A History of Honey and Its Use in Period: (Part 6 of 6): The Decline of Honey and the Rise of Sugar

This is the sixth and final part in a series of entries on the use of honey in pre-1600's history.

Honey retains its primary position until it was superseded by sugar cane from India. After returning from India in 325BC, Alexander the Greats Admiral Nearchus, brought word of the reed, which “gives honey without bees.” China was using this type of sugar by 200BC. Arabs prized sugar starting in the 700’s. They introduced its cultivation in Sicily, Cyprus, Morocco, and Spain. Until the 900’s and 1000’s, sugar was hardly known in Northern Europe.

Cane sugar was rare and expensive for the next few centuries. It was treated more as a spice, condiment or medicine and was considered dangerous in large amounts. Returning Crusaders in the 1100’s brought more information on the uses of sugar. It became a fashionable and expensive cooking ingredient. Sugar was not in common use until the 1700’s, but James Hart in 1633 declared “Sugar hath now succeeded honey”. According to Eva Crane’s “World History of Honey Hunting and Beekeeping” honey and sugar prices compare as follows. The prices are pence per pound:

YEAR	HONEY	SUGAR
1250	0.43	19
1350	0.57	20
1410	1.17	24
1460	1.13	14.3
1480	1.23	8.7
1530	1.64	6.8
1575	3.4	18
c. 1600	2.3-5.7	13-20