Pure chestnut honey is rare. This is due to the area of distribution of honey plants. But if you purchase a non-fake product, you are in luck, since this variety has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.
Some beekeepers and lovers of food refer to it as low grade honey. This is due to the presence of bitterness in the taste. In this article, we will talk about the beneficial properties and contraindications for using chestnut honey. We will also learn about its medicinal effect.
Taste and color
The color of chestnut honey depends on where the plant grows, in what weather the nectar was collected (weather and climatic conditions), what type of chestnut is used as a honey plant. In cloudy weather, it is more concentrated. In normal weather, its color resembles chocolate. It is viscous in consistency, it is impossible to spill it.
It is one of the few honey varieties that tastes slightly bitter in the mouth. You can warm it up. At temperatures above 40 degrees, it becomes sweeter, but quickly loses its beneficial properties.
May not crystallize for several seasons. This indicator is used for medicinal purposes and cosmetology, since candied honey loses its elasticity, and after heating it - and useful properties.
Whether the honey is real or not, color and taste will help.
Ingredients: vitamins and minerals
For a long time, the large amount of fructose in its composition helps the product remain liquid, viscous. It is more than glucose, therefore, after consulting a doctor, this variety can be consumed by patients with diabetes mellitus.
A large amount of minerals sodium, phosphorus, iron, iodine; microelements: zinc, fluorine, manganese, copper; amino acids and natural biogenic stimulants make this natural product valuable for health. It contains ascorbic acid (vitamin C), B vitamins, vitamin K and E, and others. Very nutritious. 100 g of product contains 284 kilocalories. There are practically no proteins and fats in its composition.
Real pure chestnut honey is quite expensive, since the honey plant grows in a limited area.
Useful properties of chestnut honey
The benefits of this product are simply invaluable. This variety is an excellent antiseptic. With its help, wounds heal, even in patients with diabetes. For such people, it is useful for food. After consulting your doctor, you can take it for food, since more than 90% of honey goes directly into the blood after resorption due to the high content of fructose.
In the autumn-winter and winter-spring period, thanks to its three times its use in food during the day, one tablespoon, increases the body's immunity. A spoonful of chestnut honey eaten on an empty stomach in the morning and in the evening after drinking a glass of water provides enveloping of the oral mucosa, and after entering the stomach - and the intestinal walls.
This protects the body from the action of harmful bacteria, tightens existing wounds and sores. It is used in cosmetology, cooking, traditional and alternative medicine.
Contraindications and harm
It is not recommended for people who are intolerant of honey, or who are allergic to chestnuts. In this case, you can harm the body.It is recommended to apply a little product to the skin of the cyst on the back of the cyst before using it, wait a few minutes.
If there is no negative reaction, use this variety as a remedy.
Patients with diabetes also need to be careful in moderation. Not recommended for small children.
About honey plant
The honey plant of this variety is chestnut, which grows in the Caucasus, Crimea, southern France, Italy. It is the French who supply this product in large quantities to store shelves.
Horse chestnut, although it is a melliferous plant, but the composition of honey from it, color and other indicators differ from chestnut honey: it is transparent, quickly candied and has fewer nutrients and trace elements. Its taste is bitter.
Blooms profusely in May and early June for two weeks. Therefore, if beekeepers want the bee to receive a bribe from this honey plant, one must not miss the deadline. The weather during this period is favorable for bees, as the heat is not yet present.
The main thing is that there are no frequent rains. The plant produces a lot of nectar and pollen. Therefore, a lot of honey is obtained. The abundance of flowering compensates for the short period of nectar collection for the bees.
Storage conditions
It is better to store the product at a temperature not exceeding 19 degrees Celsius. This applies to the period when honey, after pumping out, is in a liquid, non-sugared state. In this consistency, it can be stored for up to two years.
After that it crystallizes. We reduce the storage temperature to 5 degrees Celsius. You should not lower it below zero or heat honey after crystallization in order to avoid losing its healing and nutritional properties.
To prevent honey from absorbing excess moisture, if it is not stored in an airtight container, we maintain the air humidity at the level of 59-61%... It is preferable to use glassware for long-term storage. Plastic is suitable for transportation.
Direct sunlight has a detrimental effect on the quality of honey, which stratifies under their influence.
Healing properties
Chestnut honey is used as a preventive measure for the gastrointestinal tract. Thanks to its properties, the cardiovascular system is strengthened. It is indispensable for respiratory diseases. It helps relieve stress, soothes, so it is taken before bed. This product also has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the kidneys and liver, fights eye diseases, including conjunctivitis.
Chestnut honey is not for everybody. Those who are sweet will be disappointed because of the bitterness inherent in this variety. But no one will deny its beneficial and healing properties. The main thing is to buy a natural product, not a fake. Then you will appreciate it.