How to Check if Honey Is Real or Fake: A Simple Trick You Should Know

This method is surprisingly effective and easy to perform at the store or at home.

  1. Hold the honey bottle upright , then shake it three times up and down.
  2. Quickly flip the bottle upside down and observe the air bubbles inside.

Here’s what to look for:

  • If the bubbles rise slowly and take a long time to disappear (up to 1–2 hours), you’re likely holding real honey .
  • If the bubbles rise quickly and vanish almost immediately , the honey is likely fake or diluted .

This works because pure honey is dense and viscous , causing bubbles to move slowly. In contrast, adulterated honey contains water and less dense additives , making the bubbles disappear faster.

Other Simple Ways to Test Honey at Home

If you’re already at home and want to double-check your honey, here are two more methods you can try:

1. The Water Test

  • Fill a glass with room-temperature water.
  • Drop a spoonful of honey into the center of the glass.
  • Real honey will sink to the bottom in thick, cohesive strands without dissolving immediately.
  • Fake honey will dissolve quickly , spreading out into the water as if it were syrup.

2. The Crystallization Test

  • Pure honey naturally crystallizes over time , especially when the temperature drops below 14°C (57°F) .
  • When kept in a cool place, real honey will become thick, cloudy, and grainy — this is a sign of its natural sugars (glucose and fructose) solidifying.
  • If your honey never crystallizes , even in cold temperatures, it may be adulterated or overly processed .
  • You can also reverse the process by warming the honey above 20°C (68°F) — real honey will return to its smooth, liquid form.

Why Real Honey Matters

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