《论衡·卷十七·是应篇》
据此推论，甘露必然是说它降下的时候，恰好滋润养育了万物，不一定露的味道是甜的。
推此以论，甘露必谓其降下时，适润养万物，未必露味甘也。
According to this, the term "honeydew" must refer to a rain that fell at a time when it was just what the growing crops needed, and does not necessarily mean that the dew actually tastes sweet.