacturer, country of origin. Buy in a trusted place: in a store or hypermarket. Don’t rely solely on the price, because a low price does not always mean a fake. And then just… enjoy your honey. Because the one that goes to Polish stores is exactly what it should be: a sweet, aromatic result of the work of bees and the people who take care of them – explains Przemysław Rujna.
Sources: Polish Chamber of Honey,zdrowie.interia.pl, Terazgotuje.pl
