Honey
Its all about the taste....
The honey from our apiaries in South East London is distinct, reflecting the diverse and vibrant flora of this urban environment. The blend of parks, gardens, and wildflower patches creates a
unique taste experience that varies subtly from season to season. Here’s a general flavour description of honey which will vary from apiary to apiary and hive to hive.
Bright Floral
Expect a well-rounded, floral sweetness, bees forage on a mix of garden flowers such as lavender, daisies, lupins, and wisteria, as well as wildflowers such as dandelions, buddleia, and clover. This floral base gives the honey a light and fragrant aroma.
Citrus and Fruity Undertones
Many urban gardens and community spaces such as the orchard in Dulwich Village have fruit trees like apple, cherry, and lime. The nectar from these trees can add subtle hints of citrus and a gentle fruity tang, especially in spring and early summer honey.
Herbal and Green
With many local allotments and herb gardens, bees often gather nectar from herbs like thyme, rosemary, sage, and mint. This imparts delicate herbal undertones, giving the honey a complex, layered taste profile.
Rich Caramel and Toffee
In the summer and late season, honey may take on deeper, richer flavours with notes of caramel, butterscotch, and even a hint of molasses. This is influenced by the nectar of chestnut trees, linden (lime) trees, and other mature urban trees prevalent in the area.
Texture and Colour
The texture is typically smooth and thick, with a golden to amber hue. The colour can range from pale gold in spring to a deep, dark amber in autumn, depending on the season and the nectar sources available.
Seasonal Variations
Spring Honey: Lighter, more floral, with fresh citrusy notes.
Summer Honey: Fuller-bodied, with a rich, sweet, and slightly caramelised flavour.
Autumn Honey: Darker, with intense, deep, and earthy tones, often reflecting the influence of ivy and other late-blooming plants
Honey from South East London captures the essence of the city's green spaces, combining the delicate floral notes of garden blooms with the rich, robust flavours from mature urban trees. It's a reflection of the unique, diverse landscape of this part of London, offering a delightful taste of the city's natural side.
Honey Extraction
We harvest honey once a year in early August and only if the bees have sufficient stores to see them through the winter. To extract the honey we use a 20 frame honey extractor which uses centrifugal force to spin the honey out of the comb. The honey is then filtered to remove any wax and left to settle for a few days. When it's ready, we filter it through a fine mesh and jar it up, nothing is added and the honey is not pasteurised. (Its what was called Raw Honey but we can't call it that any more)
Why is you honey more expensive than the supermarkets?
Supermarkets often source honey from various parts of the world, with minimal checks to verify its authenticity. Consequently, much of the honey on store shelves isn't 100% pure. It may be diluted with additives to increase volume or made from bees fed sugar syrup, allowing it to be labeled as "honey" despite not being truly natural. Always read the label carefully, as terms like "Non-EU" can indicate unclear origins and potentially lower-quality products.
In contrast, we offer only pure honey collected directly by the bees, with nothing added. Producing a honey crop requires immense effort from both the bees and the beekeepers. We are dedicated to caring for our bees, visiting the apiary at least once a week from April to late August to ensure their well-being and health which is why local honey tends to be more expensive.
Hay fever
Honey can help alleviate hay fever by building up the body's tolerance to airborne pollens, essentially acting as a natural form of immunotherapy. For the best results, it's important to use local honey (sourced within a 3-mile radius). Consuming a teaspoon of this honey daily throughout the year introduces small amounts of local pollen to your immune system. Over time, this gradual exposure can help your body develop a tolerance, potentially reducing hay fever symptoms.