How Genuine is the Pure Honey Sold in India?

Real Honey or Wild Honey is made by Honeybees and the quality and content of Honey depends on the surrounding area – the best can be Honey procured from untouched dense forests where flowers, plants and sold have had no contact with chemicals or pesticides. It is usually collected by locals, who sell it, if they have more of it. In raw form, it is the best, golden colored, syrupy liquid which is quite viscous and truly packed with nutrients.

Honey from Bee Farms – Bee farms do not produce natural honey, as bees use only those flowers which are in the vicinity of farm, and if the location of the farm is near the city, then the pollutants and chemicals will certainly affect the flowers and plants – and of course the honey.

Processed Honey or Fake Honey is produced in man made factories. It is sold in markets and proudly advertised by well known companies as PURE Honey. It is nothing but sugar syrup with artificial flavors.

Quite possibly, you have never tasted real honey! In fact, very few people have ever tasted the real thing!

Anyone with even a little bit of common sense will question the huge amount of honey they produce and sell while claiming that it is the REAL thing! How can they get so much of real honey when bees produce very limited quantity? So adulterated honey is most common. And it is not new – it has been going on for decades, so people are being duped for generations now.

Chinese companies have ‘designed’ the sugar syrup which is used to adulterate honey so that it can pass Indian laboratory tests!

Here are links to relevant news articles: Chinese syrup in honey? Check before you buy – https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/chinese-syrup-in-honey-check-before-you-buy/articleshow/79536057.cms

Honeygate and China connection: CSE’s adulteration investigation reveals shocking details https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/honeygate-and-china-connection-cse-s-adulteration-investigation-reveals-shocking-details-1746416-2020-12-03

Has China messed with your honey? How the country’s ‘blending’ factories are now producing MORE honey than the world’s bees – https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9328285/Has-China-messed-honey-Far-honey-sold-worlds-bees-produce.html

‘Chinese sugar’ found in Indian honey brands. CSE research team says sugar syrups are designed to pass India’s food regulatory standards – https://theprint.in/india/chinese-sugar-found-in-indian-honey-dabur-patanjali-call-cse-report-bid-to-malign-brands/556162/

Major brands lacing honey with huge amounts of deadly Chinese sugar syrup which govt tests can’t detect, says the Centre for Science and Environment https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-cse-breaks-honeygate-reveals-shocking-adulteration-in-honey-posing-major-health-risk/366104

How notorious Chinese firms sell sugar syrup to adulterate honey in India https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/corporate/story/how-notorious-chinese-firms-sell-sugar-syrup-to-adulterate-honey-in-india-280390-2020-12-03

Honeygate and China connection: CSE’s adulteration investigation reveals shocking details https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/honeygate-and-china-connection-cse-s-adulteration-investigation-reveals-shocking-details-1746416-2020-12-03

Indian government advisory on Fake Honey –  https://consumeraffairs.nic.in/sites/default/files/file-uploads/ctocpas/Honey_0.pdf

If you want the real thing, then go for Himalayan Wild Honey from Honey and Spice Store – https://honeyandspice.in/products/himalayan-wild-honey

The purity of honey sold in India, like in many countries, can vary significantly depending on the brand and source. While some brands offer pure and high-quality honey, there have been concerns about adulteration in the market. Adulterated honey may contain added sugars, syrups, or chemicals that compromise its purity.

In recent years, various reports and investigations, such as one by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in 2020, found that many popular honey brands in India were selling products that contained added sugar syrups. Some of these syrups were sophisticated enough to pass basic tests for purity in India but failed more advanced tests conducted abroad.

However, there are also many trusted brands that offer certified pure honey. Look for honey that is certified by organizations like the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) or brands that undergo rigorous quality checks. It’s also advisable to purchase honey from trusted local beekeepers, as it is often more natural and less likely to be adulterated.