Q1: What is Canadian raw honey and how is it different from regular honey?
Canadian raw honey is unpasteurized, unfiltered honey harvested from Canadian wildflower sources and minimally processed to preserve its natural flavour, nutrients, and beneficial properties. Most commercial honey is pasteurized (heated to high temperatures) and ultra filtered, which removes naturally occurring enzymes, pollen, and trace nutrients. Raw honey is non-pasteurized and non-processed, preserving the full natural composition of honey as it comes from the hive.
Q2: Where does this raw honey come from?
This honey is 100% Product of Canada, sourced exclusively from Canadian beekeepers and Canadian wildflower ecosystems. To produce just one pound of this raw Canadian honey, a hive of 60,000 Canadian honeybees flies the equivalent of twice around the world and visits two million flowers. Every jar represents the extraordinary collective work of Canadian honeybees and the diversity of Canadian wildflower landscapes.
Q3: Why is raw honey unpasteurized?
This raw honey is non-pasteurized and non-processed to preserve the natural flavour, nutrients, and beneficial properties of honey. Pasteurization involves heating honey to high temperatures to extend shelf life and prevent crystallization, but this process removes or degrades naturally occurring enzymes, pollen, and trace nutrients. Keeping honey unpasteurized maintains its natural composition as close to the hive as possible.
Q4: Why has my raw honey crystallized?
Crystallization (solidification) is a completely normal and desirable characteristic of pure, unprocessed raw honey. It is a sign of quality and indicates that the honey has not been heat processed or artificially treated to prevent crystallization. Crystallized honey can be gently warmed in a warm water bath (below 40 degrees Celsius) to return it to a liquid state without degrading its naturally occurring enzymes. Crystallization does not indicate spoilage.
Q5: What does raw honey naturally contain?
Raw honey naturally contains enzymes including diastase, invertase, and glucose oxidase, trace amounts of bee pollen, propolis, and beeswax, naturally occurring antioxidant flavonoids and phenolic acids, trace minerals including calcium, magnesium, potassium, and zinc, naturally occurring B vitamins and amino acids, and complex natural sugars (fructose and glucose) from Canadian wildflower sources. The exact composition varies depending on the floral source and season.
Q6: Is this raw honey gluten free and non GMO?
Yes. Raw honey is naturally gluten free and this product is non GMO. It contains no additives, sweeteners, artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives. It is 100% pure Canadian honey with no blending with imported honey.
Q7: Is raw honey safe for infants?
No. Raw honey is not recommended for infants under 1 year of age due to the potential presence of naturally occurring Clostridium botulinum spores. These spores are harmless to adults and children over 1 year of age whose digestive systems are fully developed, but can pose a risk to infants. Raw honey is safe for adults and children over 1 year of age.
Q8: How should I store raw honey?
Store at room temperature in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Keep the jar tightly sealed to prevent moisture absorption. Honey does not spoil and has an indefinite shelf life when stored properly. Natural crystallization is normal and does not indicate spoilage or reduced quality.
Q9: Can I use raw honey for cooking and baking?
Yes. Raw honey can be used as a natural sweetener in tea, coffee, smoothies, baking, cooking, salad dressings, and marinades. For applications where honey is not heated above approximately 40 degrees Celsius, the naturally occurring enzymes and flavour complexity are preserved. In high heat baking or cooking, the enzymatic activity will be reduced, though raw honey will still function as a natural sweetener.
Q10: How much honey is in one jar?
Each jar contains 1kg (1,000g) of pure Canadian raw honey. This is a generous family sized jar suitable for daily use as a natural sweetener and whole food pantry staple.
Q11: Is this honey blended with imported honey?
No. This is 100% Product of Canada with no blending with imported honey. It is sourced exclusively from Canadian beekeepers and Canadian wildflower ecosystems.
Q12: What is the difference between wildflower honey and buckwheat honey?
Wildflower honey has a rich, complex flavour profile reflecting the diverse wildflower ecosystems of Canadian landscapes. Buckwheat honey is a bold, dark honey with a robust, earthy flavour and one of the highest naturally occurring antioxidant contents among honey varieties due to its darker colour and higher phenolic compound content. Both are naturally occurring varieties of Canadian raw honey with distinct flavour profiles determined by the floral sources visited by the bees.
