Honey

By Kumiko Takahashi

Honey is a sweet and viscous fluid produced by honey bees and derived from the nectar of flowers. Honey bees are the only insects which can produce food for humans. To make one pound of honey, the worker bees must collect floral nectar from millions of flowers. Honey is a natural sweetener made by those hard workers.

Worker bees make honey in their honeycomb. (Photo © 2008 Michele Bourdieu)

According to the article "Honey" on Wikipedia, honey tastes sweet, but that isn’t all. It has many kinds of taste, color, flavor, and ingredients, which are made from the varieties of flowers. For instance, the honey of buckwheat contains much Iron and has a strong scent. Or the honey of clover has a strong scent and is really sweet. It is the most popular honey in the U.S. Therefore, we can enjoy the differences in various types of honey, using it not only for hot tea but also for biscuits or cornbreads ("Honey").

Kumiko, third from right, the author of this research essay -- along with Toshi, right, and Nick -- learns about the honey-making process from beekeeper Gustavo Bourdieu during a field trip to Gustavo's beehives in August 2008. (Photo © 2008 Michele Bourdieu)

In the article "Honey summary," by the Japan Association of Honey Bee, honey has been used and eaten by humans for about four thousand years and there are some reasons for it. First, honey is really good at preservation. It is said that honey won’t spoil. We can preserve it at room temperature. Next, honey is a food that is easy to digest, because it is made up of monosaccharide. This means honey doesn’t need to be resolved any more. In addition, it is a disinfectant by itself. We can use honey to sterilize, and it also can be a medicine for canker sores ("Honey summary").

Worker bees store the honey in the tiny, individual cells of the honeycomb. Click on photo for larger version. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

The National Headache Foundation (NHF) recently published research indicating that honey can relieve a headache from a hangover. They say, "Some of ingredients of honey can resolve alcohol. The most effective way to relieve the headache from hangover is taking honey." According to this research honey can relieve your headache easily and quickly ("Hangover Headache").

In conclusion, our life is supported by little insects’ products. Instead of feeling scared of them, we should appreciate their work. We should be aware of how useful honey is -- it tastes good, smells good and also is good for our health.

While touring Gustavo's garden near the beehives, Kumiko gets a hug from Antonio, the scarecrow, who may need some honey for his hangover! (Photo © 2008 Michele Bourdieu)

Alhough honey can relieve a hangover, what is more important is this: to avoid drinking too much alcohol and to enjoy tasting honey.

Works Cited

"Hangover Headache." National Headache Foundation. National Headache Foundation. 2007. 15 Dec, 2006. September 14, 2008.
< http://www.headaches.org/press/NHF_Press_Releases/2007-12-Tips_to_Ease_Holiday_Overindulgence>

"Honey." Wikipedia the free encyclopedia. 2004. November 18th 2007. September 13, 2008.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey>

"Honey Summary." Japan Association of honey bee. Japan Association of Honey Bee. 2003. 30 April, 2008. September 13, 2008.
< http://bee.lin.go.jp/index.html>