A few practical notes on keeping and enjoying honey, honeycomb and beeswax goods.
Do not give honey or honeycomb to babies under 12 months old. Honey can contain bacterial spores that cause infant botulism, a serious illness.
This applies to all honey and honeycomb, including creamed honey, gift sets and favor jars.
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Bees make honey from the nectar of the flowers they visit, so honey from different places and seasons differs in color, aroma and flavor. Honeys made in Hawaiʻi include Christmas berry, kiawe, macadamia nut blossom and ʻōhiʻa lehua. Ask the Collective which flowers its current honey comes from.
Most honey crystallizes over time. It is a natural change, not spoilage. To make it liquid again, set the glass jar with its lid off in a bowl of warm water and stir until the crystals melt. Avoid boiling water and the microwave, which can overheat it.
Hawaiʻi does not allow honey bees to be brought in from outside the state. The rule helps protect island hives from pests and diseases.
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Keep honey tightly closed at room temperature, away from heat and direct sun. It does not need the fridge; cold makes it thicken and crystallize sooner. Use a clean, dry spoon, because water in the jar can spoil honey.
Cut what you need with a clean knife. The honey and the wax are both edible: spread it on warm toast, add it to a cheese board, or chew a small piece. Keep the rest in a closed container at room temperature.
Creamed honey is crystallized on purpose. Keep it somewhere cool so it stays thick. In a warm kitchen it can soften or separate a little; that does not harm it.
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Beeswax blocks are not food. Melt them gently, ideally in a double boiler, and never leave melting wax unattended, because very hot wax can catch fire.
Trim the wick to about 1/4 inch before lighting. Burn the candle on a heat-proof surface, away from drafts and anything that can catch fire, and never leave it burning unattended or within reach of children and pets.
Wash the wrap in cool water with a little mild soap and let it air-dry. Keep it away from heat: hot water, the microwave, the oven and the dishwasher. Do not use it for raw meat or fish.
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If something is not covered here, email or call the Collective. It can also tell you what it has available is like.