How to spot adulterated honey in Costa Rica

Honey fraud isn't a suspicion here, it's documented. Studies of Costa Rican commercial honeys have found that only a fraction of samples meet the national and international standard, and the MEIC has gone as far as filing complaints against bottlers selling syrup labelled as honey.

The first thing anyone can do is check the honey catalogue maintained by SENASA together with the National Beekeeping Chamber. It lists the certified brands and also the ones that aren't. It's free and takes a minute.

The second is to read the label carefully. A properly labelled honey declares the establishment number, the batch, the bottling date and the expiry date. If the batch is missing, or the date is handwritten on a sticker, something is off.

The third is crystallisation. Genuine honey crystallises over time, and that isn't a defect: it's the sign that it wasn't overheated or diluted. Honey that stays liquid and transparent for years usually has a less pleasant explanation.

None of these three checks needs a laboratory. They need nothing more than the habit of reading the label before you pay.