• Honey Varieties
• Honey Color & Grading
• Nectar Sources
• How is honey made?

Douglas Farm Process

Trying to decide what honey to buy? Different honeys have distictive flavor and color due to differences between their principal nectar sources. Here is a collection of honey descriptions and helpful information.

Each honey variety taste can vary slightly due to changes in weather, such as the amount of rain or sunlight. Each year we look forward to trying new honey to see what the bees have collected for us.

Wildflower Honey - Honey gathered from nectar sources of various flowers located near the bee hive from which it is harvested. Each wildflower honey is a unique blend and can vary in flavor, color and chemical balance of sugar compounds. Our wild flower comes from Morris, Somerset, and Union counties in NJ.

Raw Honey - refers to honey as it exists in the hive. Typically honey is harvested and processed by pasturization (over 150 deg F), filtering under high preasure, large scale blending, and possible ultrasonication. These process slow crystalization, but can damage the honey. Processing honey can result is lower antioxidants and enzymes while increasing the hydroxymethyfurfural. Our honey is kept and harvested under 100 deg.

Monofloral Honey - A honey which has a high value in the marketplace because it has a distinct flavor and color due to its being predominantly from the nectar of one plant species. Each nectar sounce must be harvested directly after its bloom. Collecting from just one nectar source limits its supply, adds labor, and travel to its local. Varieties we offer come from the closest possible source for that varriety.

Domestic Monofloral Honey:

Acacia

Honey from the nectar collected from the Acacia tree blossoms. It is remarkably clear and pure. It is one of the sweetest honey varieties, yet also one of the most mild and delicate. Its low sucrose content slows crystalization and is the best choice for diabetics. Naturalist claim its therapeutic action to cleanses the liver, regulate the intestine and is an anti-inflammatory for the repiratory system. This honey is excellent for sweetening without altering the taste or aroma of a beverage.   AZ / TX

Alfalfa

Honey gathered from the nectar of alfalfa flowers growing throughout Pennsylvania. It is also common throughout the rich plateaus of Yyoming and Montana. It has close properties to clover and will blend well. A light amber and delicate honey. PA

Avocado

Dark, rich, full bodied amber honey. Its smilar in body but not taste to Tupello. CA

Basswood

Light in color, basswood is delicate and mild with warm herbal notes. Its commonly refered to as the Linden tree in North America. This large deciduous tree is found throughout the Northeast. Basswood pairs well with fresh green apples, fromage blanc and vanilla ice cream. A great accent to mint or spice teas. NJ / PA

Black Locust

Light amber honey gathered from white blossoms of old Black Lotus trees. It has a unique herbal hint. NJ

Blackberry

Honey gathered from the nectar of blossoms on blackberry bushes. People enjoy this mild honey on breads, teas, salad dressing or sauces. It is a popular base to make blackberry blossom mead. NJ

Blueberry

Tiny white and pink bell shaped blossoms on blueberry bushes make this unique treat. More red and slightly darker than blackberry. It is has more malt carmel flavor than blackberry. It is slightly tyrotrophic, but much less than Heather. It will become a thick gel if left exposed to the air for an extended period of time. NJ

Buckwheat

A near black colored honey. This deep bold flavor is gathered from the delicate white flowers of buckwheat shrubs. It has more antioxidants than some lighter honey, but not all. It is a must for a genuine honey cake or other baked goods requiring a strong honey. This is the closest honey to Molassas. NJ / PA

Carrot

A very rare red-orange honey from farms with fields making carrot seeds. Carrot farms do not leave their carrots in the ground long enough to see the small white blossoms. Only carrot seed farms do this. The majority of carrot seed in the US is produced in Oregon. It's strong robust flavor is sought out by beer and mead makers. OR

Clover

Honey gathered from the nectar of clover fields. A light golden honey for table use or baking. Its medium body makes it a very versetile honey. Different types of clover will yield suddle differences clover honey. White Dutch clover is popular in Pennnsylvania, while other clovers can be found in the central or north west US.      NJ / PA

Cotton

Blossoms in the south during July through early September. It has a medium color and body, but the taste is very different and enjoyable. VA

Eucalyptus

A rich and distinctive honey gathered from the nectar of flowering Eucalyptus trees. Eucalyptus originated from Australia, but can be found in Florida and California. It adds excitment to toast, muffins and other foods. FL / CA

Fireweed

Fireweed is well known in the northwest US. The major producing area is the Cascade mountains through Alaska. It has a lighter color than clover. It has a spicy or ranch zesty flavor. NY / OR

Gallberry

A light amber honey. Gallberry is a large bush most commonly in southern Georgia or Florida. FL / GA / NC

Goldenrod

Honey is light to medium in color and has a bit of a bite. Popular with customers to take during goldenrod allergy season, or to make mead. Its sugar chemistry makes this honey granulate quickly. NJ

Heather

Heather blooms during July in NJ. This dark amber honey's distictive flavor has a prickle bite. It's one of the most popular honey throughout Scoland. Heather honey is thyrotropic or jelly-like and has to be pressed out of combs or eaten directly from comb. It is extracted using a special device like a Perforextractor. NJ

Lavender

True lavender honey is produced from fields of lavender. Many sellers of Lavender use Lavender essential oil to flavor honey with a lavender taste. This is still prized honey, but clearly not the same. Lavender honey comes primarily from France. A few farmers in norther California also commercially produce lavender, resulting in lavender honey. NJ

Meadow Foam

It's a soft and very sweet taste, like the small white flowers it comes from. Its unlike any honey you've had. "Toasted marshmallows" or "creme brulee" best describe it. It goes well on tea cakes, toast or yogurt, if you can resist eating it straight out of the jar. OR

Mesquite

The Lower Rio Grand and valleys of Texas contain a large tree over 40' tall. On arid land the mesquite becomes shorter 10 to 15' with crooked branches. AZ / CA / TX

Orange

A golden, aromatic honey gathered from the blossoms of orange trees. Many honey does not resemble the fruit the plant produces. This honey does have a slight orange zest when compared with other honey. It adds new dimension to tea, fruit, salad dressing or meat glaze. Its produced out of Florida and Southern California. FL / CA

Peach

A rare honey originating from tiny white blossoms of peach trees. Peach trees normally bloom too early in the year to harvest. NJ

Pumpkin

Pumpkin Blossoms are bright yellow orange. This is a rare fall honey amber in color. Its sweet, spicy, with both robust aroma and flavor. NJ

Raspberry

An amber honey gathered from the blossoms of raspberry bushes. This light honey has a delicate taste of Raspberry. Try over ice cream, yogurt, and cereals. It's a favorite in tea. It does not taste like the berry. NJ

Sage

Varrious sages are grown commercially from Black Button to Russian. Sage honey may varry slightly based on the type. It produces one of the lightest honeys, sometimes water white. NJ / CA / OR

Sourwood

Unique honey from the south most commonly Georgia or North Carolina mountains

Soybean

Found throughout the central US states. It tends to be darker than clover and orange. It has less fruity taste so it may taste less sweet than clover. it requires high humidity and warm temperatures to produce this honey. This honey can have a light green tint. NJ / OH

Spearmint / Mint

It takes a great mint to make a little bit of nectar. Very few places grow a large enough plot to create this wonderful monofloral honey. It has a clear mint after taste. It's wonderful on lamb or biskets. It will make mint tea even more complex. NJ / OR

Star Thistle

A rich and buttery honey. Dark amber, from northern California and Florida. FL / CA

Tropical

Florida's millions of acres of citrus groves, plus saw palmetto, gallberry, tupelo and a few others come together to bring us a unique tropical blend. Vibrant in nature, with a redish hue, it will stimulate one's pallet. It goes great as a dressing for a tropical fruit salad. FL / CA

Tupelo

Honey gathered from the nectar of the the white or pink blossoms of the tupelo trees. Tupelo trees grow along the rivers and swamps of the Florida panhandle. a marvelous taste. Tupelo's unique sugar chemistry makes it thicker as it warms, and thinner as it cools. White tupelo is more common than pink. Tupelo honey does not granulate. FL

Imported Honey

Australia / New Zealand

Christmas Bush - As if it were a herald of Australia's antipodean summer Christmas, the Bursarian erupts with flowers; millions of tiny white flowers the shape of bursting stars. Relatively small amounts of this 'Special Reserve' honey is produced. Its flavor is best described as soft and mellow with marzipan tones. As this honey is very heat sensitive it is sold raw.

Leatherwood - is a variety of Eucalypt found in the south-west of Tasmania, Australia and is the source for 70% of the contry's honey. Its distinctive spicy flavor makes it an excellent spread on wheat toast, and an ideal ingredient in recipes as it not only sweetens but adds a fantastic aroma to cakes, muffins, coffee and tea.

Red Gum is a common Eucalypt found in Australia that produces on of the darker premium varieties of honey. Having a realative higher level of antioxidants, red gum has a thick constituency, bold flavor like buckwheat honey. Fans of strong honey love its aroma.

Manuka honey is collected from the flower of the Tea Tree bush. Honey has a antibacterial properties, however Manuka honey has an additional antibacterial agent. This is measured under the Unique Manuka Factor (UMF). Some people find Manuka honey too medical in taste, but others love it. Manuka is common throughout the costal region of New Zealand.

Rewarewa is a full bodied and malty honey. It is from bright red needle-like flowers grown in the bushy hills and valleys of New Zealand. This dark red premium honey possesses a caramel and slightly burnt flavor. Ideal for both sweet and savory dishes. 

Tawari originates from the creamy white flowers of New Zealand's Tawari trees. This is a golden honey with butterscotch flavor.

Color Designations of Extracted Honey

1/ Optical Density (absorbance) = log10 (100/% transmittance), at 560nm for 3.15 thickness for caramel colored glycerin solutions measured versus and equal cell containing glycerin.

Score Factors: Favor & aroma (50pts) + Absence of defects (40pts) + Clarity (10pts) = 100

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The nectar source in a given area depends on the type of vegetation present and the length of their bloom period. What type of vegetation will grow in an area depends on soil texture, soil pH, soil drainage, daily maximum and minimum temperatures, precipitation, extreme minimum winter temperature, and growing degree days. The plants listed below are plants that would grow in USDA Hardiness zone 5.

The classification in major or minor nectar source is very dependent on the agricultural use of the land. Agricultural crops like canola and alfalfa may be a major or minor source depending on local plantings.

Spring

Trees and shrubs

Flowers and annual crop plants

Source: Spring flowers Master beekeeper program, Cornell University Dyce Laboratory (web accessed Nov 2006)

Summer

Trees and shrubs

See also: Honeydew source

Flowers and annual crop plants

Source: Summer flowers Master beekeeper program, Cornell University Dyce Laboratory (web accessed Nov 2006)

Fall

Trees and shrubs

Flowers and annual crop plants

Source: Fall flowers Master beekeeper program, Cornell University Dyce Laboratory (web accessed Nov 2006)

References

• Tew, James Some Ohio Nectar and Pollen Producing Plants Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet, 2000,

• Tew, James; Beekeeping Consultant for Auburn University, Associate Professor, Entomology,Nectar and Pollen Producing Plants of Alabama A Guide for Beekeepers, Ohio State University, 1998, accessed Mar 2006

• Major Honey Plants In Virginia and Their Bloom Times

• Michigan Bee Plants

• Delaplane, Keith Bee Conservation in the Southeast The University of Georgia College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Cooperative Extension; Service Bulletin 1164; February 1998 (web accessed Nov 2006)

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_nectar_sources_for_honey_bees"

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