QUESTION: How can we test the purity of honey?

A. R. Harihar, Palakkad, Kerala

ANSWER 1: The purity of honey can be easily detected using different methods. One such test is the aniline
chloride test. Here aniline chloride is first prepared and then used for testing. Three parts of aniline and one
part of concentrated hydrochloric acid gives us aniline chloride.

A small ceramic vessel is taken and a small quantity of honey is placed in it. About 5-7 drops of aniline
chloride is added to it and stirred well. If the honey is adulterated a crimson red colour appears.

In another method honey is taken in a test tube and equal quantity of water is added to it and stirred well.
About 100 millilitres of this solution is taken and 5 ml of ether is added to it. This mixture is kept aside for
some time in order to get a fine solution after stirring. The ether layer settling on the top is transferred to
another small flat bottom vessel. The ether gets vapourised in a short while and to this resorcinol is added.
This gives a red colour. This indicates that the honey has an adulterant.

In addition to all these tests an important factor to be highlighted is about the granulation of honey. One of
the nutrients (sugar) in pure honey precipitates when it is subjected to cool weather. This precipitation gives
an appearance of sugar crystals. The honey giving more sugar precipitates faster. Mostly this is mistaken for
adulteration. But if the precipitated honey is kept in hot water it attains normal liquid state which shows that
it has no adulterant.

T. Kalaivani, Chidambaram, T. N.

ANSWER 2: A cotton wick dipped in pure honey when lighted with a matchstick burns and shows the purity
of honey. If adulterated, the presence of water will not allow the honey to burn, If it does, it will produce a
cracking sound. Generally honey is adulterated by adding a syrup of jaggery. Pure honey does not dissolve
in water but impure honey dissolves. So to test it mix a spoon of honey in a cup of water and find out
whether it dissolves to check its purity. — The Hindu S & T desk

*************88

I guess when the bottle label does not suggest any additives, it should be pure honey whatever the color
as honey does have difference in color depending on where they are from.

*******************8

1. heck the label. You would be amazed at how many people neglect to look closely at the label of
food products before buying them, and then are dismayed to find they bought something they really
didn't want. Check around the brand name, and the ingredients list (if there is one) for a mention of
additives. The company should be required to list them if you are shopping in certain countries. If
there are no mentions of additives, buy the honey.
 2. 2
Taste the honey. If it seems off, and yet the label claims it is pure, there are a few simple tests you
can run to check the purity of the honey.

o The dissolving test.

Get a glass of water.

Get a glass of water.And a tablespoon of honey are all you need for the first test.


 Empty the honey into the water.
Empty the honey into the water. If the honey is impure, it will dissolve in the water- the most common
additive to honey is syrup of jaggery, which dissolves. If it is pure, the honey will stick together and
sink as a solid lump to the bottom of the glass.

This test can also be completed by mixing equal parts honey and methylated spirits (denatured alcohol).
This test can also be completed by mixing equal parts honey and methylated spirits (denatured
alcohol). Pure honey will settle to the bottom. Impure honey is more likely to remain dissolved and
make the solution milky.
o The flame test.

Get a lighter and a candle with a cotton wick.

Get a lighter and a candle with a cotton wick. This test is better if you don't have as much honey to
spare.

Dip the cotton wick of the candle into a bit of the honey, and shake off the excess.
Dip the cotton wick of the candle into a bit of the honey, and shake off the excess.

Attempt to light the wick.

 Attempt to light the wick. If it burns, then it is completely pure honey. If it refuses to burn, then the
presence of water is not allowing the wick to burn. (If there is only a very small amount of honey on
the wick, though, it might still burn. It will produce a crackling sound, and it would be best to blow out
the wick and try it again this time using more honey.)
o The absorption test.

Pour a few drops of honey on blotting paper and observe whether or not it is absorbed.
Pour a few drops of honey on blotting paper and observe whether or not it is absorbed. If it's
absorbed, the honey's not pure.

If you don't have blotting paper, pour a little bit of honey on a white cloth, then wash the cloth.
If you don't have blotting paper, pour a little bit of honey on a white cloth, then wash the cloth. If
there is any stain left by the honey, it is probably not pure.
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EditTips
 Crystallized, or granulated honey, is always pure. If you want to be completely sure that the honey
you have bought is pure, that is the most reliable way. How to Reliquefy Granulated Honey is
invaluable if you choose to buy crystallized honey.
 If you're at a farmers market or buying from a local farmer, they may not allow you to do these tests
before buying, simply because it's much less probable that a local supplier is tampering with their
honey. If you feel you must test it, though, just ask, don't pull out a lighter and start attempting to
burn their honey.
 Science has struggled for decades to develop a reliable scientifically-based test to identify
adulterants and sugars added to honey. There does not currently exist a reliable in-home analysis
that can be easily conducted to identify added sugars. If there were such an easy test, the prospect
of adding sugars that are so easily identified would preclude any but the most ignorant from
attempting such deceit. The only current reliable method is the AOAC Stable Carbon Isotope Ratio
Analysis.