Dripless Honey

THE PHOTO ABOVE shows a small plastic jar of honey I bought at Tom’s Market this week. Little did I know it would feature a very creative valve design that delivered a thin stream of golden sweetness without creating a mess.

If you use honey, you know those sticky drips can end up just about anywhere imaginable. It has been an issue I've struggled with for years. My spouts and dippers always dripped, creating a mess that left sticky fingers and hands; the effects often lingered for a long time.

I first realized how sticky honey was when I was introduced to it during an Arkansas dinner celebration. I had been invited to the mayor’s house because I had delivered a beautiful new ambulance made in Michigan to the mayor of this small hamlet. His family would be hosting the Sunday family dinner.

One of the grandmothers was very attentive. I was clearly the guest of honor. After one of the uncles delivered grace, she quickly passed me a cloth-covered basket of corn muffins, joined by a jar of honey with a wooden dipper.

The mayor asked me if I had ever used a honey dipper. I admitted that it was new to me. He explained that I needed to dip the grooved head into the honey and gently spin the handle as I lifted it out – he assured me the honey would be held in the ridges and wouldn’t drip. You just needed to stop spinning the dipper and let gravity release it in a stream onto the corn muffin.

I now understand how it should be used, but back then, my nerves were front and center, and more honey ended up on the muffin basket, tablecloth, and my left hand to the delight of the entire family.

My thoughts today, with hindsight, had me being set up with a chuckle for all.

I’m hoping this new valve produces dripless honey.

Wouldn’t that be nice!