Cotton honey composition, properties and contraindications

Cotton honey, which bees collect from cotton flowers, is not very widespread in Russia lately, but this sort of light honey is widespread in Central Asia, the USA and some other countries. Cotton honey has interesting properties.

What are the features of honey, what does honey look like, what is the color, taste, aroma and consistency of cotton honey, how quickly does it crystallize. What is the composition of honey and what is the use of honey for the body. And also a lot of interesting things about honey, which will be interesting for honey lovers.

Content

• 1 Features of cotton honey
• 1.1 What cotton honey looks like
• 1.2 Cotton honey color
• 1.3 Aroma of cotton honey
• 1.4 Taste of cotton honey
• 1.5 Composition of cotton honey
• 1.6 Crystallization of cotton honey
• 1.7 Calorie content of cotton honey
• 1.8 When cotton honey is harvested
• 2 Useful properties of cotton honey
• 2.1 Cotton honey as a source of vitamins and antioxidants
• 2.2 Antibacterial properties of cotton honey
• 3 Medicinal properties of cotton honey
• 3.1 Cotton honey for colds
• 3.2 Cotton honey for women
• 4 Contraindications to the use of cotton honey
• 5 Cotton honey in cooking
• 6 Application of cotton honey in cosmetology
• 6.1 Cotton honey for facial skin

 

Features of cotton honey

Cotton honey or cotton honey or cotton plant honey is one of the valuable light varieties of honey. Cotton honey is obtained in the CIS countries - Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan.
Honey from cotton bees collect from cotton flowers. The peculiarity of cotton honey is that bees produce it not only from the nectar of cotton flowers, but also by collecting nectar from leafy and bract extrafloral cotton nectaries. Cotton honey is not inferior in quality to rapeseed honey, esparcet honey, phacelium honey, clover honey, herb honey.
The cotton flower releases nectar only on the first day of flowering, at which time it is white or cream (pale yellow). When a flower changes color, the bees collect nectar from the green colored bracts, the leafy flower parts at the base of the flower, and they also collect nectar secreted from the underside of the leaves. In addition, bees collect honeydew honey from cotton.

What does cotton honey look like

Cotton honey belongs to the light varieties of honey, with excellent taste and quality, cotton honey is not inferior to the best varieties of honey.
Let's take a closer look at its taste, color, aroma and texture.

Cotton honey color

Cotton honey is light, light amber. The color of crystallized honey: from milky white to the color of baked milk with a creamy tint.

Cotton honey scent

The aroma of cotton honey is pleasant, but with a certain specific smell.

Cotton honey taste

Cotton honey is delicate in taste (when it is fully ripe), very sweet and in taste is not inferior to the best varietal honeys. Freshly pumped from the hive, cotton honey has some specific taste that is characteristic of the juice of the cotton itself, but as the cotton honey ripens, this taste disappears.
The taste of honey varies depending on soil type and cotton variety.
The aftertaste of honey is slightly spicy. It happens that if you eat cotton honey, you can feel a slight sore throat - like after a very mild chili pepper.

Composition of cotton honey

The composition of cotton honey can be estimated by the following indicators
Water content : 16%
Levulose: 39.42%
Glucose: 36.19%
Sucrose: 1.16%
Maltose: 4.80%
Diastase number: 17.6 units. Gothe (Low diastase activity)
pH: 3.9-4.31
Free acidity: 24.86 meq. / kg
Amino acids present in cotton pollen: aspartic acid, serine, glutamic acid and threonine are the predominant amino acids in cotton flower nectar.
Only glutamic acid + glutamine was the main amino acid in extrafloral nectar. The composition of honey is affected by environmental conditions, time, cotton varieties and water content.

Recent studies conducted in Uzbekistan have shown that a definite conclusion has not yet been made about the amount of diastase in cotton honey, because it has constantly changed in different geographical regions. It was unequivocally revealed that the cotton honey of Uzbekistan had the least amount of diastase among other varieties of honey. Diastasis ranged from 7.0 to 44.9 Gote units. The studied diastase activity of cotton honey collected in the regions of Uzbekistan found that it is different in different regions and always changes depending on the region.

 

Table. Diastasis activity of cotton honey collected from different regions of Uzbekistan.

 

№	Regions	Number of samples	lim	М m	Cv %
1	Bukhara region	92	4,4-39,0	21,7 0,18	25,1
2	Kashkadarya region	7	7,0-27,7	17,3 0,15	20,3
3	Surkhandarya region	8	7,0-23,3	15,1 0,13	20,7
4	Samarkand region	104	7,0-44,7	25,8 0,22	24,5
5	Tashkent region	48	10,9-23,8	17,3 0,11	18,9
6	Tashkent city	52	10,9-29,4	20,1 0,17	21,4

 

From the data of the table it can be seen that the diastatic activity of cotton honey collected from different regions of Uzbekistan was constantly changing in the studies.
If the diastase number in 92 samples of cotton honey collected in the Bukhara region of Uzbekistan averages 21.7, in 104 samples of cotton honey in the Samarkand region this indicator has 25.8 Gote units, in 7 samples of cotton honey in the Kashkadar region - 17.3. , in the Tashkent region in 48 samples - 17.3. The lowest value of diastase was found in 8 samples of cotton honey - 15.1 GOTE units in the Surkhandarya region.

It is noted that just pumped honey from cotton, diastasis is never less than 7-9 Gote units, i.e. always within the limits allowed by GOSTs. But with long-term storage of cotton honey in warehouses with high temperatures, the activity of the diastase enzyme in it drops significantly, and may drop below the requirements allowed by state standards. According to this indicator, old cotton honey can be rejected.

Cotton honey crystallization

Cotton honey is candied quite quickly, in 4 weeks or a little more - up to 2 months, forming small crystals, and in this form cotton honey is completely white. Ripened cotton honey has a soft, firm texture that is like whipped butter that does not melt or flow on a dish at room temperature. The grains in it are small, so honey is easily spread on bread and is just perfect for eating.

Cotton honey calories

Cotton honey can be used to prepare many dishes, be part of various diets, for sports nutrition, so you need to know the calorie content of cotton honey. The calorie content of cotton honey is 338 kcal per 100 g of honey.

When is cotton honey harvested?

Depending on the region, cotton variety, agricultural technology, the period of honey collection from cotton can be extended from late June to September. Therefore, honey is pumped out from July to September.

Useful properties of cotton honey

The uniqueness of cotton honey is that honey contains essential cottonseed oil, which gives honey a special dietary value.

The composition of cotton honey is dominated by valuable carbohydrates: glucose is 36.2% and fruit natural sugar - levulose is 39.4%. Therefore, cotton honey is easily and completely absorbed by the cells both when eating and through the skin.

Cotton honey as a source of vitamins and antioxidants

Cotton honey contains a rich set of vitamins and minerals.
Vitamins are available:

• B1 (thiamine), 1 kg of cotton honey produced in Uzbekistan contains up to 0.04 mg of vitamin B1.
• B2 (riboflavin), 1 kilogram of Uzbek honey contains up to 0.61 mg of vitamin B2
• B3 (niacin), 1 kilogram of Uzbek honey contains up to 1 mg of vitamin B3.
• B5 (pantothenic acid),
• B6 (pyridoxine), 1 kilogram of Uzbek honey contains up to 0.01 mg of vitamin B6.
• B9 (folic acid), 1 kilogram of Uzbek honey contains 0.03-0.05 mg of folic acid.
• Vitamin C, 1 kg of cotton honey from Uzbekistan contains the most vitamin C - 30-63 mg.
• Vitamin H (biotin), Uzbek cotton honey contains vitamin biotin - 0.0007 mg per 1 kg of honey.

Of the micro and macro elements, honey contains manganese, iodine, barium, zinc, chromium, copper, potassium, iron and others. 

Antibacterial properties of cotton honey

The antibacterial properties of cotton honey are high. The antibacterial activity of cotton honey is not inferior to buckwheat, heather or manuka honey.

Medicinal properties of cotton honey

Cotton honey is taken to increase a person's immunity in severe illnesses. It has antiseptic and antiviral ability.

Greek scientists found that the antiseptic properties of cotton honey are close to those of hydrogen peroxide, which makes it possible to put cotton honey and manuka honey on a par. However, to obtain such honey, organic cotton honey is required.
Cotton honey is useful during the recovery period after lung diseases, ARVI and flu are treated with honey, but only in the absence of a strong wet cough.

The benefits of using cotton honey are varied:

• treatment of inflammatory diseases and strengthening of immunity
• antibacterial properties restore microflora and improve gastrointestinal function,
• indispensable for colds
• omega acids have a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system,
• important for diet
• treats diseases of the teeth and gastritis due to their harmful effects,
• can be used in diabetes because it contains simple sugars - glucose and fructose, and chromium stabilizes diabetic hormones,
• increases strength.
• reduces toxicosis due to phytohormones,
• improves mood
• reduces symptoms of depression and aggression,
• erosion, urinary tract and ovaries,
• cleanses and nourishes the skin.

Cotton honey for colds

Cotton honey can be used as part of this recipe for colds: cotton honey and lingonberry juice are mixed in equal proportions. Take three times a day for 1 tbsp. spoon.
This recipe will help you get rid of viruses in a short time. However, do not forget that lingonberry juice has a strong diuretic effect, so you need to take plenty of fluids.

 

Cotton honey for women

Cotton honey for women has a positive effect on the functioning of the genital organs, eliminates the symptoms of menopause: tearfulness and irritability. During pregnancy, a honey drink with honey and sour berries at a moderate dose is recommended for toxicosis. In gynecology, honey is used externally for erosive lesions. During the period of hormonal changes in the body, honey manifests itself as a biostimulant in women.

Contraindications to the use of cotton honey

Cotton honey has certain contraindications, honey can cause allergies. For allergy sufferers and asthmatics, this honey is categorically contraindicated.
Therefore, it should be taken in moderate doses. Adults need two teaspoons a day. Children should avoid cotton honey. Excessive use may cause nausea, rash or itching. Each manifestation is individual.
Pregnant women and diabetics should use it with caution. The glycemic index of cotton honey is 65–73.
This honey can cause swelling of the larynx with a strong productive cough, so it is not taken with milk for medicinal purposes. When using honey externally, the skin reaction is first checked - for this, a drop of honey is applied to the wrist. If no rash appears within three hours, then you can do honey masks or body wraps.

Cotton honey in cooking

Cotton honey is an excellent table honey and its mild flavor makes it a good choice for cooking and baking where a more subtle sweetness is desired. It pairs well with hard cheeses such as parmesan, it also pairs well with citrus sauce, lemonade or tea.

The use of cotton honey in cosmetology

The rich mineral composition of cotton honey allows this honey to be used as an external agent in cosmetology. Honey masks, wraps, honey massage are recommended because of the high content of unsaturated acids in honey. Masks not only cleanse the skin well, but can treat acne, eliminate dryness, and smooth wrinkles.

 

Cotton honey for facial skin

Cotton honey face mask recipe. For the mask, you need 2 tbsp. cotton honey, add 1 tsp. aloe juice, aged in the cold for two days. The components of the mask are well beaten, applied to the skin for 20-25 minutes.
The mask is removed in a circular motion, you can use a damp cotton pad. If necessary, the face can be rinsed with cool water. Honey tightens the skin, activates the production of collagen, cleanses the pores, aloe stimulates metabolic processes, saturates the skin with moisture.
To restore damaged skin, it is useful to use a mask of cotton honey and olive oil, mixed in equal amounts. Applying this mask in the morning and before going to bed for a week, you can get clean and smooth skin. The mask is applied to cleansed skin for 20 minutes, then washed off with warm water.

How to choose cotton honey, how to distinguish natural cotton honey from a fake in appearance
It is not easy to determine the naturalness of cotton honey by external signs. Although this honey has its own characteristics:
As soon as honey crystallizes, it has a high density, its structure resembles oil. If cut with a knife, the piece will not lose its shape.

But the consumer will not be able to distinguish a high-quality fake.
So the best way to buy real cotton honey is to find a real beekeeper who values his name and buy honey directly from him. In modern conditions, buying honey and delivering it to you is not difficult. In this case, you will have 100% real cotton honey.