Honey is one of the oldest and most versatile natural products that humans have used for food, medicine, and beauty. However, not all honey is the same. There are different types of honey, depending on the source of the sweet substance that bees collect and transform. The most common type of honey is blossom honey, which is made from the nectar of flowers. But there is another type of honey that is less known, but more valuable and rarer: honeydew honey.
Honeydew honey is made from the excretions of plant-sucking insects (Hemiptera), such as aphids, scale insects, and leafhoppers, that feed on the sap of certain trees and plants. These insects secrete a sugary liquid called honeydew, which is rich in organic acids, minerals, and amino acids. Bees collect this honeydew and store it in their honeycombs, where it undergoes enzymatic and chemical changes, resulting in a dark, thick, and aromatic honey.
Honeydew honey is not only different from blossom honey in its origin, but also in its characteristics and composition. According to a recent research paper by James Arruda Salomea, Shaher Bano Mirza, and Fouad Lamghari Ridouane, honeydew honey has higher fructose content and electrical conductivity than blossom honey, which makes it more suitable for long-term storage and medicinal use. Honeydew honey also has higher antioxidant and antimicrobial activity than blossom honey, which can help prevent and treat various diseases and infections.
The paper also compares the production and quality of honeydew honey from different regions of the world, such as Turkey, Greece, Germany, Spain, and Bulgaria, with those from Fujairah, U.A.E. The paper shows that Fujairah’s honeydew honey has some unique features that make it stand out among the world’s best. For instance, Fujairah’s honeydew honey has the lowest moisture content and the highest ash content among the samples, which indicate its purity and mineral richness. Fujairah’s honeydew honey also has the highest content of potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc, which are essential for human health and nutrition.
Fujairah’s honeydew honey is mainly produced by the indigenous honeybee species Apis mellifera jemenitica, which is adapted to the arid and semi-arid climate of the region. The honeybees collect honeydew from various plants, such as acacia, sidr, ghaf, and samr, which give the honey its distinctive flavor and aroma. Fujairah’s honeydew honey is highly valued by the local people, who use it for culinary, medicinal, and cosmetic purposes.
Fujairah’s honeydew honey is a rare and precious product that deserves more recognition and appreciation. It is a testament to the diversity and richness of nature, and the ingenuity and skill of the beekeepers. It is also a source of pride and identity for the people of Fujairah, who have preserved and promoted their honey-making tradition for generations. Fujairah’s honeydew honey is not only a sweet treat, but also a healthy and natural remedy that can benefit everyone.