Frequently Asked Questions

Raw honey is best described as honey ‘as it exists in the hive’. It is made by extracting honey from the honeycomb of the hive and pouring it through mesh to separate the honey from the impurities like beeswax and Propolis.

Propolis is a resin like material made by bees from buds of poplar and cone bearing trees. Bees use it to build hives and seal cracks (helps control temperature in hive). It contains beehive byproducts. Propolis seems to fight against bacteria, viruses and fungi.

Because its real! Real honey crystallises. Crystallisation occurs because of the natural qualities inside. The natural sugars in honey (glucose and Fructose) will bind together and begin to form little crystals, which can start making your honey harder as the crystals grow. With differing blends from different flower flows some honey will begin to crystallise faster than others. This process does not affect the quality or flavour of the honey just the texture. We here at Two Busy Beez found that crystallised honey is the best type of honey for using in hot drinks as it dissolves really well.

We recommend that you do not microwave your honey as you may overheat and cook the honey, destroying its natural enzymes and micronutrients. We suggest sitting the honey in a bowl or warm water (not boiling) for 20-30 mins or on a window sill in the warmth of the sun.

Heating raw honey too high temperatures at a rapid speed can change the makeup of the honey and weaken or destroy enzymes and minerals. However, a gentle warming of the honey will keep it in its best and most healthy state. If you are using your honey in a hot tea, try to keep the water under 40ºc. This is about the same temperature the honey would get, in the hive, outside on a summer’s day.

This is what we call ‘honey foam’ and it is completely safe to eat. The foam is a result of trapped air bubbles created in the filling process rising to the top. Honey foam is delicious, its light and fluffy and is often filled with all the good stuff raw honey has to offer including pollen and propolis which are filled with vitamins and minerals.

Honey contains yeast cells. When honey has more than 19% water, the yeast cells divide and fermentation occurs. This happens when beekeepers harvest honey too early or you get water/saliva in your honey storage container. If honey ever smells like vinegar its fermenting/fermented. In the unlikely event your honey arrives fermented please refer to the returns policy.

Each extraction is represented by a batch number. This number is a way for beekeepers to keep a record of specific information relating to that batch. For example- the location the beehives were kept, the flowers that were in bloom at that location during the period of time the hives were there, the date of extraction, Identification for Samples taken (This is a control, if there is a problem with a batch). It is also a great way for customers to communicate to us if they have enjoyed a specific flavour and want to know if anymore is in stock.

Yes! Please reach out to us at buzz@twobusybeez.au. We would be more than happy to provide you with a quantity to best suit your needs.

Honey never expires. The Honey, which contains antibacterial proteins and enzymes as well as plenty of antioxidants, is good forever. Kept sealed in an upright container your honey will remain edible indefinitely- Even if it crystallises and darkens over time. FUN FACT: In 2012, it was reported that the world’s oldest honey had been discovered in 2003 in the country of Georgia, west of Tblisi, during oil pipeline construction. Archaeologists estimate the honey is about 5,500 years old. Three types of honey were found – meadow flower, berry and linden. Much like in ancient Egypt, the honeys were in ceramic vessels in the tomb of a noblewoman so they could journey with her into the afterlife.

Honey is a wholesome product created in a natural process by honey bees from the nectar of various flowers. Honey, when not fully processed, may contain residual proteins containing pollen from the plants the bees have visited. Proteins are associated with most true food allergies, and are found in peanuts, soybeans, milk, eggs, fish crustacea, tree nuts and wheat. Honey itself contains very little protein. The major components of honey are simple sugars.

Honey does not contain gluten.

Easiest way to keep ants out is to sit your container in a container of water. Also make sure you are completely sealing your containers lid after each use.

I too love to cook with honey in place of sugar especially in bread it is delicious. Here is a quick guide to help you out.
1 Cup brown sugar= 1/2 Cup honey
1 Cup White/caster sugar= 1/2 Cup Honey
1Tbsp maple syrup= 1Tbsp Honey
1Tbsp golden syrup= 1Tbsp Honey
When adding honey in place of sugar you will need to decrease the liquid component of your recipe by 25% for every cup (370g) of honey.
Honey Browns a little quicker than sugar so you will need to reduce your cooking temperature by 15 degrees Celsius when baking recipes with more than 1/2cup of honey at temperatures over 180degrees Celsius
Did you know using honey in your baked goods adds moisture.

Kelvin has part time job driving a school bus. These hours allow him to work the bees during the day and on the weekends.
Sarah works full time on Two Busy Beez, Making and creating new products, Packaging orders and selling at two local markets weekly.
Evans Head Farmers Market every Friday 2:30pm-6:30pm down near the surf club and every Sunday you will find us at The Ballina Farmers & Producers Market at Commemoration Park 7am-11am. This is what works for our family at this point in time.