had a jar sat in the cupboard since around the start of the year and figured id write down what it actually did, since people panic at every change.
stuff that happened and is totally fine:
- went a bit darker over time. honey browns slowly, esp if its anywhere warm. not a potency thing, just colour
- started getting that grainy/semi-set look near the bottom. thats crystallisation, normal sugar thing, doesnt mean its gone bad
- a thin lighter layer near the top
what id actually worry about (didnt happen to mine): fizzing, a sour/yeasty beer-ish smell, bubbles working their way up, or any fuzz/mould. thats fermentation or contamination, different story. curious what other peoples jars have done
wait mine went grainy at the bottom and i assumed it was ruined. so thats just... sugar?
@Jake yep, crystallisation. raw honey does it, some faster than others. warm it gently in a bowl of warm water if you want it runny again, dont blast it
me three weeks ago, fully eulogising my jar over what turned out to be normal honey behaviour 😭
the smell test is my one tbh. still smells like honey, its honey. sour or boozy is the line