FAQ

Crawley Bees Honey — Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is your honey raw and unpasteurised?
2. Where is your honey produced?
3. Can local honey help with hayfever or allergies?
4. What’s the difference between your honey and supermarket honey?
5. Is your honey suitable for vegans?
6. How should I store honey, and does it expire?
7. Why does my honey crystallise, and is it still good?
8. Do you use chemicals or antibiotics in your beekeeping?
9. Is your packaging recyclable or eco-friendly?
10. Do you offer different honey varieties or flavours?
11. Do you remove bee nests or wasps?

1. Is your honey raw and unpasteurised?

Yes. Crawley Bees honey is harvested in small batches, gently extracted, lightly strained to remove wax, and jarred. It is not pasteurised and is never blended across apiaries.

2. Where is your honey produced?

All honey comes from my own hives in Crawley and West Sussex, including Ifield Woods, Rowfant Trail, County Mall, and Deaks Lane (Haywards Heath). Each location produces honey with its own character, shaped by the local forage and season.

3. Can local honey help with hayfever or allergies?

There isn’t strong scientific evidence that honey prevents or treats hayfever or allergies. Some people feel it helps them, but results vary. If you have allergies, treat honey as a food rather than a remedy, and speak to a healthcare professional for medical advice.

4. What’s the difference between your honey and supermarket honey?

Crawley Bees honey is single-apiary and produced in small batches. It is not blended across countries or heated for high-volume processing. Many supermarket honeys are blended (often from multiple sources) and processed to standardise texture and flavour.

5. Is your honey suitable for vegans?

Honey is avoided by many vegans because it is produced by bees. Others choose to consume honey based on personal preference and views on animal welfare. Crawley Bees is beekeeper-led and managed with bee welfare at the centre of every decision.

6. How should I store honey, and does it expire?

Store honey sealed, at room temperature, away from direct sunlight and moisture. Honey has a very long shelf life when stored correctly, though it may naturally crystallise over time.

7. Why does my honey crystallise, and is it still good?

Crystallisation is natural in raw honey and is a sign it hasn’t been over-processed. It’s still perfectly good to eat. To loosen it, stand the jar in warm (not boiling) water and stir gently. Avoid microwaving or overheating.

8. Do you use chemicals or antibiotics in your beekeeping?

I do not use antibiotics. Where treatment is required for bee health, I use appropriate, legally approved methods and apply them responsibly, always with bee welfare and honey quality in mind.

9. Is your packaging recyclable or eco-friendly?

Yes. Jars and lids are recyclable, and packaging is chosen to minimise waste wherever possible. Where I can, I use recyclable or reuse-friendly materials.

10. Do you offer different honey varieties or flavours?

Yes. Each apiary and season produces a slightly different honey, and some batches will be lighter, darker, runnier, or quicker to crystallise. I also occasionally offer limited specials such as Fire Honey (chilli-infused) when available.

11. Do you remove bee nests or wasps?

No. I only collect honeybee swarms where it is safe and appropriate to do so. I do not remove established colonies from buildings, and I do not deal with wasps.