Frequently Asked Questions
What if my local store doesn’t sell SUE BEE® products?
If you are having trouble finding our SUE BEE® products at your local store or a store near you, you’re in luck. All you have to do is reach out to your local retailer and ask for it. Grocers listen to their customers.
What are the benefits of organic honey?
Most certified-organic honey comes from outside the U.S. and follows the organic livestock standards. In order for honey to be considered “organic honey,” the bees must only get nectar from approved forage areas that do not include modern agriculture, urban areas, highways or other disqualifying land uses. Every ounce of organic honey is certified by Quality Assurance International (QAI) to ensure you are truly getting an organic product.
Why should I buy local honey?
Though there’s not a ton of research to support it, it’s been said that local honey can help provide allergy relief. The theory being that the bees in your vicinity will collect pollen from the plants that cause allergies. And the honey that those bees produce then acts as a sort of vaccine.
But more so, we believe it’s important to support your local honey providers. Sioux Honey Association Co-op is proud of each and every one of its 200+ independent beekeepers, and we’re excited to offer products that feature and promote those individuals within their very own communities.
What’s the difference between filtered and unfiltered honey?
Filtered honey is pure, natural honey, just like raw and unfiltered honey. It’s not considered inferior in any way. It’s just different.
The filtering process (which is what we do with our classic SUE BEE® honey) simply removes visible particles that come from the hive. Raw and unfiltered honey, on the other hand, is strained, allowing more of the pollen to remain in the honey.
While many believe that the increased pollen levels of a raw honey product make it better for you, the presence or absence of pollen in our honey products does not affect its food safety or quality. Pollen is not required by the USDA, FDA or any other U.S. standards. Scientists have yet to prove that honey with pollen is better for you, but we feel consumers should make their own choices based on personal preferences and/or different usage occasions.
Where does Sioux Honey Association Co-op honey come from?
Our honey comes directly from our co-op of 200+ independent beekeepers – all of whom we know by name. Because we believe it’s not just where your honey comes from that matters, it’s who. And each of those beekeepers is passionate about providing the highest-quality honey for our SIOUX HONEY® consumers.
What’s the difference between the types of honey Sioux Honey Association Co-op makes?
Sioux Honey Association Co-op has two brands of pure, premium honey, so there’s something for everyone. SUE BEE® honey is our classic clover honey. It’s filtered to a smooth perfection and has been a staple since 1921. AUNT SUE’S® Raw & Unfiltered Honey is exactly as described – raw and unfiltered. Available in wildflower or clover, it offers bold flavors and the benefits of natural pollen.
Are SIOUX HONEY® products pure and natural honey?
They sure are. All SUE BEE® honey and AUNT SUE’S® Raw & Unfiltered Honey is made by the honeybees from the flower nectar they gather, transform and store in honeycombs. There are no other ingredients or additives.
How does AUNT SUE’S® Raw & Unfiltered Honey differ from SUE BEE® honey?
Both SUE BEE® honey and AUNT SUE’S® Raw & Unfiltered Honey are pure honey. But while SUE BEE® honey is filtered (which helps remove more debris that comes from the hive), AUNT SUE’S® honey is strained. This allows more of the pollen to remain in the honey. Because of this, you may notice that your raw and unfiltered honey crystallizes more over time. If it does, you can reverse this. Simply place the closed honey bottle into near-boiling water that has been removed from the heat. Leave until both have cooled. (Remember to take the lid off the bottle first.)
What is SUE BEE® SPUN® honey?
Our SUE BEE® SPUN® honey is easily our most preferred product. It is pure, premium honey that has been allowed to naturally granulate under controlled conditions to make a smooth, spreadable textured honey. If you haven’t tried it, we highly recommend it. (SUE BEE® SPUN® Clover Honey is a registered trademark of Sioux Honey Association Co-op.)
Are all SUE BEE® products made in the USA?
All SUE BEE® honey products contain 100% USA honey and are packaged by the 200+ independent beekeepers that make up the Sioux Honey Association Co-op—the largest honey cooperative in the U.S. Together, they care for the millions of honeybees that produce our pure honey.
What is the difference between SUE BEE® honey and the Sioux Honey Association Co-op?
The Sioux Honey Association Co-op is our family that is made up of 200+ independent beekeepers across the USA. Together, we produce the SUE BEE® honey you know and love, as well as our brand AUNT SUE’S® Raw & Unfiltered Honey.
Does honey contain healthful antioxidants?
Several antioxidants, including pinocembrin, pinobanksin, chrysin, galagin, ascorbic acid, catalase and selenium, have been found in honey. Darker honeys with higher moisture content have a stronger antioxidant potential.
Does honey contain any allergens?
Honey is naturally free of allergens. No allergens are stored or used in Sioux Honey Association Co-op facilities.
Does honey contain trans fatty acids?
No. Honey is naturally free of trans fatty acids.
Is your honey Kosher?
Our SUE BEE® honey and our AUNT SUE’S® Raw & Unfiltered Honey are certified Kosher by the Orthodox Union.
Is honey a gluten-free food?
Honey is naturally free of gluten. It contains no wheat, barley, rye nor oats, nor their by-products. No gluten-containing products are stored or used in our SIOUX HONEY® facilities.
Is honey safe in a diabetic diet?
It would be improper for Sioux Honey Association Co-op to advise you relative to a medical condition. Please consult your medical doctor or nutritionist regarding your use of honey. For your information, honey is a complex solution of many natural sugars, as made by the honeybee, including natural fructose (38%), glucose (32%), sucrose (2%), maltose (7%) and other sugars, acids and flavor compounds (4%). These carbohydrates should be accounted for in your diet.
Does honey contain sodium?
Based on USDA Nutritional Facts, one tablespoon contains less than 1 milligram of sodium, a level which the Food and Drug Administration considers “sodium free.”
Does honey contain fat or cholesterol?
No! Honey is composed primarily of carbohydrates.
What is the nutritional value of the SIOUX HONEY® brands?
How many calories are in honey?
One tablespoon of honey contains 60 calories.
What factors influence the flavor of honey?
Because honey is a natural product, its flavor is influenced by the type of flowers from which bees gather nectar, as well as the geographical region and the weather.
Is honey pasteurized?
No. Honey is, by nature, very low in bacteria and other microbes and does not benefit from a pasteurization process.
How much does honey weigh?
Eight fluid ounces (or 1 cup) of honey weighs 12 ounces. Honey is typically sold by weight rather than volume and is heavier than water (the standard for “fluid ounces”). That is why one cup of water is considered eight fluid ounces, but one cup of honey will actually weigh 12 ounces. A gallon of honey weighs approximately 12 pounds.
How do I substitute honey for sugar?
When substituting honey for granulated sugar in recipes, begin by substituting honey for up to half of the sugar called for in the recipe. For baked goods, make sure to reduce the oven temperature by 25°F to prevent overbrowning; reduce any liquid called for by 1/4 cup for each cup of honey used and add 1/2 teaspoon baking soda for each cup of honey used. Because of its naturally high fructose content, honey has higher sweetening power than sugar. This means you can use less honey than sugar to achieve the desired sweetness.
Why shouldn’t I feed honey to a child under 1 year old?
WARNING: Do not feed honey to infants under 1 year of age.
Infant botulism is a rare but very serious disease affecting the nervous system of infants. Honey and other raw agricultural products may contain bacterial spores from Clostridium botulinum that could cause infant botulism. These bacterial spores are widely distributed in nature. They can be found in soil, dust, the air or raw agricultural products. Clostridium botulinum spores have been detected in corn syrup, honey, fresh and processed meats, fruits and vegetables. Scientists don’t know why, but this disease has never been reported in an infant older than 11 months of age. The rate of disease is about 0.02 per 100,000 or 70 to 100 cases annually in the United States since first recognized in 1976. Most infants that develop infant botulism have not been exposed to honey.
Infants born prematurely and under 1 year of age are at highest risk because their underdeveloped immune systems.
How should I store honey?
Honey is best kept in a sealed container at room temperature. Refrigeration preserves honey very well but also promotes granulation, yielding a semi-solid mass. Freezing, on the other hand, preserves honey well and does not promote granulation, but makes dispensing difficult. Avoid temperatures above room temperature because they promote the darkening of the honey, along with subtle flavor changes.
What is the shelf life of honey?
Honey does not spoil. However, the flavor is best when consumed before the ‘Best by’ date on the cap.
Does honey change as it ages?
Honey darkens with age and becomes a bit stronger in flavor. However, it will never spoil.
Does honey spoil?
Honey will keep indefinitely if stored in a sealed container. It is best stored at room temperature. Refrigeration promotes granulation.
Why shouldn’t I microwave honey?
Many of our honey containers are made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), a clear plastic that allows the consumer to see the honey before purchase. One of its characteristics, however, is warping at near boiling temperatures. Also, some of our labels are a foil and paper material. The foil, like metal cooking utensils, does create excessive heat problems in a microwave.
Also, honey, being a thick, viscous liquid, does not heat evenly in a microwave. Hotspots may develop that may lead to a sudden boil that spatters the hot contents. Such hotspots are also hot enough to degrade the flavor and color of this premium honey.
What is honey granulation (crystallization or sugaring)?
A big misconception is that, when honey crystallizes, it has gone bad. Not true. Honey does not spoil. In fact, it’s actually a sign of real, quality honey.
Granulation is a natural characteristic of pure honey, which does not harm it or indicate any deterioration of the honey. It is also easily reversed, without harming the honey. Bring a pan of water to a boil, turn off the heat and place the container into this boiling water. Leave until both have cooled.
If you want to prevent granulation, try this.
When buying honey in large containers, pour a manageable amount into a smaller “table server” for your table. Store the remainder in the large container in your freezer. Freezer temperatures are too low for glucose molecules to migrate and form crystals. As the table server empties, remove the large container from the freezer long enough for it to warm so you can refill the smaller container. Then replace the large container in the freezer.
Note: Before you pour more honey into your table server, be certain it contains no crystals. These act as ‘seeds’ for the new honey to granulate around – a condition which will speed up granulation.
How do I turn crystallized honey back into a liquid?
If your honey has crystallized, you can make it smooth and golden once again. Simply heat a pan of water on your stovetop to near boiling. Remove the pan from the stove and place your honey package inside. Be sure to take the lid off your jar before placing it in the warm water. This gentle transfer of heat to the honey helps bring it back to liquid form without overheating the honey.
Why are there foam air bubbles on the surface of my honey?
As we pump and fill bottles, air is unavoidably mixed into the honey. Honey, being a viscous solution, has a tendency to trap this air. After the filling step, this air will slowly rise to the top of the honey bottle leaving a white ring of foam. The larger the container, the more foam present. The foam gradually dissipates as the entrapped air bubbles burst.
What factors influence the size of the U.S. honey crop?
The general health of the U.S. bee population, weather, agricultural practices and the economics of the honey industry affect the number of bee colonies and their production. Bees, like people, are vulnerable to diseases and parasites, sometimes at epidemic proportions.
Does the Sioux Honey Association Co-op conduct tours of their facilities?
No. We regret that safety and security concerns have made tours impractical.
