organic "pure cane" sugar

[T Beek]

My partner came home the other day with some DEMERARA SUGAR, 100% pure cane crystals.  Our bees have been laping up the syrup big time for over a week, but we've nearly exhausted our local suppliers (we're in the sticks) so the question is....Can we feed this stuff to our bees or do they need it more refined?  Thanks.

thomas

[D Coates]

What color is it?  The more color the more impurities.  The more impurities the more they will have to take cleansing flights.  Taking cleansing flights during the winter is tough to say the least.  They either fly and die or soil their hive.  It's a recipe for trouble.  I stick to simple granulated sugar.

[T Beek]

Yeah that's what I thought too, its too raw being granulated sugar cane (light brown).  Its delish' though, so we'll just eat it all ourselves.  Go figure, "refined" sugar is better for the bees "if" we gotta feed.  Thanks.