I'm just getting into bees on my own. I would like to produce natural flavered honeys. Some plants produce different flavers but commercial beeekeeping just blends them all to try to get the lightest color possible. does anyone now what plants produce what flavers? T.&G.B. Mike Honaker

-- Mike Honaker (mhonk@oz-online.net), October 02, 1999

Answers

In our area the "gourmet honey" is sourwood, and tome it has a slight bitter note. In good years it is almost clear. Locally my Beekeeper tells me that most of the wildflower in our area is from tulip POPLAR. Clover is most of the unlabelled or blended grocery store honey, very mild as I am sure you know. My keeper asked me to seed clover so there is a steady supply of nectar and pollen for the bees. Tupelo honey is said to have different simple sugars than other honeys and consequently SAID to be less risky for diabetics (use a disclaimer if you say this and sell honey at the same time.) Orange Blossom tastes like clover honey to me, but has a really good aroma. The bees put 3 or 4 times as much energy into comb production as honey production (by weight of product). The comb from within 1-2 miles of a person's home is recommended to lessen the severity of pollen allergies (Disclaimer again). You probably shouldn't rob comb until you have very strong hives at least in their second year. Since you are just getting started I think you will have your hands full with keeping your colonies healthy and home. If there is a regional bee group - join it, make friends with experienced keepers. The ABC and XYZ is still the standard reference book for keepers. I haven't read enough of the bee journals to recommend one, but I recommend that you find a good one for current parasite/treatment and bee product/utilization information. If you are anywhere close to Western NC (on the point) come to the free half-day getting started with bees seminar on Oct 26 at Moon Water Wellness Center. When you find the ultimate bear discouragement, tell us.

-- Kendy Sawyer (sweetfire@grove.net), October 02, 1999.

Contact your county ag. exstention . They should be able to get you in touch with the local bee meetings.(ours meet once a month) . ALso ask about bees in your own area normally the people in small towns can point you in the directions of an "old bee keeper" and they are worth knowing and a wealth of knowledge.

-- BEcky Rosen (Joel681@webtv.net), October 04, 1999.

hello Mike, good luck on getting a spefic flavored honey. what is in bloom is the nector collectd by the bees. unless you are in the middle of an alfafa field, etc, your honey flavor will be mixed. here with city bees, it is easier to call it wild flower, or suburban jungle flavor. happy bee keeping, larry

-- larry the nut (Nuts4bees@aol.com), February 19, 2000.