Glaze: Honey

Honey is a sweet, viscous food substance made by honey bees from the nectar of flowers. Bees collect nectar and store it in their honeycombs, where enzymes and evaporation transform it into honey. It is composed primarily of fructose and glucose, with smaller amounts of other sugars, water, and trace elements.

Manufacturers use honey as a natural sweetener and flavor enhancer in a wide variety of foods. Its distinct flavor and moisture-retaining properties make it popular in baked goods, sauces, glazes, and breakfast items. It can also contribute to browning and texture in processed foods.

Honey is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA for use as a food ingredient. It is primarily composed of sugars and provides calories. While often promoted for its potential health benefits, scientific evidence for specific health claims is mixed and requires more research. International bodies like JECFA have evaluated honey and its components.