Honey is a nutritious, durable, and viscous food created by bees processing nectar collected from flowers with enzymes secreted from their bodies.

Honey can be obtained from all seven regions of our country. However, single-flower honeys (monoflora) are collected at specific times and from specific regions. For example, chestnut honey is predominantly produced along the Black Sea coast and its vicinity, pine honey in the Aegean, sunflower honey in the Thracian region, and citrus honey in the Mediterranean region. Plateau honeys, obtained from mixed flowers (polyflora), are collected from almost every region of Turkey, including Central Anatolia, Eastern Anatolia, and Southeastern Anatolia.

Pine honey is produced when the cottony cushion scale insect, which lives on pine trees, excretes a sugary fluid it cannot digest, called honeydew, onto the pine trees, and bees collect this honeydew and process it with enzymes secreted from their bodies.

Honeys are divided into types according to how they are obtained and the sources from which they are obtained.

According to how they are obtained, honeys can be listed as honeycomb, strained, comb-strained, pressed, virgin, and filtered honey.

According to their sources, honeys are divided into two types: blossom honey and honeydew honey. Honeys obtained by bees collecting nectar from flowers are called blossom honey. Most of the honey produced in the world is blossom honey. Honeys produced by bees from secretions on plants are known as honeydew honey. Pine honey, which is unique to our country, is the most well-known type of honeydew honey. Turkey ranks first in the world in pine honey production. Pine honey exports also have an important place in honey exports.

Pine honey is produced in Turkey in Muğla, Marmaris, Aydın, Kuşadası, Çanakkale, and their vicinities. The reason for this is the presence of the pine tortoise scale insect in these regions.

Pine honey can be stored for a long time without losing its consistency. Its color is darker than flower honey, and it has a unique scent, taste, and color. Pine honey, which has lower glucose and fructose content, is less sweet. It contains more enzymes, amino acids, and minerals than flower honeys, but less pollen.

Creamed honey, which has a spreadable consistency, is obtained by the controlled crystallization of honey.

Honey produced by bees fed with sugar syrup instead of flower nectar is called unnatural honey. These products, which do not carry the essence and naturalness of flowers, cannot be offered for sale under the name of honey.

Products produced by adding flavor and coloring to sugar syrup are called fake honey. These products have no relation to honey, and this must be stated on their labels.

Honey that bees obtain from the essence of flowers, coming directly from nature, is called real honey.

The only way to identify real honey is through analysis. Adulteration in honey cannot be detected by its taste, smell, appearance, or price. The naturalness of honey can only be assured when analyzed by experienced experts in high-tech laboratories.

The belief that honeycomb honey is healthy is a misconception. The comb is produced by melting and blending beeswax collected from beekeepers and pressing it in machines to form foundation sheets in factories. Since residues of medications used by beekeepers can mix into the comb during blending, and foreign substances like paraffin, ceresin, resin, and tallow can be added to the beeswax used in comb production, consuming honeycomb honey is not suitable for human health.

Pure and natural honey may crystallize over time, especially in winter. This is a completely natural occurrence. Crystallization is not a sign of spoilage or adulteration of honey. You can consume honey in its crystallized state, or you can heat it using the bain-marie method. The main causes of honey crystallization are the type of flowers from which the honey originated, the amount of air bubbles, pollen, and other particles the honey contains, the type of packaging, and the humidity and temperature of the storage location.

Fermentation occurs when yeasts in honey use carbohydrates as an energy source and multiply. As a result of fermentation, the aroma and flavor of honey deteriorate. However, fermentation is not observed in honey produced under appropriate conditions.

Honey, a natural alternative to table sugar, is easier to digest and healthier because most of its sugars are used directly by the body without needing to be broken down.

Honey, with its rich content and naturalness, can be used as an alternative to sugar. Used in salad dressings and barbecue sauces, honey provides a pleasant aroma. It can be used as a sweetener in tea, coffee, milk, or other beverages. Since the structure of honey can change when exposed to heat for a long time, it is important to consume beverages sweetened with honey within a short period.

Inadvertently used medicines against bee diseases and pests can lead to residues in bee products. Residues in honey are detected through analyses carried out in Balparmak's advanced laboratories and are not delivered to the consumer.

The honeys Balparmak offers to its consumers are obtained by blending honeys collected from all seven regions of Turkey. Therefore, in years when honey cannot be obtained from certain regions, just like with all natural products, variations may be observed in Balparmak products.

Honey is not recommended for children under 1 year of age because their intestinal microflora is not yet sufficiently developed.

Diabetic patients are advised to consult specialist doctors regarding honey consumption.

Honey contains various amino acids and enzymes. Vitamins such as niacin, riboflavin, and pantothenic acid, as well as minerals like calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc, are also found in honey. Honey, a source of essential carbohydrates, provides 64 kcal of energy per tablespoon. At the same time, honey aids digestion and contributes to better absorption of nutrients.

When purchasing honey, brands that have proven reliability, are expert in honey, have experienced staff, and fill under hygienic conditions should be preferred. The product to be purchased must have statements that clearly show both the product and company identity, such as lot number, filling date, recommended consumption date, business registration number, and company name, address, and telephone number, and there must be a tamper-evident band on the product lid.

One teaspoon of honey (8.5 grams) has approximately 24 kcal.

The recommended retail prices of the products are announced to the points of sale, and in accordance with the decision taken by the Competition Authority, there is no intervention in pricing policies. Points of sale establish a pricing policy by taking into account the purchase price, as well as stock status, sales speed, profit expectations, cost, and financing structure when determining shelf prices.

Honey's main nutrients are carbohydrates, as well as fructose and glucose sugars. These sugars, which are used without needing to be broken down in the body, constitute honey's natural structure.

Bee products are not recommended for consumption by individuals with known allergies, those at high risk of allergies, and asthma patients, as they can cause allergic reactions in these individuals.

Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers are advised to consult their doctors before using Apitera products.

People with diabetes should use Balparmak Apitera products, which contain honey, as well as royal jelly, pollen, and propolis, after consulting their doctor.

Since there are different types of cancer, it is recommended to consume Apitera products with a doctor's consultation.

Balparmak Apitera products can be consumed with a metal or wooden spoon.

To best benefit from the nutrients in Balparmak Apitera products, it is recommended to consume them half an hour before breakfast and on an empty stomach. To see the effects of the products, it is also recommended to consume them for 4-6 weeks.

An Apitera product, in its recommended daily amount, can be consumed mixed with water or milk, provided it is not hot.

Balparmak Apitera products are offered to consumers in special refrigerated cabinets. To ensure maximum benefit from the nutrients contained in the products, they should not be exposed to heat and light, should be stored in the refrigerator, and consumed within 6 months after opening. The shelf life of Apitera products is 24 months when stored in the refrigerator.

There is no harm in consuming Apitera Series products, which have high nutritional content, in the recommended daily amount.