"The more woody the plant, the darker the honey"

[JamezF]

Was that at the flower show or do they have their own competition?

I believe that was from last year's flower show. They don't have their own competition that I'm aware of.

James

 

[Newbeeneil]

Some nice dark ones at the NHS this year.

 

[Nige.Coll]

Although the plant itself has an effect on the colour of honey the trace metals in the soil also have an effect on it too.

 

[Amari]

Jimmy you beat me to it - Buckwheat

My Buckwheat honey (the nectar of the Gods ) is orange rather than dark (for darkness see post 22)

 

[Erichalfbee]

My Buckwheat honey (the nectar of the Gods ) is orange rather than dark (for darkness see post 22)

That’s set though, isn’t it?

 

[ericbeaumont]

So what (UK) flowers do produce very dark colour honey?

chestnut

 

[ericbeaumont]

suspect it requires good weather/temps

Yes, grows wild in Southern Europe, and used as a street tree in Barcelona.

 

[Antipodes]

Although the plant itself has an effect on the colour of honey the trace metals in the soil also have an effect on it too.

Perhaps sometimes extra golden in colour?

https://www.csiro.au/en/work-with-u...ploration/sampling-methods/gold-in-gum-leaves

 

[Into the lions den]

Although the plant itself has an effect on the colour of honey the trace metals in the soil also have an effect on it too.

You could well have a point there.

In very dry conditions, especially in our Aberdeenshire sites, the bell heather yields a far paler honey than the text books say, and in extreme cases is merely straw coloured. When the rain comes it reverts to the classic colour almost overnight, as if the wet leaches things out of the soil/peat.

Can be straw coloured but with all the normal smell and taste of bell. Would be kicked out by a honey judge lol...but it IS the real thing. Can only be something freed up by water that makes the classic colour.

Oddly enough, in our Angus locations this does not happen...its always the classic colour, but also the area is rarely as dry as Deeside can get.

 

[Amari]

That’s set though, isn’t it?

Yes.