Honey Processing:
Comb honey is a popular honey product in the western countries. Comb honey
was once packaged by installing wooden framework in special supers, but this labor intensive method is dying, and is being replaced by plastic rings or cartridges. After removal from the hive, a clear cover is usually fitted onto the cartridge so customers can see the product.
Raw honey - Honey as it exists in the beehive or as obtained by extraction, settling or straining without adding heat above 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Raw honey contains some pollen and may contain small particles of wax. Local raw honey is sought after by allergy sufferers as the pollen impurities are thought to lessen the sensitivity to hay fever. Most of the honey suppliers and marketers in Pakistan offering this type of honey as modern processing techniques are either
out of reach or costly for rural producers.
Chunk honey - Honey packed in wide-mouth containers consisting of one or more pieces of comb honey surrounded by extracted liquid honey. This type of honey is preferred in the USA.
Strained honey or filtered honey - Honey which has been passed through a mesh material to remove particulate material (pieces of wax, propolis, other defects) without removing pollen. Preferred by the health food trade - it has a cloudy appearance due to the included pollen, but it also tends to crystallize more quickly than ultra-filtered honey.
Ultra-filtered honey - Honey processed by very fine filtration under high pressure to remove all extraneous solids and pollen grains. Ultra-filtered honey is very clear and has a longer shelf life, because it crystallizes more slowly. Preferred by the supermarket trade.