Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: slacker361 on September 26, 2010, 12:50:59 PM

Title: super duper dark honey
Post by: slacker361 on September 26, 2010, 12:50:59 PM
The honey I just extracted via the crush and strain method is so freaking dark, you cannot see through it, even with a powerful flash light shinning behind it. Is this ok? I have never seen honey so dark , it almost looks like molasses sitting in the jars.
Title: Re: super duper dark honey
Post by: asprince on September 26, 2010, 12:54:43 PM
Sure, how does it taste? What were they foraging? All honey is not light in color. Dark honey usually taste stronger. It's all good!

Steve
Title: Re: super duper dark honey
Post by: Kathyp on September 26, 2010, 01:31:14 PM
what Steve said  :-D

i get very dark honey from the buckwheat and a couple of other things around here.  i prefer it to the light stuff that i get off the berries and fruit trees. 
Title: Re: super duper dark honey
Post by: AllenF on September 26, 2010, 03:08:15 PM
So far everyone have very light honey this year.  (compared with last year)
Title: Re: super duper dark honey
Post by: Kathyp on September 26, 2010, 04:59:11 PM
all of mine was light until i got to the last two supers.  those are darker, but still not as dark as last year.  the dark is what i'll keep for me!
Title: Re: super duper dark honey
Post by: AllenF on September 26, 2010, 05:09:12 PM
Dark like Guinness?   Now there's a pint.
Title: Re: super duper dark honey
Post by: Michael Bach on September 26, 2010, 05:32:38 PM
The later the season gets the darker honey gets....usually.

The harvest I did yesterday, the honey was very dark.  To my knowledge there is no buckwheat near me.  We are in a record drought in Western Massachusetts and the nectar is extra concentrated so I suspect that has something to do with it.

The honey tastes fabulous.  Very bold with a bite.  All mine!  My summer basswood honey is what is going to be in people's Christmas stockings this year.

Mike
Title: Re: super duper dark honey
Post by: asprince on September 26, 2010, 05:47:19 PM
I had bees on sunflowers. I extracted a super and it is somewhat dark with a different taste......but good.
Title: Re: super duper dark honey
Post by: hardwood on September 26, 2010, 06:26:00 PM
Somehow my posts keep disappearing on me...here goes again...The darker the honey the more I like it! I try to sell off all of my light "spring honey" and save some of the later-darker honey for myself. There are tons of folks out there that prefer it dark though so you may want to keep it a secret!

Scott
Title: Re: super duper dark honey
Post by: buzzbee on September 26, 2010, 06:34:31 PM
The dark stuff may be goldenrod and asters.Did your hives smell like dirty socks covered with honey before the honey was capped? It is quite a noticeable smell until the honey is cured and capped.
Title: Re: super duper dark honey
Post by: slacker361 on September 26, 2010, 08:06:55 PM
yes it did have a funny smell ,not sure i would equate it to what you mentioned, but yes it did have a smell.

some of my posts are missing as well HMMM
Title: Re: super duper dark honey
Post by: harvey on September 26, 2010, 10:59:47 PM
Dark honey is the very very best!!!!  I was or am hoping to get at least one super for me this year off of the goldenrod and I also kept buckwheat going all year!   I have heard some say that goldenrod honey is not all that but I disagree,  You can tell when the bees are bringing it in cause of the smell coming off the hives but after that it is delicious!
Title: Re: super duper dark honey
Post by: bugleman on September 27, 2010, 12:54:39 AM
Here in Oregon we really can't afford to take of the Asters etc.  You risk the collony if they arn't ship shape by the middle of October.
Title: Re: super duper dark honey
Post by: Old Blue on September 27, 2010, 12:56:40 AM
That sounds like the good stuff!  More flavor is more flavor.

Old Blue
Title: Re: super duper dark honey
Post by: greenbtree on September 27, 2010, 11:49:02 AM
Try making Barbeque sauce with a dark honey sometime - the best!!

JC
Title: Re: super duper dark honey
Post by: hardwood on September 27, 2010, 12:25:06 PM
Got a good recipe JC? Why not post it for us :-D

Scott
Title: Re: super duper dark honey
Post by: winginit on September 27, 2010, 12:55:44 PM
Quote from: hardwood on September 26, 2010, 06:26:00 PM
Somehow my posts keep disappearing on me...here goes again...The darker the honey the more I like it! I try to sell off all of my light "spring honey" and save some of the later-darker honey for myself. There are tons of folks out there that prefer it dark though so you may want to keep it a secret!

Scott

That's so weird--I think I read your other post and now it's gone. Something about your customers preferring the dark honey?
Title: Re: super duper dark honey
Post by: hardwood on September 27, 2010, 01:25:33 PM
Yeah, cyber gremlins I guess!

Scott