The sweet nectar of life
Nectar is a sugar-rich liquid produced by plants in glands called nectaries. Plants that produce nectar most often do so because they need to attract bugs or animals to help spread their pollen. As bees drink a plants nectar they pick up and deposit pollen. This process allows the plants to reproduce. Each flowers nectar is unique. The plants bees visit will determine the honey’s flavor.
Raw nectar is mostly water, around 80%. The sugar in nectar is primarily made of both glucose and fructose. The amount of glucose in honey determines how quickly it will crystalize. In order to turn nectar into honey the bees must reduce the moisture content 18% or less. Once that happens the bees put a wax capping over each cell to protect it.
