Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
example, a reading of 2 mg H
2
O
2
× 5 shows that 10 µg of H
2
O
2
/g/hour at 20° C
are present.
If the number is greater than or equal to 10 mg per g per hour, it means that the
HMF level will be lower than 40 mg/kg. Reliability = 95%.
If the result is 0, for example, this means that the honey has been heated too much
or has been heated for too long.
This test is not so reliable with certain honeys from thyme or mint because of the higher
levels of vitamin C in this honey. The H
2
O
2
oxidizes the vitamin and so is reduced. The
presence of the enzyme katalase can also upset the results. However, even though this
test is not exact, it can give you an idea of an approaching or existing problem, and a bad
result may make it worthwhile sending your honey to a laboratory for a full analysis.
You will now appreciate that looking after your honey post-harvest is an important
part of being a honey producer, especially if you want to sell the product. Selling honey
that requires a chain saw to break into it will not bring you many sales, and nor will
honey that blows the lid off its jar in a customer's larder. I have seen both; in fact, I have
produced both!
Finally, what do you do with the cappings you have left over and all the wet frames?
The cappings
The cappings can be left to drain in a filter or sieve, or be hung up in muslin bags and
left to drain. You will be surprised how much honey is left in them. Or you can purchase
a cappings cage. This fits into an extractor (of the same make) after removing the frame
cages. You then spin out the cappings, leaving lots of fine, white wax particles. This
wax is highly valued and should be stored for possible future sale or used to make new
foundation (see Chapter 12).
