What is Honey Made Off?

Honey is made primarily of the following components:

1. Sugars (about 80%)
• Fructose (~38%) – the main sugar, responsible for honey's sweetness
• Glucose (~31%) – contributes to crystallization
• Other sugars (~11%) – including maltose, sucrose, and oligosaccharides
2. Water (about 17–20%)
• A low water content helps prevent spoilage and makes honey shelf-stable
3. Enzymes (added by bees)
• Invertase – breaks down sucrose into glucose and fructose
• Glucose oxidase – produces hydrogen peroxide, which has antibacterial properties
• Diastase (amylase) – breaks down starches
4. Acids
• Mainly gluconic acid, which gives honey its slightly acidic pH (around 3.4–6.1)
5. Vitamins and Minerals (in small amounts)
• Includes vitamin C, B vitamins, calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium
6. Antioxidants
• Flavonoids and phenolic acids that help reduce oxidative stress
7. Aromatic Compounds
• These give honey its flavor and scent, influenced by the flowers visited by bees

In essence, honey is a natural, sugar-rich substance made by bees from flower nectar, modified with enzymes, and reduced in moisture to form a thick, stable food.