Giorgio Poeta, one of Italy's most renowned beekeepers, explains why honey should never be added to boiling hot beverages.
Honey is both rich and delicate. According to Poeta, temperatures above 50 °C (122 °F) can destroy the beneficial properties of honey, leading to a rapid loss of its nutrients.
Poeta explains to cookist.it, that hot beverages above 50 °C (122 °F) significantly increase a honey quality indicator called Hmf,
Hmf is a dehydration product of fructose, used as an index of honey’s quality. High temperatures lead to enzymatic deterioration
To prevent deterioration, Poeta advises waiting a few minutes before adding honey to tea or herbal tea.
No, honey in hot drinks is not harmful to humans. However, it becomes “useless” because most of its nutrients are destroyed by the heat.