La miel es un fluido dulce y viscoso producido por las abejas a partir del néctar de las flores o de secreciones de partes vivas de plantas o de excreciones de insectos chupadores de plantas. Las abejas lo recogen, transforman y combinan con la enzima invertasa que contiene la saliva de las abejas y lo almacenan en los panales donde madura. La intervención del hombre en el proceso de explotación de los panales de la colmena es conocida como apicultura. Las características físicas, químicas y organolépticas de la miel vienen determinadas por el tipo de néctar que recogen las abejas. El origen botánico de las mieles define también la mayor o menor facilidad de éstas a cristalizar. La producción mundial media de miel es aproximadamente de 1 200 000 tn, y cerca de la mitad de ésta entra en los circuitos internacionales de comercio. Los principales países productores y exportadores son China, Argentina, España, México, Canadá, Hungría y Australia. Es difícil establecer un ranking de naciones, pues sus niveles de producción son muy diferentes. Los principales importadores a nivel mundial son la Unión Europea y Estados Unidos.

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Honey /ˈhʌni/ is a sweet food made by bees foraging nectar from flowers. The variety produced by honey bees (the genus Apis) is the one most commonly referred to, as it is the type of honey collected by most beekeepers and consumed by people. Honey is also produced by bumblebees, stingless bees, and other hymenopteran insects such as honey wasps, though the quantity is generally lower and they have slightly different properties compared with honey from the genus Apis. Honey bees convert nectar into honey by a process of regurgitation and evaporation: they store it as a primary food source in wax honeycombs inside the beehive. Honey gets its sweetness from the monosaccharides fructose and glucose, and has about the same relative sweetness as granulated sugar. It has attractive chemical properties for baking and a distinctive flavor that leads some people to prefer it to sugar and other sweeteners. Most microorganisms do not grow in honey so sealed honey does not spoil, even after thousands of years. However, honey sometimes contains dormant endospores of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which can be dangerous to babies, as it may result in botulism. People who have a weakened immune system should not eat honey because of the risk of bacterial or fungal infection. There is some evidence that honey may be effective in treating diseases and other medical conditions such as wounds and burns. However, the evidence is overall not conclusive. Providing 64 calories in a typical serving of one tablespoon (15 mL), honey contains no significant essential nutrient content. Honey is generally safe but there are various, potential adverse-effects or interactions it may have in combination with excessive consumption, existing disease conditions, or drugs. Honey use and production has a long and varied history. Honey collection is an ancient activity. Humans apparently began foraging for honey at least 8,000 years ago, as evidenced by a cave painting in Valencia, Spain.

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