Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: sean on September 17, 2007, 02:58:40 pm

Title: Honey foam
Post by: sean on September 17, 2007, 02:58:40 pm
What is the cause of the foam in honey and is there anyway to reduce/stop it?
Title: Re: Honey foam
Post by: BMAC on September 17, 2007, 03:50:01 pm
It is typical when uncrystalizing it or when making creamed honey.

How are you causing it to foam?
Title: Re: Honey foam
Post by: Jerrymac on September 17, 2007, 05:07:13 pm
I think he is talking about the air bubbles when extracting.
Title: Re: Honey foam
Post by: buzzbee on September 17, 2007, 05:30:17 pm
I had a little on top of a 5 gallon bucket after it settled down from extracting. I poured the honey from the gate on the bottom and when i got to the foamy stuff I sat it out and gave it back to the bees.
Title: Re: Honey foam
Post by: doak on September 18, 2007, 12:22:52 am
Let it settle for 3 or 4 days then take a large spoon or spatchla and scim it off. You will not get it all but the most can be taken off.
What little you do have at the last just keep for your stash. Nothing wrong with itjust isn't nice looking to sell.
doak
Title: Re: Honey foam
Post by: sean on September 18, 2007, 09:05:11 am
I did let it settle for a few days. I was bottling some recently and after taking an un-corked bottle and placing it in the sun for a few minutes the foam started to run out of the bottle
Title: Re: Honey foam
Post by: Jerrymac on September 18, 2007, 10:20:48 am
Are you sure this isn't fermenting on you? 
Title: Re: Honey foam
Post by: Dick Allen on September 18, 2007, 01:20:19 pm
Quote
take a large spoon or spatchla and scim it off

After the scum has risen to the top, a sheet of plastic food wrap such as Saran Wrap laid on it and then pulled off picks up most of the scum.
Title: Re: Honey foam
Post by: BMAC on September 18, 2007, 05:33:11 pm
Are you sure this isn't fermenting on you? 

Sounds maybe like it.  Throw a little more water in there and put an airlock on it.  Then bottoms up!!!


Enjoy your mead....
Title: Re: Honey foam
Post by: sean on September 18, 2007, 06:54:41 pm
Hah, its not fermenting. I have been told its probably the nectar source.
Title: Re: Honey foam
Post by: BMAC on September 18, 2007, 07:28:15 pm
Dont keep us in suspense here.  What is the nectar source?  What does the honey taste like?
Title: Re: Honey foam
Post by: sean on September 18, 2007, 10:04:33 pm
As best as i can tell is Coral(leptopus antigonon) some form of acacia and assorted shrubs and flowers. I havent developed that discerning a taste for honey as yet so i cant tell you what it tastes like   
Title: Re: Honey foam
Post by: reinbeau on September 19, 2007, 08:28:32 pm
My herbal/garden flower/wildflower honey always has a bit of a scum on the top of it, I use the plastic wrap method on it and it isn't any problem. 
Title: Re: Honey foam
Post by: sean on September 19, 2007, 10:17:26 pm
will try it with the next batch. Thanks
Title: Re: Honey foam
Post by: ApisM on March 29, 2013, 06:52:53 pm
I am having the same problem.  After settling in bucket, I skim the foam off like usually.  Then I bottle.  A foam develops on top, and it crystalizes easier then other honey years.   After if crystalizes, it has very coarse crystals, and I put in luke warm water and there is abundant foam in the jar.  So I was wondering what is causing it too, the honey still taste quite good.

On another note, my 2010 honey has yet to crystalize.  It is interesting to see how my honey changes over the years.  I live in the boreal forest, so there are only wildflowers and no farms around.

Title: Re: Honey foam
Post by: edward on March 29, 2013, 07:47:43 pm
the foam is air and pollen