Cleoptra used it as a beauty treatment, opera singers soothe their throats with it and it is the favourite food of Winnie the Pooh.

Bees have been producing honey for at least 150 million years and in the past 4,000 years humans have been basking in its goodness.

Honey was the most used medicine in ancient Egypt and today, UK citizens consume about 25,000 tonnes a year.

This week our great love for the sticky stuff is being celebrated with National Honey Week.

This aptly coincides with Valentine's Day because honey has aphrodisiac qualities as well as health and beauty benefits. It is rich in vitamin B, enzymes and amino acids, which are thought to increase sexual desire.

Honey also contains traces of minerals, vitamins C, D and E, pollen, protein and natural sugars.

However, commercially processed, heat-treated and strained honeys are considered less nutricious than the natural, cold-pressed varieties.

Honey's natural and unrefined sugars, glucose and fructose are absorbed more quickly by the body, providing an instant and long-lasting energy boost.

A university study found honey played a huge part in improving the performance, endurance and recovery of athletes.

Honey is also known for its antiseptic properties and can be used for a range of ailments such as cuts and burns. If mixed with water, ginger and lemon juice, it is a soothing remedy for coughs and sore throats.

Research has shown it can be used to treat digestive problems such as peptic ulcers and external lesions.

Honey also has antibacterial effects on a number of food-poisoning organisms.

Manuka honey from New Zealand is particularly potent and has been found to eradicate the H pylori bacteria responsible for most stomach ulcers.

Eating locally-produced honey may help to reduce hay fever symptoms.

There is no difference in taste or nutritional value between clear and set honey but it is said darker honey is higher in antioxidants.

Honey was regularly used as a sweetener up until the 18th Century, when cane sugar cane was introduced to this country.

If you want to use honey as a substitute, remember, it is sweeter than sugar so a smaller amount is needed to get the same effect.

Although it is a healthier option than sugar, it is used by the body in much the same way, so use it sparingly if you suffer from blood sugar fluctuations or want to lose weight.

You should also avoid giving honey to children under the age of one as it can increase the risk of infection by the bacterial spores it can contain.

Dentists say honey is not as bad for your teeth as cakes, sweets and biscuits.

Honey attracts and retains moisture, which also makes it an effective ingredient for skin care. Apparently, Madonna and Kylie Minogue have followed in Cleopatra's footsteps and used it as part of their beauty regime.

Bees produce honey to give them energy to fly and survive during the winter. The honey bee takes the nectar from the plants and takes it back to the hive in its honey stomach. Bumblebees also produce honey to feed their young.