[Jerry T Indiana]

I am new beek and never really ate honey until I got interested in bees. With that said the only raw honey I have even had was from here in Indiana. Had the wife pick me up some raw honey when she was in SC. The first thing I noticed was how runny it was vs what I have here. It is listed as raw honey, does honey have different thicknesses? ... if so why?

 

[Coach B]

does honey have different thicknesses? ... if so why?

Yes, and not just because of location, but also due to year to year differences in nectar sources. The first year I harvested honey it was thick and dark. The next year the first little batch I cut out was very thin and clear. Lots of clover in the East this year will likely lead to more light honey than normal.

 

[HEV261]

Yes, and not just because of location, but also due to year to year differences in nectar sources. The first year I harvested honey it was thick and dark. The next year the first little batch I cut out was very thin and clear. Lots of clover in the East this year will likely lead to more light honey than normal.

thin honey most likely cause of water it has to be 18 percent water any less will bee real thick any more will be thin so you need to be around that 18percent before bottling plus will fermint on you

 

[AstroBee]

The first thing I noticed was how runny it was vs what I have here.

As mentioned, very likely that it was high moisture content. Chances are good that the supplier really didn't properly take moisture into consideration. Most honeys of proper moisture content will be quite viscous. I've seen honey at farmer's markets were it ran like water when the jar was tipped. If you have a refractometer test it yourself. I'd bet its above 18%.

 

[gone2seed]

17 to 20 % moisture is acceptable with the preference being on the low side.Over 20% will ferment.Temperature can also play a temporary role.Honey at 100 degrees in my honey house in July always appears thinner than the 70 degree stuff stored in the house.

 

[Michael Bush]

Honey with more water content will be thinner and less will be thicker, but there are other things at work as well. Some sources are thixotropic to a more or less degree.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thixotropy

 

[Cloverdale]

I had thought that Spring honey was thinner not due to water content but nectar source?

 

[Jerry T Indiana]

thanks for all the replies ..... I kind of wish I could test it just for the heck of it