How honey is harvested and when to do it

Have you ever wondered how beekeepers collect honey? In what period does the honey extraction take place?

honey is a substance produced exclusively by bees . These insects are the only beings capable of producing edible food for humans. Honey is naturally rich in nutrients beneficial to humans.

Since ancient times, honey has been considered a precious commodity also referred to as the "nectar of the gods". This substance was used as a natural sweetener already by the peoples of ancient Egypt!

Have you ever wondered how beekeepers collect honey ? The honey extraction process is carried out by beekeepers using special tools. There are deadlines to be respected and careful observation that allows beekeepers to understand when the honey is ripe for harvesting .

When beekeepers take honey from their hives, they only take a small amount. In fact, honey is used by swarms as a source of nourishment. If beekeepers take too much, the swarms won't be able to survive over time.

The beekeeper's work aims above all to protect the health and survival of his colony . The gain of him is closely related to the prosperity and health of his swarms.

Let's find out together how honey extraction takes place , when to take the honey and how to understand when the substance is ready to be extracted.

When to harvest honey

To obtain excellent quality, honey must be taken when it is "ripe". Usually the harvesting phase takes place when two thirds of the cells are capped (covered by a layer of wax).

When the cells are covered it means that the bees have already implemented the ventilation process . Honey is a very liquid substance. To ensure that it is preserved over time, the bees eliminate the water present in it, thus reducing the moisture levels of the substance. This process occurs through ventilation. The bees congregate and make rapid wing movements. By generating heat, the moisture present in the substance evaporates.

When the cells are sealed, it means that the honey has little moisture inside and that it can therefore be taken and stored without deterioration problems.

The period of the year in which the honey is extracted from the hives is not fixed but depends on the blooms and the type of honey that the bees produce.

The honey extraction period therefore depends on the location in which an apiary is located and the flowering periods of the nectar sources. The important thing is to collect when the substance has already been processed by the bees.

Honey extraction: how to do it and what are the steps

As already specified, honey is a completely natural substance produced and processed only by bees. Human intervention is limited to the collection phase. Here it is important to follow specific steps.

The set of all harvesting processes up to the potting phase is called honey extraction. Here are the stages of honey extraction :

Removing the supers : to start, beekeepers gently collect the excess honey produced by the hives. Subsequently the supers are picked up and moved to special laboratories for honey extraction. During this phase it is advisable to keep away the bees that otherwise could become aggressive. To do this, we recommend using a blower and not smokers which could affect the quality of the honey and make the bees nervous.
Uncapping the cells : During this second phase, beekeepers gently remove all the layers of wax that cover the cells. In this way, the honey will come out of the supers without difficulty.
Centrifugation activity : The frames containing the honey are inserted into special machines called honey extractors . These are particular appliances in stainless steel which, through the centrifugal force, allow the honey to escape.
Filtration : once the honey has settled on the bottom of the extractor, the substance is transferred to special buckets and will be subjected to filtration. In this phase all the impurities present are eliminated.
Decanting : at this point, the honey will be left to rest for about two weeks. This phase serves to bring out all those impurities still present in the honey on the surface. Here we will also notice the presence of a layer of foam that was created in the moment of spinning. Foam and surface impurities will be removed to offer the final product to the consumer.
Potting : in this last phase of honey extraction, the honey is placed in special jars

glass to then proceed with labeling and marketing.

It is important to specify that the honey extraction process takes place in suitable laboratories that comply with specific health and hygiene regulations required by law.

In what quantities do beekeepers take honey from hives?

Beekeepers take about one third of the honey present in hives. The rest of the substance is left available to bees for the sustenance of the bee families and the entire colony.

Taking honey from hives does no harm to bees. The work of beekeepers is absolutely ethical. Bees are constantly monitored and supported in times of difficulty. In exchange for their careful and constant work, the beekeepers take a small part of honey. The work of a good beekeeper takes place in complete symbiosis with bees.

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