sugar in honey test?

[neillsayers]

Is there a simple way to determine if the honey one has is contaminated with cane sugar syrup?

[Perry]

No easy way that I know of. \

[apisbees]

Their are test that are on youtube of honeys that are cut / diluted with corn or sugar syrup. But for honey that may be derived by the bees from process or refined sugars rather than nectars, microscopic identification needs to be used on the raw honey to see that the pollens that the sample  contains are in the range for the nectar source. Also the honey can be broke down to see if the sugars and minerals are in the appropriate proportions of the type of nectar the bees were gathering.

[efmesch]

If you happen to have a mass spectrometer, (prices on Amazon run to around $20,000) or have access to the use of one,, it should be relatively easy to get an accurate analysis.   

[neillsayers]

Thanks Guys.

EF, I'm afraid the mass spec is out of my price range for the foreseeable future or like forever!

[kebee]

  I tests it by tasting, if it tast like honey it is.

Ken

[apisbees]

  I tests it by tasting, if it tast like honey it is.

Ken

The bees can do a real good job of turning sugar syrups into honey. It your honey comes from plants that produce mild tasting honey, honey from sugar syrup doesn't taste much different. Extract it along with the natural honey and have it mix all together and you can not tell by taste alone. with out analyzing the honey.

[Ray]

What's honey and what's not. Beeks' have been fighting that war since cheaper sugars have come on the market. The cautious consumers of earlier days, demanded comb honey to guarantee purity. Modern knowledge minimizes that guarantee and unscrupulous honey producers have profited.
   In someways it's a boon to us local producers, our customers trust us. 

[apisbees]

Lets face it You can be the most careful beekeeper. not feeding any sugar to your bees. But there is no guaranty that the bees are not visiting the neighbors humming bird feeder or drinking the discarded remains from a pop can.