‘I’m 63 And Had No Clue’: Viral TikTok Shows Honey Test — But Does It Really Work?
NEW YORK — A woman’s viral TikTok has sparked fresh debate about whether there’s a quick way to tell if your honey is real or fake. The trending video has left thousands of viewers surprised — including one commenter who said, “I’m 63 and had no clue.”
The Viral Honey Test
Content creator Freda (@fredatravels) shared the method after seeing another user demonstrate it. In her video, she poured a spoonful of Wild Harvest Organic Raw Honey into a glass, added water, and swirled it gently.
According to the instructions, the honey should form honeycomb-like patterns in the water, supposedly proving its authenticity.
“It’s, like, the memory of the comb of the honeycomb,” Freda said in the clip, astonished when faint shapes appeared.
Does It Actually Work?
Experts say the answer is no. The patterns that form when honey is diluted are caused by viscosity and surface tension, not proof of purity. Sometimes the shapes may resemble hexagons, but food scientists stress it’s more of a coincidence than science.
According to the U.S. National Honey Board, true raw honey comes directly from hives with minimal processing. By contrast, so-called fake honey can be made with corn or cane syrups and may contain little to no bee product at all.
How to Spot Real vs. Fake Honey
While social media tests remain popular, food experts note that lab analysis is the only reliable way to confirm authenticity. Still, there are some telltale differences:
@fredatravels How to check if your honey was made by bees. I love learning something new everyday!#fyp #bees #honey
- Raw honey often looks cloudier, may crystallize over time, and retains pollen and natural enzymes.
- Processed or fake honey is usually clearer, smoother, and may be mixed with syrups or additives.
Some at-home tricks people use include seeing if honey crystallizes, dropping it into water (real honey tends to sink), or even checking the label for added ingredients.
Online Reactions
The viral clip drew thousands of comments from shocked viewers.
“There’s fake honey!? I turn 36 in 4 days and this never even crossed my mind,” one wrote.
Another said, “I know it’s real when it’s $13 a jar — sometimes I just buy the whole comb at the farm.”
Others kept it simple: “Literally just look at the ingredients. If there’s more than one, it’s not real.”
Would you trust a glass-of-water test, or do you only buy honey straight from local farms? Join the discussion in the comments at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
