Pressing Heather Honey

[Mike a]

Could someone please give some advice on what cloth to use for pressing heather honey. I been told a well washed cotton sheet works but I'm not so sure its suitable for heather honey. I entered my associations honey show last weekend and was shocked to find I got first place as my heather honey contained tiny lumps of wax as I only course filtered enough to fill two jars but I want to press the remainder and sell it at a local show in a few weeks time and would like to remove as much of the wax as possible before hand.

 

[preyingmantos]

were you the only entry? ive just bought 100 colonies back from the moors and barely got enough to fill 2 jars!

 

[Mike a]

I took 3 colonies in the end to the New Forest in Hampshire and took off 6 langstroth deep frames and got about 35Lbs worth a couple of weeks ago, I may still take off another 10-20 deep frames once I get the last two colonies back to my apiary tomorrow with the help from a good friend but I'll probably let the colonies keep it to over winter now as I'm a behind with feeding and treating as I've been away in South Africa.

Talking with other local bee keepers they say this year hasn't been as good as last year in terms of yields but the quality of this years heather honey is the best its been for over 10 years.

As for the honey show I think there was 3-4 other entries but I was away so I'm not 100% sure.

 

[mbc]

were you the only entry? ive just bought 100 colonies back from the moors and barely got enough to fill 2 jars!

Likewise, one or two on the brink of starvation too. Heather never realy got going here, usually bright bluffs a dreary brown right the way through, a dead loss unfortunately.

 

[Hivemaker.]

ive just bought 100 colonies back from the moors and barely got enough to fill 2 jars!

Nothing special in this area either, only managed to collect a ton from the ling, but plenty from the bell.

 

[Into the lions den]

I took 3 colonies in the end to the New Forest in Hampshire and took off 6 langstroth deep frames and got about 35Lbs worth a couple of weeks ago, I may still take off another 10-20 deep frames once I get the last two colonies back to my apiary tomorrow with the help from a good friend but I'll probably let the colonies keep it to over winter now as I'm a behind with feeding and treating as I've been away in South Africa.

Have heard that the New Forest has had a truly great heather year.......the low lying land, the warmer weather, the absence of the frost we got up north, plus the abundant soil moisture.......a magic combination.

The Fields are reputed to have their best calluna crop for several years. I know Robert and I would not suspect him of winding people up.

 

[preyingmantos]

ive always wanted a site at the new forest but ive heard stories of other beekeepers chasing rival beekeepers off with pitch folks...

As it stands i got 4 rather lame locations and i have never seen a return for my efforts. I think its that 'what if next year' scenario makes me go back even though the losses are adding up...

 

[Mike a]

ive always wanted a site at the new forest but ive heard stories of other beekeepers chasing rival beekeepers off with pitch folks...

If you become a member of one of the Hampshire associations then you can apply for one of the official sites without anyone chasing you with pitchforks.

 

[preyingmantos]

i live about a hundred miles away though and would surely be ousted with my midlands accent?

 

[enrico]

Unless of course you like it........!!!! Being chased with a pitchfork I mean!!

 

[BeeJayBee]

Congratulations on the First Prize.

Could someone please give some advice on what cloth to use for pressing heather honey. I been told a well washed cotton sheet works but I'm not so sure its suitable for heather honey.

I'm astonished that I might be able to answer your question!

We have a lot of heather honey, which is quite a surprise because we aren't actually 'on' the Forest. I've asked quite a few people for advice.

The best fabric is "linen scrim". It's the same stuff as used by windowcleaners, cheapish on ebay, very much more expensive elsewhere.

It's quite a coarse fabric, looks a bit like hessian but has a smoother texture, when it's wrapped round the comb/honey there's more than one layer for the honey to pass through.

It has to be washed in hot water to get rid of manufacturer's dressing (- the water turned quite brown). Before using it with honey it needs to be dipped in water and then wrung as dry as possible - otherwise the honey won't easily pass through it.

Out of interest, what sort of press have you got?

And, apparently, if it's warm enough heather honey can be extracted using a tangential extractor.

 

[Mike a]

Thanks for the info Beejoyful

I will hunt around for the cloth and make sure I wash it thoroughly before hand to ensure its clean. As for the press I have one of these which I bought at an action a few years ago for a very good price considering what they normally sell for. I will be warming the honey/comb mash before hand and clamping the press down on a slight angle before I start as the tray isn't very deep just to speed things up a little.

 

[BeeJayBee]

PM on it's way to you with a few links.

As for the press - I never imagined I'd be envious of somebody who owns a few bits of holey metal!