Liquid Gold

[Millet]

I have been extracting this over the past couple of weeks.. the primary nectar source is a wild 15 acre field full of Thistle and it is to die for.. so nice infact i can not keep up with the demand.. folk are buying it and coming back the next day for more to stock there cupboards up.. so if anyone out there has access to large patches of Thistle fields get your bees on it as you will not be disappointed..

 

[Julie in Ash]

Wow! It looks lush!

I love your jars too. Where'd you get them? Or is it impolite to ask?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Farmers deal with thistles here
But you can’t have everything, at least we don’t have OSR and neonics

 

[Millet]

Farmers deal with thistles here
But you can’t have everything, at least we don’t have OSR and neonics

I can not wait for the oil seed rape next year.. the soft set i have processed here has willow and cherry honey in it and folk are also loving that.. i know it is a faff on processing it but it is worth it when you see it flying of the shelf..

 

[Angry_Mob]

Beautiful colour. Is "Wildflower" the only label on them?

 

[Millet]

Na i have anti tamper labels also.

 

[Angry_Mob]

If you are selling you would need a label stating what it is ie honey, the weight in grams, best before date, batch number, your name and address and the country of production.

 

[beeno]

Hi Millet, Looking very interesting. I would expect thistle honey to be more amber in colour though, so what else have you got in this 15 acre field? My summer honey always gets darker as compared to my spring honey.

 

[BernardBlack]

If you are selling you would need a label stating what it is ie honey, the weight in grams, best before date, batch number, your name and address and the country of production.

Thought that myself.

Also, if there was say, an orchard or a polytunnel of strawberries within the bees foraging range, can you still call it "wildflower" honey? Because surely the bees would be foraging on those too? So, the honey won't only contain wildflowers?

(By the way though, your honey does look great Millet)

 

[Millet]

Hi Millet, Looking very interesting. I would expect thistle honey to be more amber in colour though, so what else have you got in this 15 acre field? My summer honey always gets darker as compared to my spring honey.

In this particular field the only other stuff growing is grass however they have free access on Rose Bay Willow herb and other fauna..
The hives are right on the edge of the thistle field and i was sat watching the bees two days ago and they are making a bee line into the thistle field, they have been doing this since it started to flower, they are obviously on other forage but at the moment i would say 80% of what they are gathering is thistle from my observation..

 

[Millet]

Thought that myself.

Also, if there was say, an orchard or a polytunnel of strawberries within the bees foraging range, can you still call it "wildflower" honey? Because surely the bees would be foraging on those too? So, the honey won't only contain wildflowers?

(By the way though, your honey does look great Millet)

Friends / friends of friends and family..i have sold a good lot with no labels or anti tamper labels and no one is complaining..quite the opposite..

 

[beeno]

Mainly Rosebay Willowherb honey it would appear which is a good quality honey too and yields a lot.

 

[Millet]

Mainly Rosebay Willowherb honey it would appear which is a good quality honey too and yields a lot.

I have seen the odd bee on the Willow Herb but nowhere near the amount as on the thistle that is unless they have found a big patch that i do not know about.

 

[birdsandbees]

I'm envious!

most of the tack I have this year came out golden and runny, albeit with a fair bit of cloudiness which I assume is pollen, once it had settled it's gone a soft grainy texture... rubbish!

fingers crossed that the next batch of five Supers yeald something a bit more tempting as most buyers always say 'have you got runny, I only like the runny'

still another ten or so to come off so there's hope yet!

 

[Millet]

I'm envious!

most of the tack I have this year came out golden and runny, albeit with a fair bit of cloudiness which I assume is pollen, once it had settled it's gone a soft grainy texture... rubbish!

fingers crossed that the next batch of five Supers yeald something a bit more tempting as most buyers always say 'have you got runny, I only like the runny'

still another ten or so to come off so there's hope yet!

Try warming a jar of it up at 54C for 1hr see if that clears it up.

 

[mintmoth]

That looks delicious, Millet. If the flavour is anything like the glorious scent of massed thistles, I can believe it is to die for.

 

[Angry_Mob]

Thought that myself.

Also, if there was say, an orchard or a polytunnel of strawberries within the bees foraging range, can you still call it "wildflower" honey? Because surely the bees would be foraging on those too? So, the honey won't only contain wildflowers?

(By the way though, your honey does look great Millet)

If its predominantly or wholly made up of wildflower you could. It's probably best to avoid it unless you have something like heather honey where the bees have nothing else to forage on.

Also, in N.I; I believe the rules aren't as stringent regarding labelling as the The Honey (England) Regulations 2015 but I think its better just to go with them anyway.

This website is excellent for explaining it: https://bespokelabels.net/honey-labelling-regulations/

 

[Millet]

If its predominantly or wholly made up of wildflower you could. It's probably best to avoid it unless you have something like heather honey where the bees have nothing else to forage on.

Also, in N.I; I believe the rules aren't as stringent regarding labelling as the The Honey (England) Regulations 2015 but I think its better just to go with them anyway.

This website is excellent for explaining it: https://bespokelabels.net/honey-labelling-regulations/

Hey.. kill joy you have just made me throw the lot in the bin..

 

[Millet]

That looks delicious, Millet. If the flavour is anything like the glorious scent of massed thistles, I can believe it is to die for.

If you where nearer you could have a belly full for free..

 

[Murox]

I have been extracting this over the past couple of weeks.. the primary nectar source is a wild 15 acre field full of Thistle and it is to die for.. so nice infact i can not keep up with the demand.. folk are buying it and coming back the next day for more to stock there cupboards up.. so if anyone out there has access to large patches of Thistle fields get your bees on it as you will not be disappointed..

Its been over thirty years since I kept bees (just started again), thistle honey was always something to be relished. Just enjoy it.