Debunking Honey Purity Myths: The Science Behind Real Honey Testing

The demand for pure, unadulterated honey has led to the rise of various at-home “tests” that claim to determine honey’s purity. These tests have been passed down for decades or even centuries, and are now widely circulated online, but do they hold any scientific validity?

The short answer is NO.

Let’s examine some of the most common honey purity tests and why they are myths, followed by a look at the scientifically validated methods used in laboratories to determine honey’s authenticity.

Myth 1: The Water Dissolution Test

Claim: Pure honey will not dissolve immediately when added to water, while adulterated honey will.

Scientific Explanation: Honey is a supersaturated sugar solution, meaning it is hygroscopic (absorbs moisture from the air). Whether honey dissolves quickly or slowly in water depends on its viscosity, temperature, and method of stirring. Some pure honeys, especially those with high fructose content, dissolve faster than others. This test is not reliable because even pure honey may dissolve quickly depending on these variables. All honey will dissolve in water!

Myth 2: The Flame Test

Claim: Pure honey will ignite when dipped in a cotton wick and exposed to a flame, while adulterated honey will not because of moisture content.

Scientific Explanation: The ability of honey to ignite depends on its moisture content, which varies naturally among different honey types. Additionally, some adulterants (such as glucose syrups) may also burn, making this test entirely unreliable. Laboratory moisture content analysis using a refractometer or Karl Fischer titration provides a precise measurement, unlike the flame test.

Myth 3: The Thumb Test

Claim: Pure honey stays intact on your thumb without spreading, while impure honey spreads or gets absorbed.

Scientific Explanation: The viscosity of honey depends on factors such as temperature, botanical origin, and water content. Some varieties of pure honey are naturally more fluid due to higher fructose content or seasonal variations. This test does not account for natural differences in honey consistency and is therefore misleading.

Myth 4: The Ant Test

Claim: Ants are not attracted to pure honey but will swarm adulterated honey due to added sugars.

Scientific Explanation: Ants are attracted to sugar in any form, including the glucose and fructose naturally found in pure honey. Some honeys contain natural antimicrobial compounds, such as hydrogen peroxide, which may temporarily deter ants, but this does not indicate purity. The environment, ant species, and external factors all play a role in whether ants are drawn to honey.

Myth 5: The Crystallization Test

Claim: If honey crystallizes, it is impure; only fake honey forms crystals.

Scientific Explanation: Crystallization is a natural process that occurs in many pure honeys. The rate of crystallization depends on the glucose-to-fructose ratio. Honey with higher glucose content (such as clover or sunflower honey) crystallizes faster, while those with higher fructose (such as acacia honey) remain liquid longer. The presence of pollen and tiny particles also promotes crystallization. Therefore, crystallization is not an indicator of adulteration.

Real Scientific Honey Purity Tests

Unlike home myths, laboratories use validated scientific techniques to determine honey’s authenticity and purity.

Some of the key tests include:

1. Spectroscopy Analysis (NMR & FTIR): Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) identify the molecular composition of honey, detecting adulterants such as high-fructose corn syrup.

2. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC): This method analyzes the sugar profile of honey to ensure it matches natural honey’s expected fructose and glucose levels.

3. Stable Carbon Isotope Ratio Analysis (SCIRA): This test detects the presence of C4 plant-derived sugars (such as corn or cane sugar), which indicate adulteration.

4. Pollen Analysis (Melissopalynology): Identifies the pollen content to verify honey’s botanical and geographical origin.

5. Moisture Content Analysis: Uses refractometry or Karl Fischer titration to determine water content, ensuring compliance with purity standards.

6. Diastase Activity & HMF (Hydroxymethylfurfural) Content: Tests honey’s enzymatic activity and freshness. High HMF levels suggest heating or adulteration.

Conclusion

The so-called home tests for honey purity are largely myths, based on oversimplified assumptions that do not hold up under scientific scrutiny. If you want to ensure your honey is pure, the only reliable methods are laboratory tests using advanced analytical techniques.

At Marico River Honey Bee Co we proud ourselves on producing and suppling high quality pure honey at affordable prices, and will not jeopardise our brand by making ourselves guilty of selling fake honey or by adulterating our honey. On that you can rest assured!