Honey showing 101

[SavvySalli]

When I discovered that there's an aroma & flavour class I decided to enter our honey as everyone says that the flavour is excellent so we've entered the Wiltshire show in a couple of weeks and I'm preparing the honey now.

However, I know nothing about the process and would like to find somewhere online that I can read about it and if anyone can make any recommendations I'd be very grateful. Then I don't have to ask questions all over the place, and can refer back to when I forget everything I've just been told!

Thank you

 

[For want of a better word]

Apparently one must use 1lb jars with metal lids.

Best tip I have heard of for showing is to find out who the judge is and what he ( or she) favors in their choice of honey.

Tried the winning " Best in show" honey at one of our local honey competitions and to me it was reminiscent of the aroma of cats pee.... and tasted of sea samphire!!! each to their own!
I do not show!
Could not take the shame!!!

Nos da

 

[Erichalfbee]

Best tip I have heard of for showing is to find out who the judge is and what he ( or she) favors in their choice of honey.



Nos da

I'm glad you added in their choice of honey

 

[SavvySalli]

I'll be able to take the shame, just get better for next year!

I can't change the honey, the girls wouldn't like that at all after all their hard work, so I'll take pot luck with the judges!

They do have to be 1lb jars but there are different shapes and I don't know if that matters!

 

[Erichalfbee]

Loads on web. Might be an idea to avoid you tube
Here's one http://www.farnhambeekeepers.org.uk/index.php/bee/preparation-for-clear-honey-at-show-level/

 

[For want of a better word]

I'll be able to take the shame, just get better for next year!

I can't change the honey, the girls wouldn't like that at all after all their hard work, so I'll take pot luck with the judges!

They do have to be 1lb jars but there are different shapes and I don't know if that matters!

It does.... some honey judges will reject it if the jar / lid / etc are not exactly to the precise specifications as laid down in the rules.. even putting the wrong colour honey in the wrong category can lead to disqualification... and apparently they have a new set of honey grading glasses that are totally different to the earlier ones!!

Take a measuring tape with you to ensure that your exhibits are precisely placed on the serviette that should be supplied by the organisers.

It is a whole world that I have difficulty in getting into... my Primitive Methodist upbringing of being non competitive I suppose!!

Good luck!!

Yeghes da

 

[BeeJayBee]

It does.... some honey judges will reject it if the jar / lid / etc are not exactly to the precise specifications as laid down in the rules.. even putting the wrong colour honey in the wrong category can lead to disqualification... and apparently they have a new set of honey grading glasses that are totally different to the earlier ones!!

Read the schedule for the show several times, and then do exactly what it says otherwise they can (will) disqualify an entry that doesn't comply.

Some shows will let you use plastic gold coloured lids, some won't. Some still expect matching numbered jars but most don't bother any more because it's unreasonable.

Find each jar's seam and put the entry label on the opposite side, so the seam isn't in view on the showbench.

Make sure the honey fills the jar to the bottom of the thread, so there's no visible gap beneath the lid. It'll be more than a pound.

If you're showing only for "taste and aroma" you'll need to make sure you don't open the jar for a couple of weeks before the show.

In some places this 'taste and aroma' is the only show category where nobody can see the jars because they're hidden inside a cardboard sleeve. This means that some forward-thinking show organisers will allow any size jar - in this category only. Hiding the jar like this means that the judge can only assess taste and aroma, not clarity etc.. This is why you do need to read the show schedule very carefully. There will be 'general' rules for the whole show, giving times for submitting your entry form, type of jar/lid, when you can deliver your entry, the role of the steward(s) etc. There will also be rules for each class and this class may just say that, "rule x or y does not apply".

 

[REDWOOD]

Supermarket honey is good for winning competitions just because it's different

 

[Erichalfbee]

Manuka?

 

[masterBK]

Good judges don't and should not let their personal choices interfere with their judgement. I was co-judging at a major northern show a few years ago with me judging the medium while the other judge was going through the light class a little way along the show bench . I saw him taste an entry, whince and mutter that he didn't like the taste of Lime honey". He awarded it first prize so I questioned him about this and he said that it was an outstanding sample of lime honey, much better than the others and so worthy of a first.
Similarly I know judges that dislike Ling heather honey but are well able to recognise a good one when they come across one.

 

[Quis Custodiet]

Another tip for you; when you have the honey in a jar, do NOT unscrew the lid again. If you do, you will allow the aroma to escape, leave it for the judge to unscrew at the show.

 

[REDWOOD]

Manuka?

That would never win a competition and too expensive for a show.

 

[masterBK]

Both Jars (most classes ask for two ) should be of same shape and manufacture (matching pair) & usually screw thread stipulated. Jars from different manjufacture have same screw thread but shoulders of the jar may vary and the "pimple" bits on the underside of the jar will probably vary. Don't worry about different glass mould numbers (they are not batch numbers). Honey in both jars must match (except in composite class).
You would be amazed at how many people never read or ensure their entries meet the schedule properly eg height of label

 

[Erichalfbee]

I remember at the Royal Welsh looking at a black jar and asking what sort of honey was that dark?
Not so long ago either
What a dork!!!!
10 out of 10 to the steward who very politely told me without laughing

Edited for typo

 

[Millet]

Manuka?

My Milluka honey would get me some rosettes and best in show but sadly i have no interest in showing honey, maybe show working dogs now and again but not honey.

 

[SavvySalli]

Blast. My secure Aroma honey is in a twist lid, and the jar is the taller jam jar type rather than the squat honey type. I haven't as yet found any rules about anything to do with it. I filled in the entry form very last minute. Luckily I ordered 1lb screw top squat jars today but it means that my aroma jar won't be 2 weeks in the buildup. Ah well, it's a bit of fun - this year at least!!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

it means that my aroma jar won't be 2 weeks in the buildup.

That's a load of nonsense anyway - couple of days or even overnight is ample, especially if kept in a warm place.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Ah well, it's a bit of fun - this year at least!!

Good luck
If you win....will you tell them how you extracted it?

 

[SavvySalli]

Good luck
If you win....will you tell them how you extracted it?

Thank you, I've sealed the Aroma jar in a plastic bag labelled DO NOT TOUCH! Unfortunately I'll probably have to open it and put the honey into a proper jar (although they're not judging on anything except aroma and flavour).

 

[SavvySalli]

That's a load of nonsense anyway - couple of days or even overnight is ample, especially if kept in a warm place.

Wonderful! Hopefully that will be sufficient then! Thanks for the encouraging words!