Honey processing
Practical Action
Quality checks
The routine quality checks on honey are a visual inspection to detect clarity, any contamination
by insects or other materials such as particles of beeswax, and checking that the pack contains
the correct weight of honey. In humid climates, or if a batch of honey is suspected of containing
high a level of water (e.g. honey that is returned because it has started to ferment), it can be
checked for moisture content. Because honey is mostly sugar (around 80%) and water (19-20%)
the sugar content can be measured using a refractometer, and the value subtracted from 100 to
measure the moisture content. However, refractometers are expensive and it may be more
affordable to send samples to a laboratory for checking if a problem with the moisture content is
suspected. If during production, the level of moisture is too high, it can be reduced by blowing
air for several hours over a pan of honey using an electric fan. Honey should never be heated to
remove water because this will increase the amount of HMF and significantly reduce its quality.
Cleaning
The other important quality assurance check is to ensure that the correct cleaning procedure is
in place and is being properly followed by production staff. All equipment, floors and work
surfaces should be washed daily with hot water and detergent, and rinsed with clean water. They
should be allowed to dry completely in the air before production starts again. Cloths should not
be used to dry surfaces and equipment because they can contain sugar residues that
recontaminate cleaned surfaces.
Equipment suppliers
Please note this is a selective list of suppliers, not implying endorsement by Practical Action.
Honey processing equipment
Camelot Country Products, Curry Rivel, Somerset, TA10 0HB, UK., Tel: +44 (0)1458
253098 Mobile: +44 07973 905606, email: enquire@honeyshop.co.uk, Website:
http://www.honeyshop.co.uk/equipment.html
E.H. Thorne Ltd., Beehive Works, Wragby, Market Rasen, LN8 5LA, U.K., Tel: +44 (0)1
673 858555, Fax: +44 (0)1 673 857004, email: sales@thorne.co.uk, Website:
https://secure.thorne.co.uk/index.htm
Korea Beekeeping Association and Korea Bee Product's Research institute, 6F The
Farmer's Hall, 436-3 Hwaseo-dong, Jangan-gu, Suwon, 440-150, South Korea, Tel: +82
331 291 6622/1223, Fax: +82 331 291 6682, E-mail: apiary@chollian.net, Website:
http://www.korapis.or.kr
Maxant Industries, PO Box 454, Ayer, MA., 01432 USA., Tel: 1 978 7720576, Fax: 1
978 7726365, Email: sales@maxantindustries.com, Website:
http://www.maxantindustries.com/
Steele & Brodie Limited Beehive Works, Kilmany Road, Wormit, Newport-on-Tay, Fife,
DD6 8PG, UK., Tel: +44 (0) 1382 541728, Fax: +44 (0) 1382 543022, E-mail:
steele&brodie@taynet.co.uk
Swienty A S, Hortoftvej 16, DK 6400 Sonderborg, Denmark, Tel: +45 74 486969, Fax:
+45 74 488001, E-mail: swienty@aof.dk
The Bee Keeper's Supermarket, 38 Milner Road, Maitland, Cape Town 7450, South
Africa, Tel: +27 21 5114567, Fax: +27 21 5119962.
Thomas Apiculture, 86 rue Abbé Thomas, Fay aux Loges, F-45450, France, Tel: +33
(0)2 38 468800, Fax: +33 (0)2 38 592828, E-mail: thomapi@wanadoo.fr, Website:
http://www.thomas-apiculture.com
Larger scale honey processing equipment
SSP Private Ltd., 13 Milestone, Mathura Road, Faridabad, Haryana-121 003, India,
Terl: +(91)-(129)-2277442/2275968, Fax : +(91)-(129)-2277441, E-mail :
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