Possibly the world's oldest fermented beverage, dating from 9,000 years ago, [38] mead ("honey wine") is the alcoholic product made by adding yeast to honey-water must and fermenting it for weeks or months. [39] [40] The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is commonly used in modern mead production. [39] [40]

Modern biblical researchers long considered that the original Hebrew word used in the Bible, דבש devash, refers to the sweet syrup produced from figs or dates, because the domestication of the honey bee was completely undocumented through archaeology anywhere in the ancient Near East (excluding Egypt) at the time associated with the earlier biblical narratives [149] (books of Exodus, Judges, Kings, etc.). In 2005, however, an apiary dating from the 10th century BC was found in Tel Rehov, Israel that contained 100 hives, estimated to produce half a ton of honey annually. [151] [149] This was, as of 2007, the only such finding made by archaeologists in the entire ancient Near East region, and it opens the possibility that biblical honey was indeed bee honey. [149] Rabbinic Judaism a b Tomasik, Piotr (2004) Chemical and functional properties of food saccharides, CRC Press, p. 74, ISBN 0-8493-1486-0 First Regional Training Workshop for Beekeepers. Bib. Orton IICA / CATIE. 1992. pp.55– . Retrieved 5 January 2016.Honey bees are not the only eusocial insects to produce honey. All non-parasitic bumblebees and stingless bees produce honey. Some wasp species, such as Brachygastra lecheguana and Brachygastra mellifica, found in South and Central America, are known to feed on nectar and produce honey. [22] Other wasps, such as Polistes versicolor, also consume honey. In the middle of their life cycles they alternate between feeding on protein-rich pollen and feeding on honey, which is a far denser source of food energy. [23] Human intervention Beyond the physical reasons for using honey, it also is better for you. Honey has nutrients in it. Sugar does not. So, honey is a healthier choice, even though it does still have an impact on your blood sugar. It is best in moderation but is always a better choice over cane sugar when you are trying to be health-conscious. Lasts Long a b c d e f g h i j k l m Pattamayutanon, Praetinee; Angeli, Sergio; Thakeow, Prodpran; Abraham, John; Disayathanoowat, Terd; Chantawannakul, Panuwan (13 February 2017). Rueppell, Olav (ed.). "Volatile organic compounds of Thai honeys produced from several floral sources by different honey bee species". PLOS ONE. 12 (2): e0172099. Bibcode: 2017PLoSO..1272099P. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172099. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 5305196. PMID 28192487.

In many cases, it can be used as an ingredient without any actual honey taste, which is great if you are trying to cut down on harmful sugars and sweeteners but don’t like the taste of honey. It also makes a great way to add some nutrition to your sweet treats. Mulholland S, Chang AB (2009). "Honey and lozenges for children with non-specific cough" (PDF). Cochrane Database Syst Rev (Systematic review). 2009 (2): CD007523. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007523.pub2. PMC 7202236. PMID 19370690.Fermentation of honey usually occurs after crystallization, because without the glucose, the liquid portion of the honey primarily consists of a concentrated mixture of fructose, acids, and water, providing the yeast with enough of an increase in the water percentage for growth. Honey that is to be stored at room temperature for long periods of time is often pasteurized, to kill any yeast, by heating it above 70°C (158°F). [30] Thermal characteristics Creamed honey: the honey on the left is fresh, and the honey on the right has been aged at room temperature for two years. The Maillard reaction produces considerable differences in the color and flavor of the aged honey, which remains edible.