Swan Valley Honey has been trading under this entity for eleven years however our experience with honey extends two generations. We are a family owned and run business, operating from our warehouse in Wangara, Western Australia. We currently employ six staff and are avid beekeepers ourselves. We also source and deliver our honey as far north as Moora, east to the Goldfields and as far south as Albany.
It’s all about the bees.
The Honeybee family (hive) consists of: Worker bees, Drones and a Queen Bee. Bees play a vital part in the pollination of our fruit & vegetable crops. Each bee produces approx. 1tsp of honey in its life time.
Our honey is 100% pure & natural.
Swan Valley Honey contains only natural honey as produced by the bees, which are free to collect this delicate nectar from our beautiful wildflowers and state forests. Our experienced apiarists strategically place the bee hives according to the flora that is flowering at that time. This gives the delicate honey flavours unique to Western Australia.
Is honey good for you?
Honey is a natural sweetener which has not had to undergo additional processing for it to be ready to enjoy. Honey contains more nutrients than processed sugars. Honey generally has a lower GI Index than regular sugars. Honey also has medicinal benefits.
How can I use honey?
Skincare – Use honey as a facial cleanser, combine equal quantity of honey, plain yogurt and oatmeal & mix together to form a paste, your skin will feel soft & revitalized.
Cooking – Use honey in marinades for beef & chicken and pork, substitute sugar and syrups with honey in sweet recipes.
Healing – Use as a natural antiseptic on cuts & grazes.
How do I use honey in cooking?
When using honey in recipes remember to lower the cooking temperature as the sugar content will brown quicker. If cooking on a hot plate, cook on a lower heat. As a guide reduce oven temperature by 15 degrees Celsius below that recommended in a recipe.
Why has my honey gone solid (crystalised)?
Some varieties of honey will crystalise quicker than others and this in no way effects the quality of the honey. If your honey goes solid, (which is a natural occurrence for raw honey) place sealed honey container in a pot of hot water, in warmer weather, into a black bag and stand in the sun. The heat will re-liquefy your honey.
Does Swan Valley Honey import honey?
No. Our honey is 100% Western Australian sourced. Due to strict quarantine restrictions by the Western Australian government, honey can only be imported or brought into Western Australia from other countries or other Australian states if it has been pasteurised or heat treated. This treatment destroys much of the nutritional properties and compromises the quality of the honey. Swan Valley Honey is pure, raw and local.
How do I store my honey?
Liquid honey is best stored in an airtight container in a dry place at room temperature. Creamed Honey is best kept in the refrigerator as heat exposure can cause it to re-liquefy or appear to separate.
Can my pets safely eat honey?
(Source: The Honeybee Conservancy. (n.d.). Honey for dogs (and other pets)? Retrieved 30/4/2020 from https://thehoneybeeconservancy.org/2015/04/03/honey-for-dogs)
Dogs really enjoy the taste of raw honey. A taste of honey as an occasional treat is fine. According to vetinfo.com, local honey can be used to help treat allergies triggered by pollen. A small amount given each day. The honey has to be from local hives so that it contains small amounts of the local pollen that are causing your pet’s allergies. The honey will help relieve some of your pet’s allergies. So, yes, it is fine to set aside some honey for dogs. That said, feeding your pet more than one teaspoon of honey each day can impact their health negatively. This is because dogs and cats are carnivores and have teeth and a digestive system evolved for eating meat, not sweets. Too much honey can also result in tooth decay and in extra calories that lead to obesity.
Guinea Pigs:According to Guinea Pig Heaven, a guinea pig cages site, guinea pigs should not be fed raw honey, although honey is being used as a flavoring for a growing number of guinea pig snacks. Their article, Can my guinea pigs eat honey?, talks about feeding guinea pigs honey but also about using honey as dressing for wounds or scratches.
CatsJust as with dogs, an occasional taste if fine but too much raw honey can can lead to obesity and dental problems. Honey is find as an occasional treat and n small amounts. However, cats don’t need extra sugar in their diet. Interestingly, diluted honey is sometimes suggested by vets to lure cats into eating crushed medication when they refuse to eat.
BirdsYou can feed raw honey to birds like parrots and budgies. In the wild, birds eat honey. Birds can digest honey, which is why stores sell honey sticks for birds. However, since raw honey is very sweet and full of sugars (as well as trace minerals, enzymes and other beneficial ingredients), it’s best not to feed your bird too much of it. It can promote too much weight gain, not to mention sometimes birds get honey on themselves, which makes their feathers sticky.
What is so special about Jarrah honey?
Western Australia has many unique varietal honey’s, our most precious being Jarrah honey. It is sought after for its medicinal properties. Jarrah honey is a natural healing elixir with naturally occurring antibiotic and antiseptic properties that fight germs and bacteria (Ssshhh… even better than Manuka honey!).
What is Bee Pollen?
Bee pollen is a mixture of flower pollen, nectar, enzymes, honey, wax and bee secretions. Honey bees collect pollen from plants and transport it to the beehive, where it’s stored and used as food for the hive. Recently, bee pollen has gained traction in the health community because it’s loaded with nutrients, amino acids, vitamins, lipids and over 250 active substances.
