Sugaring is a food preservation method similar to pickling.
Sugaring creates a hostile environment to microbial life, and is commonly used to preserve fruits as well as vegetables such as ginger.
For instance, honey was used as part of the mummification process in some ancient Egyptian rites.
Once a sufficient moisture level is reached, native yeast in the environment comes out of dormancy and begins to ferment the sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide.
Although fermentation can also be used as a food preservation method, it must be controlled, or the results could be unpleasant.