Putting honey it tea.

by Twylla
(San Diego, Ca)

I know you can't put honey in the microwave but recently someone told me that it loses its nutrients if you put it in hot tea. Is this true?

Angela's Comments:

When you put honey into hot water that has just been boiled, you will not reduce the healing benefits of it, if you wait until it cools slightly. Having honey in tea or something like that is a great way to help bring the healing properties of the herb into your body. Because it is not direct high heat, the properties will remain.

The temperature that honey would lose it's beneficial properties is: 118 degrees Fahrenheit. Food that has not been cooked or heated above 118 degree F is considered raw. All the enzymes will be present. Since boiling point is 212 degrees F, you will have to wait a short time for it to cool to get maximum results.

However, it will not be harmful to have honey after it has been heated or used in a baking recipe. The benefits will outweigh not using it. Pasteurization occurs after 140 or 150 degrees F.