How to Extract Pollen from Honey
Honey, according to Queen Bee Jan, an Indiana-based beekeeper, is an excellent source of antioxidants. It's also antibacterial, soothing to sore throats and just plain delicious on toast or in tea. Queen Bee Jan also states that consuming locally produced honey can soothe allergies over time. Since you're consuming nectar from local plants, your body gets used to the allergens and no longer responds to them. The only trouble with local honey may be the pollen content. If you're allergic to pollen or don't like the way it tastes, you can extract it at home and still reap local honey benefits. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Two 2 cup plastic measuring cups
- 1/16 inch diameter drill bit
- Electric hand drill
- Cheesecloth
- Scissors
- Mason jar
- Honey
- Spouted saucepan
- Wooden spoon
- Candy thermometer
Instructions
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Flip one of your 2 cup measuring cups upside-down and drill rings of 1/16 inch holes through it, starting about 1/8 inch from the outer edge and moving toward the center. This creates a strainer container for your honey. When processed in factories, the honey is pressure-strained. You can do this at home, too.
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Cut three circles of close-woven cheesecloth and place them in the bottom of the drilled measuring cup. Slip the cup down into the mouth of a Mason jar. The cup should balance easily inside the mouth of the jar. Set the other measuring cup to the side of the jar; you'll need it later.
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3
Pour your local honey into a spouted saucepan. These pans have spouts on the sides for easier pouring. Warm the honey over medium heat, stirring constantly.
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4
Heat the honey to about 200 degrees Fahrenheit, checking it frequently with a candy thermometer. Warming this way melts microscopic crystals formed by the pollen and helps separate the pollen from the rest of the honey.
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Pour the honey into the drilled measuring cup. The cheesecloth should be dense enough that the honey doesn't strain into the Mason jar right away.
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Place the bottom of the second measuring cup into the first and press down with your palms, forcing the honey through the cheesecloth and the drilled holes. Continue pouring and pressing this way until all your honey is strained.
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7
Let the honey cool and cap it tightly. Store it in a cool, dark place.
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Tips & Warnings
You shouldn't need to strain honey from the grocery store. Mass-produced honey usually has the pollen extracted from it, unless otherwise indicated on the bottle.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/BananaStock/Getty Images
