Akkuray honey: what is it and how to choose?
Even in the Central Asian regions where akkurai grows, honey can be found extremely rarely and certainly cannot be found on the shelves of supermarkets and local markets. As a rule, it is purchased through an acquaintance or ordered via the Internet. This is a very unusual and peculiar variety both in terms of taste and composition.
Taste and color
The product from the unique Akkurai plant is mined in the low-mountain regions of Central Asia, as well as in Bashkiria and the foothills of the Caucasus. The scientific designation for this little-known honey plant is psoralea drupes. It is a herbaceous perennial related to clover, as well as acacia and alfalfa. Akkuray belongs to the legume group and is characterized by an extremely low habitat. In this regard, Akkuray honey is called a delicacy in any other territory of our country.
Purified honey from psoralea is characterized by the almost absolute absence of any smell, which is due to the fact that the bees use the nectar of the plant, since at the main moments of collection the flower still lacks pollen, and it is she who is responsible for the characteristic sweet smell of the product.
Psoralea blooms throughout the summer, so the productivity of a honey plant from each hectare can reach 400 kg.
The sweet mass also has no color, since the nectar is characterized by transparency.As part of the product, the specific content of glucose and fructose are almost the same, so honey quickly loses its viscosity and is converted into a compacted fine-grained mass within a few hours after pumping.
Visually, it resembles white melted butter with subtle shades of yellow. The taste of Akkuray honey is truly exquisite - light, unobtrusive, with a low degree of sweetness and a slight sour note. After consumption, vanilla-creamy aftertaste remains.
Akkuray honey is usually consumed in small doses, most often it is used as a medicine or a bioactive food supplement, since its composition is saturated with vitamins, micro and macro nutrients, as well as proteins and various organic acids. It is characterized by exceptional nutritional value, which can only be compared with an acacia product.
After crystallization, it can be easily and simply cut with an ordinary knife and raked with a fork or a tablespoon. It is enjoyed with great pleasure by both young children and adults. As the reviews say, this type of honey is intended for gourmets who do not like the rich and bright honey taste with a pronounced aroma.
Akkuray product is considered a worthy alternative for those who, in principle, do not consume honey, but at the same time feel the need to take bee products.
Compound
The composition of Akkuray honey in its structure resembles cream and is close to acacia, clover, alfalfa and sweet clover. At the same time, it contains less mineral substances, but much more useful vitamins and organic elements necessary for a person.It should be noted that the composition of absolutely any bee products varies quite a lot depending on the climatic parameters of the region, soil characteristics and established weather conditions. The same type of honey collected in different areas can vary significantly in the content of minerals, amino acids, proteins, as well as organic and inorganic substances. In total, the composition of Akkuray honey includes about 400 components, while moisture accounts for 19%.
In general, the structure of honey from psoralea is as follows:
- fructose, glucose, and other complex carbohydrates - 93–95%;
- proteins - about 2%;
- minerals - up to 1.5%;
- water-soluble acids - up to 1.5%.
The acid-base index of honey is 4.2, which is due to the presence of oxalic, lactic, as well as tartaric and citric acids in the composition of the product.
If we consider the mineral composition, then the main share falls on potassium - it makes up about 30% of all nutrients. Another 60% are derivatives of iodine, as well as bromine, sulfur, lithium, fluorine and chlorine, with iodides leading in this list, and the remaining 10% are silicon, cobalt, molybdenum and magnesium, which is indispensable for the normal functioning of the nervous system. Vitamins are mainly represented by the B group, the B6 component is the most in it, the content of B1-B3 and B9 is slightly less. In addition to them, the structure includes vitamins C, E and PP.
Any derivative of the vital activity of bees includes compounds that are characteristic of each specific honey plant. So, the food from psoralea contains furanocoumarin, the compounds of which improve metabolism and the course of metabolic processes in the body.
According to the degree of caloric content, Akkuray honey should be compared with beef. So, 1 tsp.honey contains up to 40 kcal, 1 tbsp. l. - 115.5 kcal, in a glass the content of kilocalories is higher and is 1190 kcal, and in the bowl the parameter corresponds to 1245 kcal. These figures are approximate, in each specific case, the indicated figures may deviate by +/- 10%.
Beneficial features
The composition, rich in various vitamins and minerals, determines the exceptional usefulness of honey and its positive effect on humans. It is often taken as a medicine, and the remedy is used both internally and externally. The product from psoralea has long been known to healers and has become widespread in official medicine. Since ancient times, it has been successfully used for the following purposes:
- strengthening immunity, a significant improvement in well-being and an increase in the appetite of children and adults - this effect is due to the presence of fructose and glucose in the product, which are quickly absorbed and have a positive effect on the body;
- removal of symptoms of nervous excitability, depressive disorders, struggle with asthenic conditions - the presence of B vitamins relieves stress, calms and improves sleep;
- treatment of human inflammatory infections due to the antimicrobial characteristics of honey;
- purification of vital systems from excessive slagging, the release of metal salts and dangerous free radicals;
- restoration of normal hormonal levels - especially useful for women during periods associated with hormonal changes in the body;
- treatment of "female" and skin diseases.
It should be noted that in official medicine, honey is used as one of the components in the complex therapy of such ailments as eczema, baldness, as well as albinism and psoriasis.
In addition, the herbal hormones contained in it allow you to carefully restore the balance of the body and improve the course of the disease in the treatment of endometriosis, as well as thrush and cervical erosion. Honey is widely used for cosmetic purposes, it is part of the care products and masks for the face and hair.
Accurate honey is truly indispensable in early spring, when the body is deficient in nutrients - this quality is associated with the ability of the product to maintain the healing properties of its components for a long time. The antiseptic parameters of honey make it possible to use it for treating wounds - for this, it is simply applied to the damaged area through a gauze lotion. In addition, if there are wounds or minor inflammations in the oral cavity, then the sweet mass, when consumed, will envelop the mucous membranes and heal all inflammations and microcracks.
It is worth considering in more detail the features of the use of honey in various diseases.
- Cold. When coughing, runny nose and fever, you should immediately start taking akkuray honey. It is taken orally for 1 tsp. after meals so that the maximum daily dose is not more than 1.5 tablespoons. If you mix honey with a decoction of viburnum, then you can achieve a therapeutic effect much faster. To do this, 1 cup of berries should be brewed with 1 liter of boiling water and stir in a few tablespoons of honey. The resulting composition is drunk during the day in three divided doses.
- Tonsillitis. With such an unpleasant disease that causes sore throat, gargling with honey will help. 1/2 cup beetroot juice is mixed with a spoonful of lemon juice and a spoonful of honey. All this is diluted in a liter of warm water and rinsed with an inflamed throat.
- Psoriasis. This serious disease that affects deep tissues is treated with ointments, which include akkuray honey. It is necessary to take one spoonful of honey and dry celandine leaves, mix with 1 egg white and baby cream. The components should be mixed well and applied twice a day to cleansed skin.
- Thrush. The antibacterial effect of honey is well known, in connection with which it is widely prescribed in the fight against common fungal diseases in women. It is used in the form of baths and douches. To prepare the solution, take 50 grams of honey and stir in 5 liters of warm water.
- Cervical erosion - This is another well-known women's problem, which is successfully combated by a mixture of honey with infusions of chamomile, calendula and string.
Contraindications
Akkuray honey has a lot of positive properties. However, we should not forget that excessive consumption of bee products can cause significant harm to the body. Like any other type of honey, psoralea has its pros and cons. It is necessary to take into account each factor in order not to worsen your condition in an effort to improve your health. Any honey is a strong allergen, in addition, its excessive consumption often causes an upset stomach and intestines.
Accurate honey contains a lot of sugar, so it should be used with caution by people with diabetes, as well as those suffering from overweight.
The pure product is not recommended for children under 2 years of age, but teenagers can use it without fear when compared to other types of honey.
How to store?
Akkuray honey very quickly absorbs moisture present in the air, which significantly impairs its nutritional properties and negates the expected therapeutic effect of the intake.That is why it should be stored in a glass or clay container with a well-twisted lid. The use of a plastic container is allowed.
The honey of their psoralea does not have an expiration date, but if the room in which it is stored is overheated, the product may deteriorate. Therefore, it is extremely important to keep vessels with honey in a cool and preferably dark place.
In no case should the product be heated above +40 degrees, although heating in a water bath at low heat is allowed.
Selection Tips
Akkuray honey is a rarity, but at the same time it has exceptional medicinal and nutritional value. That is why a large number of scammers have appeared on the market who give out a low-quality product for real psoralea honey. This is largely facilitated by the fact that few consumers know exactly how natural Bashkir honey should look and smell.
Akkuray product does not have a characteristic taste and aroma, its color is almost transparent. After hardening, it becomes more white, so it is quite easy to confuse it with cotton honey, which has a similar shade and also lacks a characteristic taste and smell.
Taking advantage of the fact that classic honey has a white hue and a viscous consistency, many unscrupulous sellers add starch to it. This deception can be exposed with the help of ordinary iodine - just put one drop on the proposed product, if it turns blue - this is a fake.
Very often there is confusion associated with the name of the product. For example, inexperienced consumers purchase kurai honey and believe that it is the same as akurai honey. This is not so, because the locals use the term “kurai” for angelica and forest angelica.These plants are also considered honey plants, but the honey obtained from them has completely different qualities than akuraevy.
It is very important not to be fooled by various discounts and promotions. Accurate honey cannot be cheap - it is an extremely rare product, so its cost is always higher than the average market price for other varieties. If this product costs much less, then most likely it is a simple sugar syrup.
To avoid fraud, you should give preference to trusted sellers. And over time, having learned the real taste of this product, it will be easy to distinguish the original from the fake.
Review of Akkuray honey, see below.