Honey is the oldest sweetener in the world. It has been an important substance to mankind, not only as food but also as medicine, as far back as 2100 B.C when it was mentioned in Babylonian writings. It may predate that; cave paintings in Spain 7000 B.C. show records of beekeeping. September is designated as National Honey Month.  

The honey bee that gives us this “gift for the Gods” is believed to have originated in southern Asia. History tells us of honey being used not only for food and medicine but in other products such as cement, beverages, furniture polishes and varnishes, and more. There are also records of feudal lords being paid with beeswax and honey by German peasants.

The North American honey bee we know today came as an import with European colonists in the 17th century. This continent had native bees but they did not produce as much honey. Today there are more than 25,000 species of bees worldwide. Honey remained the major sweetener for many years unti...