Health tip
Honey is a natural product that has been consumed and used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. For instance, New Zealand Manuka honey, known for its exceptional properties, is often applied to minor wounds to aid in the healing process. In Ayurveda, an ancient practice from India that spans over 4,000 years, honey is also believed to have a cleansing effect. It supports the body in eliminating unwanted waste products.
To ensure honey retains its full benefits, it's important to keep a few things in mind. For instance, did you know that heating honey can significantly reduce its healing properties and even degrade its quality? At temperatures above 40°C, the sugars in honey transform into aldehyde-furan compounds (HMF), which the Federal Office for Risk Assessment has not fully classified as harmless. Additionally, higher temperatures destroy the enzymes responsible for honey’s antibacterial effects and its ability to promote wound healing. If you want to sweeten your tea with honey, allow the tea to cool or brew it lukewarm. This way, you preserve the honey’s beneficial properties and still enjoy its natural sweetness. Stay healthy through the fall!
If you are still looking for a delicious and balanced honey, you can currently find three great varieties in our shop. The honey comes from our neighbor Sonja Knop. She is a beekeeper and pharmacist.
Your honey harvest for 2021: "This year, I was able to harvest a variety of honeys: the liquid spring honey with acacia, the creamy summer honey with linden, and the somewhat bitter late summer honey, which starts as a liquid but later crystallizes. The crystallization of honey is a natural process that depends on the sugar composition (the ratio of fructose to glucose) in the nectar. It does not indicate a loss of quality."
What she has to say about herself: “I discovered my love for beekeeping when I moved from Freiburg to Berlin 10 years ago. I missed the nature that is so present in Freiburg, so I specifically looked for a hobby where I could create something with my hands and have a connection to nature. This is how I came across the fascinating world of bees and beekeeping. I accompanied a beekeeper for a whole year and learned the important steps and, as a pharmacist, I know how to produce high-quality products. My bee colonies are on the roof of the Lower Saxony state representation right next to the zoo, which offers the bees a lot of flowers. The location is part of the network of the 'Germany is buzzing' foundation, which has bees on some prominent Berlin rooftops. She is committed to biological diversity - with the bee as an ambassador. A topic that is very close to my heart. I also like to give lectures on the questions: How is honey made from nectar? Who actually holds the scepter in the beehive? What role do bees play in nature? Besides honey, what other bee products are there and how are they used in apitherapy?”
To explore even more of the city’s diverse honey offerings, Sonja is seeking a new location for her bees. If you know of a suitable spot within 5 km of Mindful Life Berlin - Studio & Shop, Sonja would be thrilled to hear from you. Please have them reach out directly to sonja.knop@arcor.de.
Your team from Mindful Life Berlin
