How do bees make honey?

Bees make honey through a fascinating and complex process that involves collecting nectar, transforming it, and storing it as a food source. It begins when worker bees leave the hive to gather nectar from flowers. Nectar is a sweet liquid made by flowers to attract pollinators. The bees use their long, tube-like tongues to suck up the nectar and store it in their "honey stomach," a special organ separate from their regular stomach. Once the bee returns to the hive, it passes the nectar to other worker bees through a process called trophallaxis—essentially, mouth-to-mouth transfer. These bees then repeatedly chew and digest the nectar, mixing it with enzymes that break down the complex sugars into simpler sugars. This enzymatic action is crucial because simpler sugars are less prone to crystallization and easier to digest, which also helps preserve the honey. After the nectar has been sufficiently processed, the bees spread it into the hexagonal wax cells of the honeycomb. To reduce the water content and turn the nectar into thick honey, the bees fan the honeycomb with their wings, creating airflow that helps evaporate excess moisture. When the honey reaches the right consistency—typically around 18% water—the bees seal the cells with wax caps to keep it fresh. This stored honey serves as a vital food source for the colony, especially during winter months when nectar is scarce. In summary, honey production is a cooperative effort involving nectar collection, enzymatic transformation, moisture reduction, and storage—all carried out by the hardworking bees in the hive. This natural process not only sustains the bee colony but also provides humans with the delicious honey we enjoy.