Honey - it stinks

beyersgrt · February 15, 2012, 05:50:11 AM

Hi
I have harvested about 40lbs of honey. The bees must have been gathering Agave (tequila plant) nectar. The honey smells like dirty socks. I tasted it (not the socks, the honey), the taste is acceptable but the smell is disgusting. Obviously the honey cannot be sold. What do I do with it? Is there any medicinal value to the honey?
If all else fails i'll feed it to my wife's horses.
Beyers

Michael Bush · February 15, 2012, 06:00:20 AM

Dirty socks is usually goldenrod, in our country...

hardwood · February 15, 2012, 08:19:35 AM

With our goldenrod honey the smell dissipates with time. I'd give a while and try it again.

Scott

FRAMEshift · February 15, 2012, 10:08:44 AM

If the smell doesn't improve, you can save it and feed it to the bees when they need it. It's better than sugar syrup.

rgy · February 15, 2012, 10:46:57 AM

horses eat honey???????

JackM · February 15, 2012, 10:48:29 AM

They sure will if you mix it in grain or something they would normally eat, and love it. They really dig molasses too.

Kathyp · February 15, 2012, 11:20:32 AM

if it's to stinky i'd just feed it back when you don't have honey supers on. let them store it for winter. your wife might not love you for dumping to much sugar to her horses :evil:

edward · February 15, 2012, 01:00:10 PM

Wrong!

Put it in small exclusive jars , put a big price tag and sell it as tequila honey :-D

Maybee with a dead bee or larvae in it :-X

mvh edward :-P

beyersgrt · February 16, 2012, 02:01:46 AM

Edward
Great minds think alike. I'll do a dozen bottles and see if the kite flies.

As for the horses we mix it with the grain - the horses are a touch frisky after though.

Hardwood I'll try that.

When the agave were flowering I cut down a stem to see how much nectar was produced. The nectar had the smell but after tasting I noticed a tingling on the tongue. I have not noticed this with the honey.

Thanks for the responses sofar

JackM · February 16, 2012, 09:53:44 AM

Quotethe horses are a touch frisky after though.

Ya I bet they are. Just do it after a long ride, not before.

luvin honey · February 16, 2012, 08:07:04 PM

Quote from: edward on February 15, 2012, 01:00:10 PM
Wrong!

Put it in small exclusive jars , put a big price tag and sell it as tequila honey :-D

Maybee with a dead bee or larvae in it :-X

mvh edward :-P

Totally agreeing! It's all in the marketing :)