Honey is a thick, golden-colored liquid produced by honeybees and other insects, like some bumblebees and wasps.
It comes from the nectar within flowers, which bees collect and store in their stomachs until back at the hive.
Nectar is made up of sucrose (sugar), water, and other substances. It’s roughly 80 percent carbohydrate and 20 percent water. Bees produce honey by ingesting and regurgitating the nectar over and over again. This process removes the water.
Afterward, bees store the honey in honeycombs to be used as an energy source during the winter when it’s harder to find food.
Although it’s a natural sweetener, honey has a bit more carbohydrates and calories per teaspoon than table sugar.
According to the United States Department of AgricultureTrusted Source, 1 tablespoon of raw honey has about 60 calories and 17 grams of carbohydrates.
Honey also contains many vitamins and minerals, including iron, vitamin C, folate, magnesium, potassium, and calcium. It’s also an antioxidant, which are substances that prevent and slow cell damage.