When honey stands for a time the liquid may separate into crystals. Many people prefer this crystal form, which is sold as creamed honey. Honey butter which is made by beating honey and butter together is a popular spread. Honey ceased being the sole sweetening agent 200 years ago. It takes two million flowers to make one pound of honey.
Bees work hard to produce the sweet honey that people have always loved to eat.
Some colonies can produce 500 pounds of honey a year. Throughout the world beekeepers harvest about one million tons of honey each year. The United States ranks third in the world in honey production. The insect must consume eight pounds of honey to produce one pound of wax for the combs. Because beeswax burns slowly and has a pleasant smell it makes fine candles.