Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: harvey on July 28, 2009, 11:55:50 PM

Title: Golden Rod Honey question
Post by: harvey on July 28, 2009, 11:55:50 PM
I have heard that golden rod honey is not good to eat?  I have also heard that it smells like bad socks?   What is the common opinion here?   My bees filled the two bottom deeps with all the thistle honey for themselves and now the only thing left to bloom I think is the goldenrod and soybeans.   
Title: Re: Golden Rod Honey question
Post by: sc-bee on July 29, 2009, 12:29:47 AM
We have very little golden rod flow here. But in other parts of the country there is a good fall flow. Based on past post, it is a desired honey by many. Of course taste preference is left to the individual :-D.

As far the smell --- I think there is a debate weather the golden rod is what smells like dirty socks or is it the asters that come in at the same time. Regardless my hives have a distinct odor when these nectars are coming in.
Title: Re: Golden Rod Honey question
Post by: riverrat on July 29, 2009, 12:54:31 AM
golden rod smells bad when first brought in but after it has rippened and has been sealed  losses its odor. I have a lot of people that like it and want it once I  have it extracted
Title: Re: Golden Rod Honey question
Post by: GaryMinckler on July 29, 2009, 06:24:31 AM
Goldenrod honey is good to eat and yes it does have a stronger aroma.  :idunno:
Title: Re: Golden Rod Honey question
Post by: jimmyo on July 29, 2009, 11:07:35 AM
I think it depends on your area. Our goldenrod  honey is great. I like it better than the locust honey in the spring. We harvest some and save some for the winter. It is the last major flow of our year here in Southeast Indiana.
Jim
Title: Re: Golden Rod Honey question
Post by: harvey on July 29, 2009, 01:02:37 PM
Well that is good news!  i will just wait and see then.  They have not even started to draw out the first super that I put on a week ago, they had two frames left in the second deep that had not been drawn out.  However with the goldenrod and the soybeans maybe I will still see them draw at least one super out and get a little honey.   I have only had this swarm (first hive) since may 30th,  I think they are doing pretty good for 60 days of work, but I am anxious to get some of there honey!  Last week when I inspected there didn't seem to be a whole lot of brood and much of the two bottom deeps was full of honey.  The hive seemed pretty packed with bee's though so I added that first super.
Title: Re: Golden Rod Honey question
Post by: Michael Bush on July 30, 2009, 10:01:39 AM
>I have heard that golden rod honey is not good to eat?

I love it.

>  I have also heard that it smells like bad socks?

While they are making it...