The active season: summer and autumn - A Practical Manual of Beekeeping - page 128

Moisture content
Test the water content of your honey. Honey can ferment naturally due to the presence
of wild yeasts and, of course, sugar, and whether it does or not depends on the water
content. If your honey ferments, it may explode in the jar just like homemade beer and
it will taste foul. Use a calibrated refractometer. This will give you peace of mind.

Moisture % Liability to ferment

Less than 17.1 Safe regardless of yeast

17.1-18 Safe if yeast count < 1,000/g

18.1-19 Safe if yeast count < 10/g

19.1-20 Safe if yeast count < 1/g

Above 20 Always in danger

Table 2 . Moisture content and honey's liability to ferment

You will see from Table 2 that, if the
percentage water content is above 20%,
your honey is likely to ferment. The figure is
higher for some honeys due to their different
characteristics but, for most honey, these
figures will apply.

Fig. 23. A honey hydrometer - expensive but useful