BUZZ WORDS

What’s really in the jar? Always read the label

CLEAR

A sign the honey has been filtered, which means it will contain less pollen and fewer active plant components, if any at all.

ORGANIC

Honey made from bees that feed only on plants free of pesticides. But given that bees feed in a five-mile radius, it’s a pretty tenuous claim.

PASTEURISED

Heated to kill off any yeast or latent bacteria spores and discourage granulation. It doesn’t affect the pollen, mineral or antioxidant levels, but studies show it can destroy enzymes that aid digestion and also govern the antibacterial activity of the honey – as can adding it to hot drinks and porridge.

PURE

‘This simply means nothing has been added to the honey,’ says Soutter. ‘But it’s no indication of the quality of the honey or the active ingredients it contains.’ Ditto ‘natural’.

RAW

Straight from the hive; no heating, no filtering, so all the helpful enzymes, pollen and antioxidants are intact. Anecdotal evidence suggests consuming local raw honey can reduce symptoms of hay fever by desensitising the immune system. ‘It’s best not to apply raw honey to wounds, though,’ warns Dr Jenkins. ‘Unlike medical grade honey, it won’t be sterile.’

SET

The higher the glucose content, the more prone honey is to crystallise, so set honey tends to have a higher GI.