Check the Ingredients List Pure honey should have only one ingredient: honey. If you see additives like glucose, high-fructose corn syrup, or artificial flavors, it’s likely fake.
Perform the Water Test Drop a spoonful of honey into a glass of water—real honey will settle at the bottom, while fake honey dissolves quickly.
Do the Thumb Test Place a small drop of honey on your thumb. Pure honey stays intact, while adulterated honey spreads or gets absorbed quickly.
Try the Flame Test Dip a cotton wick in honey and try lighting it with a match. Real honey will burn, while impure honey (due to moisture content) won’t ignite.
Observe Its Texture and Flow Authentic honey is thick and slowly drips from a spoon, whereas fake honey is often runny and watery due to added sugar syrups.
Check for Crystallization Real honey crystallizes over time, becoming grainy and thicker, while artificial honey remains smooth and syrupy indefinitely.
Taste the Difference Pure honey has a complex, rich taste with floral notes, while fake honey often tastes overly sweet or artificial.