Frequently Asked Questions

The questions we're asked most often.

My honey has gone solid. Is it OK? Yes, absolutely! Setting (crystallising) is completely natural and happens to most real honey sooner or later. It depends on the mix of natural sugars and on the temperature; cool spots speed it up. Set honey is just as good and lovely to spread.

How do I make it runny again? Stand the jar (lid on, water below the lid) in a bowl of warm water, below about 40°C, and stir now and then. Be patient. Please don't microwave or boil it, because too much heat spoils the flavour.

How should I store honey? At room temperature, with the lid tight, out of direct sunlight. There's no need for the fridge, which actually makes it set faster.

Is your honey filtered? Yes, lightly. We pass it through a coarse sieve and then a fine one to catch bits of wax, then let it settle before jarring. Local Honey, Naturally Sourced and Lightly Filtered.

Is it really local? Yes. Our hives are at Brookfield in West End, Hampshire, and the bees forage within about three miles. Recent analysis shows it's mainly bramble (blackberry) honey.

Can babies have honey? No. Honey is not suitable for infants under 12 months. This applies to all honey, not just ours.

What does the code on my lid mean? It's your batch code. The letter is the beekeepers' colour for that year: queens are marked White (years ending 1 or 6), Yellow (2 or 7), Red (3 or 8), Green (4 or 9) or Blue (5 or 0). The first number is the year, and the last four digits are the harvest day and month. So W62808 means a white year, 2026, harvested on 28 August. Scan the QR code to see your batch's own page.

How long does it keep? Our best before date is 10 years from harvest. You'll find it on the label.

How much is your honey? 227 g £5.50 · 340 g £7.50 · 454 g £10.

Can I return my empty jar? Yes, please! Bring back a clean, empty Brookfield jar and you'll get 50p off your next purchase for each jar returned. A rinse in warm soapy water is perfect. We clean and sterilise every returned jar before it's refilled, and always fit a new lid. See How do you clean and sterilise your jars? below. (EXAMPLE: any limit on jars per purchase, to be confirmed.)

How do you clean and sterilise your jars? Every jar, new or returned, goes through the dishwasher first, with an eco-friendly dishwasher sheet. Then it goes into the oven to sterilise at 140°C (120°C fan, gas mark 1) for 15–20 minutes. Once the jars have cooled, we use them straight away to jar the honey, and every jar gets a brand-new lid.

How can I buy? Email us at sales@brookfieldhoney.co.uk. Collection, markets and delivery: EXAMPLE, to be confirmed. See Contact.

I think I've seen an Asian hornet. What do I do? Take a photo if it's safe to, and report it through the Asian Hornet Watch app. See Bees in Danger.