There is nothing in common between natural bee honey and artificial honey. This product is not produced by bees, but is created by human hands at home. But artificial honey is not a fake at all. This is a completely independent food product obtained from cane or beet sugar, grape juice, melon, watermelon or flower infusions of linden, acacia, elderberry with the addition of granulated sugar. It is the latter honey that is considered useful, since it retains the medicinal properties of the plant, which are valued in folk medicine.
The benefits of elderberry honey
Elderberry medicinal plant has been used in folk medicine for many years to prepare infusions and decoctions. They are used as an antipyretic, diaphoretic, diuretic, anthelmintic. A hot decoction of elderberry flowers helps in the treatment of respiratory diseases, bronchitis, as well as tonsillitis, stomatitis, etc. Infusions from this plant soothe the nervous system, relieve headache and toothache.
Elderberry honey is a true healing syrup that preserves the unique properties of the plant. It helps in the treatment of influenza, colds, pneumonia, etc. With such a tasty medicine, recovery comes much faster.
Elderberry honey: a home-made recipe
During the period of intensive flowering of elderberries, from May to June, the time is right for the collection of plant flowers. They are separated from the stalks and rammed tightly into a half-liter jar. That is how many flowers will be needed to make elderberry honey at home, the recipe for which is offered below.
At home, transfer the flowers to the pan and add cold water (1 l). After boiling, cook for 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the stove and, without opening the lid, leave to infuse for 12-15 hours.
After the specified time, strain the broth from the flowers, add sugar (3 kg) and let it boil. Boil honey for an hour, stirring occasionally, until the mass begins to thicken. At the end of cooking, add a teaspoon of citric acid (you can replace the juice with half a lemon). Pour hot honey into jars, and after cooling, cover with plastic lids and store in a cool dark place.
Artificial elderberry honey: indications for use
The main advantage of artificial honey over natural honey is that it does not cause allergies. And this means that the scope of this product is much wider.
Artificial honey can be consumed by adults and children, and even pregnant women and nursing mothers. The recommended dose is one teaspoon three times a day, washed down with water, herbal tea or a rosehip broth. You can add elderberry honey directly to tea. It is a great sugar substitute.
Artificial Linden Honey Recipe
No less elderberry is appreciated linden. It is customary to dry the flowers of this tree, after which tea can be brewed, which has a beneficial effect on the nervous system, helps with flu and colds, and digestive diseases. Artificial honey made from linden has a similar effect.
Torn flowers need to be separated from the leaves and tamped tightly in a jar (3 l). After that, they need to be folded into a pan and pour water (1.5 l). Boil for 20 minutes after boiling, and then set aside and allow to cool completely and infuse for 6 hours. Then strain the broth, add as much sugar as there were flowers (3 l). Boil honey for 2 hours until thickened. 20 minutes before the end of cooking pour the juice of half a lemon. Pour honey into jars and store in a dark, cool place for an unlimited time.
Linden honey can be added to tea or taken by teaspoon daily to prevent disease and strengthen immunity.
Acacia honey at home
From white flowers of acacia, you can also prepare a sweet treat. Artificial honey is a beautiful pinkish-brown color and very pleasant to taste. To prepare it, you will need a liter jar of acacia flowers, the same amount of water, 2.5 kg of sugar and the juice of half a lemon.
Before making honey, many housewives ask themselves: is it necessary to wash acacia flowers or not. On the one hand, water will save inflorescences from dust and insects that can be inside, and on the other hand, you can lose most of the valuable pollen. Therefore, the best option - it is better not to wash, but flowers should not be collected at the side of the road, but in places where there is no road dust.
In general, the process of making honey is similar to how it is made from elderberry. Flowers are poured with water, boiled for 10-15 minutes, and then allowed to infuse for 12-14 hours. After this, the broth is filtered and boiled with sugar until thickened for two hours. At the end of cooking, add lemon juice and pour into jars. Cool before use. It is good to add to tea, purified water or a rosehip broth.