Honey is known as a natural sweetener that nourishes the body and promotes good health. Loaded with vitamins, minerals, and beneficial enzymes, honey is said to boost the immune system, aid in weight loss and reduce the risk of heart disease when taken internally as part of the diet. Honey is also used as an organic facial mask or lotion to help moisturize and rejuvenate the skin.
The demand for all-natural and unadulterated honey has attracted many to individuals to start their own bee-keeping and honey production businesses right at their backyards. If you are one of these enterprising individuals and are wondering how to send your first batch of bottled honey to your family, friends and customers, here are some tips on how to ship honey that will help ensure that the sweet liquid will arrive safely and in good condition.
The last thing you should worry about honey is its shelf life. Properly stored, honey is said to last for a lifetime! It has anti-microbial properties and very low sugar content that prevent bacterial and fungal growth, making it fresh and safe to consume even after decades!
Pure honey can be stored in glass or plastic bottles or jars. Glass is preferable because it is less permeable to oxygen and UV light and thus keep the honey in its purest form. However, glass bottles/jars are fragile and heavier than their plastic counterparts. Many sellers opt to use plastic containers because they are cheaper, recyclable and weighs lighter, which help keep shipping costs down.
Whether shipping honey in a glass jar or plastic bottle, the important thing is to make sure that the container is well-sealed and will not leak. Make sure caps or lids are tight and secured. As an added precaution, wrap plastic cling wrap on the cap/lid and neck area of the bottle and secure with tape.
Protect each honey jar/bottle with generous layers of bubble wrap. This will provide cushion to prevent the glass or plastic bottles from banging into each other and breaking during transport especially when shipping several bottles in one package.
Get a sturdy shipping box that is 3 to 4 inches larger than your honey bottle or group of jars. Fill the bottom with a couple of layers of packing peanuts and place the bottle/s on top of the fillers, in the center of the box.
Fill the sides of the box, and other empty spaces between the jars with more packing peanuts. Pack the box well with peanuts up to the top so that there is no space for the bottle/s to shift or move around. Close and seal the box with packing tape. Also secure all box seams to prevent it from bursting open during transit.
Address and label the package with “Glass” and “Handle with Care.” Take the package to your local post office or shipping company.