Frequently Asked Questions
Whether you’re new to unpasteurized honey, or are just looking to find out about the tasty stuff, we’ve rounded up some of our most frequently asked questions around our honey products.
Is your honey pasteurized?
No. We only produce unpasteurized honey with all the good stuff still inside. All our creamed and raw honey options are unpasteurized and unblended. Just as nature intended.
What is unpasteurized honey?
Unpasteurized honey is not pasteurized, filtered, or significantly processed, and as such, it retains all the vitamins, pollen, enzymes, and nutrients inside the honey. When it is first extracted it comes out as liquid but over time it will naturally crystallize into a solid honey.
Please note: While unpasteurized honey has amazing health benefits, we do not recommend unpasteurized honey for infants younger than 1 year old due to a bacteria called Clostridium botulinum that can cause infant botulism and is sometimes found in honey, both unpasteurized and pasteurized. Once a child is 1 year old, their digestive system has matured enough to kill the bacteria. For more information, see here.
What's the difference between your honey and store-bought honey?
Most of the honey you find on the shelves of your local grocery store are typically pasteurized (heated at very high temperatures) or have undergone ultrafiltration to kill/remove everything inside the honey. This allows it to stay liquid forever but removes all the beneficial nutrients in honey. Many store-bought honeys are a blend of honeys from different countries. Our honey is unpasteurized, Canada No. 3 White grade honey (the highest designation possible for unfiltered honeys in Canada). It is taken right out of the hive, minimally strained to remove hive debris, and then packaged. It is pure, unblended, unheated, unprocessed honey. Like other unpasteurized honeys, it will solidify over time. However, our creamed honey is already allowed to crystallize as we stir it, so it will keep its soft and creamy texture forever!
What happens when the honey solidifies? Can I still eat it?
Yes! You can eat it as is or you can re-liquefy the honey by putting the jar into a pot of warm (not boiling) water for a while.
What is the shelf life of your honey?
Honey lasts forever as long as you store it properly. See next FAQ for more details!
How should I store my honey?
Make sure that the lid is tightly closed when not in use, as honey likes to absorb odours and moisture. Avoid leaving it in overly hot locations. Honey can be stored at room temperature, but for long-term storage (more than 3 months), storing it in a cool room or in your freezer is the best way to preserve your honey if you have stocked up and you won't be eating it right away!
What flowers are in your honey?
Our bees mainly forage on sweet clover, alfalfa, canola, and wildflowers.
Where does your honey come from?
All of our honey is harvested just north of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and surrounding areas.
Where can I buy your honey caramels?
You can buy our honey caramels from our online shop right now. If you'd like to see them in your local store, please let them know.
What if there's a problem with my order?
If you have any troubles with the order you placed, please visit our support page for assistance.
If you have any questions we haven’t covered here, you can always reach us via email at info@threeforagers.ca, or give us a call at 1-639-739-5650.