When is honey ready for harvest? How to get the best honey from the comb
For beekeepers, harvesting honey is one of the most wonderful times of the year. But when is honey ready for harvest, and how do you know you're getting the best quality honey from the comb? The right harvest time determines not only the flavor but also the shelf life of the honey.
Harvesting honey: wait until the cells are sealed
The best honey is harvested when the bees have sealed the cells (also called "capped honey"). Bees seal the honey cells with a thin layer of beeswax once the honey is ripe. This means the moisture content is low enough, ensuring the honey has a long shelf life. For beekeepers, this is the ultimate sign that the honey is ready to harvest.
Why not harvest honey too early?
When the honey cells are still open, the honey often contains too much water. Honey with a high moisture content (more than 20%) can ferment, which destroys its flavor and prevents it from storing properly. Therefore, patience is crucial: only when the honey is ripe can you be sure of a high-quality product.
How do you recognize harvest-ripe honey?
A practical rule of thumb for beekeepers: wait until at least 80% of the cells are sealed. This ensures the honey is ready to be harvested. A simple check is the "shake test": hold a frame of honey horizontally and give it a tap. If honey still leaks from the open cells, the product is not yet ripe.
The result of patiently harvesting honey
By waiting for the bees to seal their cells, you get honey that:
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has an optimally low moisture content,
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retains a full, natural flavour,
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has a long shelf life without loss of quality.
Conclusion
The best honey is harvested when the bees have finished their work and the cells are completely or mostly sealed. This way, you harvest honey with the perfect flavor and shelf life. So, for beekeepers and honey lovers alike, it's always worth waiting patiently.
