Honey through chemist’s eyes
1. How is honey made and what is in honey?
2. Bee products – a modern panacea?
3. Honey in culture.
It is difficult for us to imagine that just 250 years ago sugar was a luxury good in Europe. It changed only after the launch of its mass production from sugar beets. Previously, cakes, desserts and beverages were sweetened with honey – the only natural sweetener that requires no processing and can be stored for a long time. It has been among us since thousands of years and has become a synonym of sweetness and goodness.
The lecture will be focused on how honey is perceived by the chemists: what its composition is, what gives honey its health-promoting properties and how honey bees produce it from nectar or honeydew. We will also pay attention to other products that we owe to these beneficial insects. We will tell you why the decline in the bee population is a serious problem for humans.
