Chinese (Simplified) 
Chinese (Traditional) 
English 
French 
Alemão 
Italian 
Japanese 
Norwegian 
Spanish 
4 min read
29 comments
Archaeological discovery surprises experts by revealing the durability of honey and its importance to ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Mesopotamia and Sumeria. The natural product was already being used more than 8 thousand years ago.
An impressive discovery in Egypt is attracting the attention of the scientific world and the general public: archaeologists have found honey that is over 3 years old and perfectly preserved inside an Egyptian tomb. The food was identified in sealed ceramic vessels and, to the researchers’ surprise, it was still fit for consumption. This discovery not only highlights the impressive durability of honey over the centuries, but also rekindles interest in how ancient people used this substance in their diet, medicine and even in religious rituals.
Furthermore, there are records that indicate that honey collection dates back more than 8 thousand years, which makes this delicacy a direct link between the present and civilizations of the past.
Why was 3-year-old honey preserved?
According to experts, the preservation of honey for so long is possible thanks to its chemical composition. Despite its sweet taste, honey has low moisture and a naturally acidic pH (between 3,0 and 4,5), which makes it difficult for fungi and bacteria to proliferate. In addition, during production, bees add an enzyme called glucose oxidase to flower nectar. This enzyme transforms the nectar into gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide — popularly known as hydrogen peroxide — which has antiseptic action.
-
Students create robot capable of solving the dreaded Rubik's cube faster than the blink of an eye — and the feat enters the Guinness Book of Records
-
The crisis the world was not prepared for: Miguel Nicolelis warns about artificial intelligence, the digital age and the future of human connections
-
After Google was created this place changed completely and became unrecognizable.
-
Researchers believe Earth's natural hydrogen could power the Earth for 170.000 years — and they've figured out the 'way' to find it
Buy
These properties make honey one of the few foods with a virtually indefinite shelf life, as long as it is kept in ideal conditions. This was the case with the sealed jars discovered in Egyptian tombs, which remained intact for millennia.
The importance of 3-year-old honey in Ancient Egypt
Honey wasn’t just a food in ancient Egypt—it also had medicinal and religious uses. Relief paintings dating back to the third century BC show Egyptian workers collecting honey from beehives. Historical records show that Ramses III offered 21 jars of honey to the god Hapi, a deity associated with the Nile River.
The presence of honey in royal tombs indicates that it was also considered a valuable commodity for the afterlife, often included in burials as a source of food in the afterlife.
Oldest honey in the world
The use of honey dates back more than 8 years. The oldest evidence of it is found in the cave paintings of La Araña Cave in Valencia, Spain. The cave art shows a human figure hanging from vines trying to reach a beehive to collect wild honey, depicting the practice of primitive beekeeping.
In Mesopotamia, a 4-year-old clay tablet found in the ancient Sumerian city of Nippur contains a medicinal recipe with honey, olive oil, water and cedar oil, used to treat wounds.
In Christian tradition, honey also appears as part of the diet of John the Baptist, mentioned in the New Testament. And even in military campaigns, such as that of the Carthaginian general Hannibal, honey was used to feed troops during the crossing of the Alps towards the Roman Empire.
Honey in Chinese medicine and Eastern traditions
In traditional Chinese medicine, honey is classified as a neutral substance that acts on the lungs, spleen and intestines. During Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770 to 256 BC), honey was reserved for royalty and used in sophisticated dishes, including recipes with bee larvae.
Its versatility and nutritional value have always been recognized by Eastern cultures, which reinforces its universal importance throughout history.
The oldest honey in the world is 5.500 years old
While the honey found in an Egyptian tomb is 3 years old, the oldest honey in the world was found in a tomb near the village of Sakire in Georgia, dating back approximately 5.500 years. At the site, archaeologists found pottery vessels containing remains of honey and flowers, suggesting that the food was offered as a provision for the afterlife.
This discovery is 2.500 years older than the honey found in the famous tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, excavated in 1922.
An ancient food that spans civilizations
These discoveries demonstrate that honey is more than just a food — it is a testament to the intelligence and knowledge of ancient peoples. Its presence in different civilizations, from Europe to Asia, through North Africa and the Middle East, reveals a thousand-year-old legacy of medicinal, ritualistic and nutritional use.
In addition to being a natural source of energy and antioxidants, honey is a symbol of purity, preservation and connection with nature. Its resistance to time is impressive and reinforces its value as one of humanity's most complete and durable foods.
The discovery of 3-year-old honey in Egypt proves that some human traditions are older — and better preserved — than previously thought. Honey has crossed eras, kingdoms and continents, remaining relevant to this day.
Among its many uses, it stands out not only as a food, but also as a healing agent, spiritual offering and luxury ingredient. Whether in Egyptian rituals, Sumerian recipes or Chinese medicine, honey has established itself as a natural link between past and present, keeping the memory of our ancestors alive.
Excellent article, information about history and medicine together. Thank you!
This shows the importance of preserving bees.
Honey has eternal life,
Very good 😃 I didn't know that honey took so much time. I would like to know if honey in sugar
Honey in bleached sugar ?NO!honey in unbleached raw sugar ? Node! Honey in honey? Yes!thus is factual ! 😀