Lavender Honey

[dpence]

Hello all,
     Would like some feedback on anyone's experience with lavender honey.  Pros Cons...Thanks.

David

[reinbeau]

It's considered a delicacy in France where there are acres of lavender.  It does take, however, many plants to get the hint of lavender in the honey.

[dpence]

So lets say if a person had an acre or two of lavender near a hive, that would probably produce some hint of lavender flavor?   

[Yarra_Valley]

Interesting. I've been tempted to stick some hive on a local lavender farm for a while. I think they have a few acres.....

[dpence]

Yes, same thought here.  There is a lavender farm in Eureka, MO and I wondered rather they had hives.  My wife and I are looking at ideas in herb gardening on a small acerage.  She has a line of soaps and candles.

David

[bberry]

All i know is that a neighbor of mine has hives in a friends lavender fields and sells the lavender honey at $16 for a 6oz. jar and she sells out every year!

[MrILoveTheAnts]

At $16 a jar of honey that might make up for the smell of the plants. What type of Lavender is it (species name), I have a lot of Lavendula multifida and the plant gives off a minty smell when disturbed. Not the flowers, the whole plant suddenly smells like an overpowering mint.

[reinbeau]

At $16 a jar of honey that might make up for the smell of the plants.

The smell of the plants?  I absolutely love lavender's scent!  I have to admit I haven't run up against the fragrance of multifida, however.

What type of Lavender is it (species name), I have a lot of Lavendula multifida and the plant gives off a minty smell when disturbed. Not the flowers, the whole plant suddenly smells like an overpowering mint.

All of a lavender is fragrant, some more than others.  Most of the herbal lavender that has the typical scent is a form of Lavandula angustifolia.  L. multifida is a more ornamental type and yes, it does have a different scent than the typical lavender.  They are related to the mints, which is why you detect a minty scent from your plant.

[MrILoveTheAnts]

In small doses it is actually pleasant but it's just not something I enjoy. Might have something to do with all 16 of the plants being right next to each other.

[bberry]

Not sure what variety it is but i'm guessing it is the italian lavender as that is what is grown around here the most and seems to be the most marketable. Although i think that what is being called 'italian' is probably a sub species of english lavender, not sure. Lavender is hot around the wineries right now so there are lots of fields here in Sonoma County-i guess that means we all get a shot at some lavender honey around here.

[2-Wheeler]

I'm anxious to find out how the honey tastes too. A neighbor of mine recently started the first commercial lavender farm in Colorado.
http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2007/jun/04/a-whole-lot-of-lavender-man-starts-sweet/

http://www.coloradomountainviewlavender.com/

It will need another year for the plants to be very productive, so we'll see.

[Yarra_Valley]

All i know is that a neighbor of mine has hives in a friends lavender fields and sells the lavender honey at $16 for a 6oz. jar and she sells out every year!

Ok, I'll be heading to the lavender farm near my place with a few jars of honey in hand when I get back to Oz!

[bberry]

Have fun in Oz

[Understudy]

I saw some ads for the lavander farms in Tassie. They were a little far from Hobart.
Who knows maybe I can make it there.

Destination Tasmania Oct 29-Nov8

Tassie may never be the same.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[rdy-b]

I have often wondered - if you could take some very fragrant lavender sprigs and ad it to some mild honey and let it STEP IN if it would affect the taste or if it would just pick up the aroma.lavender honey sells best in very small containers (less is more) for a premium price myself i think it tastes like soap ;)  RDY-B

[dpence]

I have wondered what it tastes like myself.  I have noticed there is "infused" lavender honey which is not totally created by the bees.