[heartyhealthy]

Hello all,

Non-beekeeper here, though it's always been a dream of mine to get started with it!

We got some honey from a beekeeping friend a few years back, and also a plastic drink bottle filled with a liquid. It smelled like honey but had the consistency of water.

It fermented for a short time and offgassed during that time. It's been dormant for a year or two now. Still smells like honey, has a nice amber color, and has sediment on the bottom.

First question is, what was the liquid they gave us? It wasn't honey. Perhaps water used to wash equipment? Or is there some other byproduct of honey product that is less viscous?

Second question is, do I have honey vinegar now? I assume it's safe to taste test but I thought I'd check in with the experts first.

Thanks for any input!

 

[sqkcrk]

I have no idea. No way to tell. It isn't anything I immediately recognize by your description. I'd pour it down the drain, not knowing whether it is anything safe to consume or not. Seems you should ask your friend.

 

[SpeckledPup]

Could the thinner product be mead?

Had some one give me some mead and it worked off for a couple of months after I received it.

 

[gone2seed]

my guess would be mead.smell first then a small taste.

 

[heartyhealthy]

Hmm. Smells weird but not too bad, so a taste. Tastes like it might have been mead at one time but instead of turning to vinegar it spoiled instead. I wonder if it was vinegar proper at some point but weakened, as raw vinegar will do? Thanks for the input, I guess this one will be a mystery.