How does honey differ from sugar?
Honey is a mixture of sugars formed from nectar by an enzyme, invertase, present in the bodies of bees. Honey varies in composition and flavour, depending on the source of the nectar (clover, orange blossom, sage, etc). A typical analysis of honey would show (exclusive of undetermined substances): 38% fructose, 31% glucose, 1% sucrose, 9% other sugars, 17% water and 0.17% ash. On the other hand, sugar is pure sucrose. Honey straight from the farm may contain some pollen and other substances. Commercially-produced honey is usually filtered to remove these impurities and may have extra glucose and water added to prevent crystallisation. On an equal weight basis, there is very little difference between honey and sugar as both provide carbohydrate and energy. However, a teaspoon of honey weighs more than a teaspoon of sugar so it will contain slightly more carbohydrate and energy. back to top What is the difference between the sugar in fruit and white sugar produced from sugar cane and sug
