Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Tucker1 on March 31, 2010, 07:45:56 PM

Title: Old Honey Uses?
Post by: Tucker1 on March 31, 2010, 07:45:56 PM
Normally, I wouldn't ask, but I thought this question might invite a few ideas.

I have in my garage a 5 gallon pail of honey that is perhaps 34-35 years old. It's been across the country at least once, .... has been to Texas, California, Wisconsin, Utah, Virginia, Illinois, Washington state ....and is older than my oldest child. This honey was purchased in the 5 gallon pail and was not collect by me. I have no ideas as to actual source (beek).

I'm not too sure of what to do with it.  I understand that I shouldn't feed it to me own bees, given the fact that the source is unknown. I have lots of my own honey, so it's not needed by me.

Any suggestions about possible ways of using it?  (I could give it away to the local food bank, after confirming that the container hasn't been compromised.)

It's not old enough for donating to the local museum.

I'm a teetotaler, so mead is out of the question.

Ideas ?

Regards,
Tucker1
Title: Re: Old Honey Uses?
Post by: iddee on March 31, 2010, 08:26:23 PM
Find a local mead maker.
Title: Re: Old Honey Uses?
Post by: alfred on March 31, 2010, 08:40:22 PM
Just eat it! Honey doesn't go bad as far as I know.
Title: Re: Old Honey Uses?
Post by: AllenF on March 31, 2010, 08:43:27 PM
Liquify it, bottle it, and sell it as vintage honey.  You might get a premium for it.  Just use old jars.
Title: Re: Old Honey Uses?
Post by: Highlandsfreedom on March 31, 2010, 09:45:50 PM
I like the selling it idea you could put a map of the trip on the label in an old rustic looking bottle like what coke used back in the 1800's.  I would buy some just for novelty.   That's awesome that it has made it that long.  You know they found clean honey in King tuts tomb still good.  So it will last awhile.  Keep us informed what you do with it though.

Dave
Title: Re: Old Honey Uses?
Post by: Paynesgrey on April 01, 2010, 08:31:28 AM
My mom still has buckets of honey that she uses that are at least 40 years old. Black as molasses now, but the flavor is awesome. I think the flavor got deeper and better every year, as we were growing up. She had one opened pail that fermented on it's own, back when I was a kid. She still  uses it as a starter for monster type stuff. (Once it turned, she poured it into blocks & froze it, so that it would not turn to vinegar, like other fermented substances tend to if left open.) She mostly uses it for baking.
Title: Re: Old Honey Uses?
Post by: Robo on April 01, 2010, 08:37:35 AM
I like the selling idea too.  Advertise it as pre-chemical beekeeping honey.  I'm sure you will find people who would pay a premium.   It is all in the marketing......