Determining the taste of honey based on specific flowers

pete darbyshire · Apr 4, 2021

Dandelion tastes nice, but imo smells like sweaty feet

Swarm · Apr 4, 2021

Hawthorn. Very pungent and thick, stunning flavour.

Erichalfbee · Apr 4, 2021

Swarm said:
Hawthorn. Very pungent and thick, stunning flavour.

Fingers crossed for this year. Last year there was little blossom

elainemary · Apr 5, 2021

masterBK said:
I have tasted many flavours of honey over the years both from my own bees but also from honies judged at honeyshows all over the UK and in common with many other honey judges I can now recognise the distinct flavour of honey from several floral sources from their colour, taste and aroma. However I would be wary of trying to sell any honey with labels indicating the floral origin as under the honey regs the honey must be wholly or mainly from that source. Even honey with the distinctive flavour of lime flowers tends to contain honey (and pollen) from many other plants that flower at the same time as lime. Ling heather honey can often meet the regs and can be labelled as such but many samples may contain admixture from Bell, willowherb and thistle.

What is the minimum % of a species in honey in order to call it ‘x’ honey? Seems to be little guidance on this. Presume you can identify the % via microscopy (adjusted for over/under representation etc). Thanks!

Erichalfbee · Apr 5, 2021

elainemary said:
What is the minimum % of a species in honey in order to call it ‘x’ honey? Seems to be little guidance on this. Presume you can identify the % via microscopy (adjusted for over/under representation etc). Thanks!

Is this any help?
Page 2
https://www.cbi.eu/sites/default/fi...roduct-factsheet-uk-monofloral-honey-2015.pdf

user 819 · Apr 5, 2021

It's a tricky one but 45% - 70% pollens seem to be the bench mark, though may depend on the mono type. Lavender is said to be low yielding in pollen so 20% pollen analysis may be enough.
Also Dandelion is a strong taste as is ivy so doesn't need much to over ride the overall flavour.