Our most commonly asked questions from customers:

➜ What is raw honey?

Our raw, local honey is honey in its purest form. Think about it as honey coming from the comb straight to the jar! We harvest the honeycomb frames from the hive and scrape off the wax that seals the honey inside. The honey is then extracted, strained through a mesh to remove any debris like wax, and packed into jars. Best of all, raw honey never has additives, such as corn syrup or sugar, no preservatives, no added chemicals, and is not heated for pasteurization.  This allows the honey to retain its antioxidants, micronutrients, bee pollen, and bee propolis.

➜ What is raw creamed honey?

Our raw creamed honey starts as our raw liquid honey, and is crystalized to give it a smooth, creamy, spreadable texture.  All raw honey will crystalize over time in nature, we simply get involved to ensure the crystals are evenly distributed and prevent any large crystals from forming.  This ensures we have only the smoothest and creamiest honey available.  

➜ Do you have a storefront? 

We do not have a retail storefront. Instead, our items are available in-person at the Maple Grove Farmers Markets or can be ordered on our website to be picked up at our farm in Maple Grove, MN, or shipped. We are also expanding to offer our products at various local businesses.  

➜ Where do I pick up my online order?

All Honey Hut products purchased online can be picked up locally or shipped directly to you. When you place your order, we will contact you to schedule a pickup time at our property in Maple Grove (you'll receive address information and confirm a date/time after purchase).

➜ How can I use the honey?

There are plenty of ways to enjoy your Honey Hut honey! Our founders use the farm’s honey daily: it can be used in anything from coffees and teas, stirred into oatmeal or Greek yogurt, added to marinades, used in baked goods, or even enjoyed straight from the spoon. Honey is also known for its ability to soothe sore throats or give you an energy boost before workouts. You can even apply our gentle raw honey as a face mask!

➜ How should I store my local honey?

Store our raw local honey at room temperature, away from direct sunlight. Ensure that the jar is tightly sealed to prevent air and moisture from getting in. If stored in a cool location, crystallization will happen more rapidly. 

➜ What are the benefits of raw local honey?

Where do we even start?

• Allergy relief: Consuming local honey introduces your body to small amounts of local pollen and nectar, allowing your body to build an immune system against allergies caused by pollen and reduce seasonal allergy symptoms.  For maximum allergy relief, it is best to choose honey from as close to your home as possible. 

• Antioxidants: Raw honey contains antioxidants, which contribute to overall health.

• Cough & Sore Throat Relief: Honey has natural antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. These allow it to soothe sore throats and even aid in healing wounds.

• Nutrient-Rich: Raw honey contains numerous natural vitamins, minerals, and enzymes, including calcium, magnesium, manganese, niacin, potassium, riboflavin, and zinc. Honey’s phytonutrients can improve memory, boost the brain, and fight infection. 

• Energy Boost: Honey provides a quick source of energy due to its natural sugars, which can be useful for athletes or those needing an energy pick-me-up.

• Support for Local Beekeepers: Buying local honey supports local beekeepers and can contribute to the health of local bee populations.

➜ What is the shelf life of raw honey?

Did you know that honey is the only food that can last almost indefinitely if stored properly? Honey's low moisture content, high acidity, and antibacterial properties prevent it from spoiling. By keeping it in a tightly sealed container, it will stay good for years to come.

As we like to say, “Our raw honey never goes bad; it can simply become inconvenient” (as crystallization sets in). But have no fear — gently warming your honey will bring it right back to its liquid goodness. In fact, archaeologists have found pots of honey in ancient Egyptian tombs that are over 3,000 years old and still perfectly edible. 

➜ Why is my honey crystallized?

If your raw honey has crystalized, don’t fret, this is actually a good sign that your honey is pure! Crystallization is a naturally occurring process in unprocessed honey where the sugar granules begin to clump together.  Honey crystallization happens more quickly in cool temperatures. For this reason, it is best to store liquid honey at room temperature in a tightly sealed container.  The honey’s floral source, pollen, and glucose content can also make some honey crystallize quickly. Remember, crystalized honey is still completely safe to eat and retains its full nutritional value. If you want to reduce crystallization, let your honey jar sit in a warm water bath until the crystals have dissolved.

➜ How do I re-liquify and decrystallize my honey without damaging it?

Crystallized honey will return to its liquid state when heated.  This can be done by placing a honey container in a warm water bath until it returns to its liquid form (heated to around 100-110°F). Excess heat will not “ruin” honey, but it may destroy some enzymes and nutrients.

 

➜ What is pure Maple Syrup?

Pure Maple Syrup is made from maple tree sap that is boiled to reduce the water content and concentrate the sugars. It contains no artificial sugars, colors, flavors, or preservatives. 

➜ How do I store my pure maple syrup?

Unopened syrup should be stored in a tightly sealed glass container in a cool, dark place until you’re ready to use it.  Once opened, syrup should be stored in a refrigerator or freezer, as it is a natural product with no preservatives.  

➜ What makes some maple syrup lighter or darker in color? 

Syrup color changes throughout the maple syrup season. Lighter syrup is made only when the sap first begins to flow at the start of the sugaring season, when the weather is colder. While darker syrup follows later as the weather is warmer, and the sugar content of the sap is reduced.  Lighter syrup has a delicate and subtle flavor, making it an ideal topping. Darker maple syrups tend to have a more robust flavor, with the flavors of the minerals in the sap to come through, making it more commonly used in baking. Try both varieties to see what you like best!

➜ How much sap does it take to make maple syrup? 

The sap-to-sugar ratio is 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of maple syrup! The sap is boiled on our wood-burning evaporator for days to remove water and concentrate the sugar, leaving you with the perfect jar of pure maple syrup.

➜ What are the benefits of pure maple Syrup?

• Antioxidants: Maple syrup contains 24 natural antioxidants that can reduce the damage of free radicals causing inflammation and reduce various chronic diseases.

• Vitamins & Minerals: Maple syrup contains fairly high amounts of zinc, manganese, potassium, and calcium. Zinc can help fight illness and improve immunity since it keeps your white blood cell level up. Manganese plays a crucial role in fat and carbohydrate metabolism, calcium absorption, blood sugar regulation, and brain and nerve function. Calcium and magnesium work together to support bone health.

• Digestive Health: Maple syrup contains natural prebiotics, a fiber that acts as food for beneficial bacteria in the gut. It also has many anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce inflammation in the gut. 

• Energy Boost: Maple syrup can help boost energy levels because of its natural sugars.  Unlike refined sugars that can cause rapid spikes and crashes in blood sugar levels, maple syrup has a moderate glycemic index.