Honey and bees

Honey has so many uses! It is a natural product that is widely used as a sweetener, in baking, in cooking, and in skincare. It is a 100% natural product made by bees. The honeys we bottle are therefore 100% pure honey collected directly from beehives, with nothing added.

Honey is made when Bees collect nectar from plants and turn it into honey.. The honeys we bottle are so-called polyfloral honeys, which means that the bees have collected nectar from several different plant species. Most of the honey produced in Finland is polyfloral honey, as the diversity of our nature and the shortness of the growing season guide the bees to mostly collect nectar from different plants at the same time.

Read four interesting additional facts about honey!

How long does honey last?

Honey is stored at room temperature in a sealed container and will last at least two years. However, honey often lasts longer without losing its good qualities and without time affecting its taste. Honey should not be stored in the refrigerator, as it easily absorbs various odors and moisture. Moisture can cause the honey to ferment.

About honey — Honey is nature's own wonder substance, suitable for cooking, baking, and beauty care. Honey also serves as a source of extra energy, for example in sports.

Honey can be considered a very ecological food, as its production doesn't require modifying the environment, such as fertilizing fields. Instead, bees use natural and cultivated plants that yield a lot of nectar as their nectar sources. When visiting flowers bees also pollinate plants and this is how they help them reproduce. Every spoonful of honey is truly for the good of nature.

Is honey healthy?

Honey and beeswax have been considered important products throughout human history in medicine, religions, and cultures. In ancient times, honey was believed to prolong life, and athletes used honey to recover from demanding athletic performances. Today, honey is included in national In the Finnish Current Care Guidelines and it is used versatilely in cooking, as an energy source in sports, and as a skin care product.

In addition to collecting nectar, bees also incorporate pollen into the honey they produce. Pollen contains proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates, vitamins, flavonoids, enzymes, minerals, antibiotic agents, and hormone-like substances. Pollen strengthens and restores the body's balance and increases resistance. Thanks to its antibacterial components, honey has traditionally been used internally for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases and to improve digestion.

Honey can be enjoyed on its own or used as an ingredient in various meals. Honey's beneficial properties are best maximized through regular and varied use.

Where does Hunajayhtymä's honey come from?

Our bottled honeys come from from our domestic contract producers across Finland. Thanks to their professional beekeeping work and high-quality domestic honey, we are allowed to keep the Hyvää Suomesta (Good from Finland) mark on our jars. This guarantees that our honeys are definitely produced in Finland. The Honey Cooperative's production is also the only one in the sector to be certified. FSSC 22000 ensures the consumer always receives a high-quality, pure natural product.

Where does your honey come from? Find out here.

Specialty products Mieleinen differs from our other products. It combines Finnish honey and fiber. Thanks to the fiber, Mieleinen has fewer carbohydrates than regular honey, and its sweetness is milder than regular honey. In terms of usability, the fiber ensures that the product always remains fluid and thus easy to use.

Beeswax is still used in many familiar places. For example, it is used as a surface treatment for many sweets, as a material for making candles, in the care of wood and leather products, and in cosmetics.

The fascinating world of bees

The world of bees is an example of nature's ingenuity. The functioning of a bee colony and its democracy, endless diligence, and the queen selection project are just examples of the peculiarities hidden within the life of this small creature.

Have you heard about the bee danceBees communicate the location of good nectar sources to their colony members by dancing. This saves important flight miles and makes foraging efficient.
What about the selection of the new queenBees select a new queen from among the larvae, which is then fed better and taken special care of.
How's the moving going?When bees need a new home, scout bees go out to explore new nesting options, much like an open house. Finally, a vote is held, and the new home is chosen by collective decision.

Read the frequently asked questions about honey and bees too!