Honey has been called "liquid gold" for millennia. It is a superfood, an ancient remedy, and a delight for the palate. However, in the modern supermarket, not everything that glitters is honey.
Today at Disfruta™, we are going to debunk the most common myths and, above all, reveal the truth about the industrial deception that could be harming your health: high fructose corn syrup.
1. Myth: "If honey hardens (crystallizes), it’s bad or contains added sugar."
REALITY: It’s quite the opposite! Crystallization is the certificate of purity for honey. Real honey is a supersaturated solution of natural sugars (glucose and fructose) and pollen particles. Over time or in cold weather, it is natural for it to become solid or creamy.
Expert Tip: If your honey has been in the pantry for months and is still as liquid as the first day, it is almost certainly ultra-processed or adulterated.
2. Myth: "Dark honey is of lower quality."
REALITY: The color depends exclusively on the flower the bee visited. Dark honeys (such as Avocado or Oak) often have more minerals and antioxidants than light ones. Color does not define quality, but rather the nutritional profile and flavor (more intense in dark honeys, milder in light ones like Mesquite).
3. Myth: "Commercial honey that is always liquid is more hygienic."
REALITY (THE DANGER): This is where we must be very careful. Many commercial brands offer "perfect" honey: always liquid, transparent, and an impeccable golden color. To achieve this, they usually resort to two negative processes:
Ultra-filtration and heating: They kill the enzymes and remove the pollen so it won't crystallize.
Adulteration with High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS): > ### ⚠️ The Industrial Deception
The biggest enemy of pure honey is high fructose corn syrup. It is a cheap industrial liquid mixed with honey to stretch the volume.
How to identify it? If the honey looks "too golden," is excessively liquid, has no floral aroma, and, above all, if it appears to "separate" into layers after a while, be suspicious.
Why is it harmful? Unlike the natural sugars in honey that the body processes slowly, this industrial syrup goes straight to the liver, increasing the risk of diabetes, obesity, and high triglycerides.
You are paying for medicine but receiving a metabolically toxic product.
Estás pagando por medicina y recibiendo un producto metabólicamente tóxico.
4. Myth: "Honey never expires."
REALITY: While it is true that honey jars found in Egyptian tombs are still edible, for the honey you have at home, the rule is different. Although it doesn't "spoil" in terms of causing an infection, over the years it loses its enzymatic and medicinal properties. Enjoy it fresh to take advantage of all its benefits..
5. Myth: "Any honey works to cure a cough."
REALITY: Only pure, raw honey (honey that has not been heated above 40°C/104°F) retains antibiotic and antiseptic properties. "Supermarket honey" that has been pasteurized to shine brighter is essentially a sweet syrup without healing power.
How to Choose Real Honey?
To ensure that what you bring to your table is pure health:
Look for local origins: Buy from trusted beekeepers (like the Mesquite or Varaduz producers in the Bajío region).
Read the label: If it says "Syrup," "Honey flavored," or "Glucose," leave it on the shelf.
Accept imperfection: Honey that is cloudy, creamy, or has different shades is a sign that the bees did their job without chemical intervention.
At Disfruta™, we believe that transparency is the main ingredient. Has it happened to you that you buy honey and it never hardens? Tell us about your experience in the comments.