There are as many flavors of honey as there are types of flowers.
"Each flower gives the honey a distinct flavor and color," said local beekeeper Frank Lienert.
"If bees visit orange blossoms, the honey has one flavor. If they visit clover, it will taste entirely different."
How do beekeepers know where the bees have been? According to Lienert, bees generally go to the most convenient source of nectar, but they do have flavor preferences.
"Honey is labeled by the most predominant floral source," said Eric Mussen of the entomology department at UC Davis.
"We've found that honey bees actually have preferences. For example, if they are in an alfalfa field with an almond orchard nearby, they will fly right past the alfalfa because they prefer almond flowers. But if alfalfa is the only nectar source, they will go to the alfalfa field."
If the beekeeper is unsure where the bees have found nectar, the honey is generally labeled "wildflower." Honeys range in color and flavor depending on which blossoms the honey bees visit in search of nectar.
Colors range from nearly colorless to dark amber brown. In general, the darker the color, the stronger the flavor.
We conducted a taste test of eight types of honey. Here's how the tasters described them:
Local wildflower: Light golden color. Flavor described as buttery, very floral with apple notes, very mild.
Star thistle: Light golden color. Flavor is slightly musky, not strong enough for some tasters, fresh grain notes, subtle.
Buckwheat: Medium golden color. Flavor is very caramel and interesting aftertaste of floral.
Clover: Light golden color. Flavor is overly sweet and floral, with a slightly green aftertaste.
Orange blossom: Beautiful yellow gold color. Flavor has hints of rose and slightly citrus.
Sage: Very light gold. Flavor is slightly woody with cinnamon hints.
Manzanita: Dark golden color. Flavor is smoky, woody and slightly vegetable with a peppery finish.
Eucalyptus: Dark amber color. Flavor is slightly bitter and very complex with a molasses aftertaste.
– Gwen Schoen
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