Bitter honey from cutouts?

[Grandma_DOG]

This is a question for all the Pro cutout folks.

I've heard rumors that honey extracted from brood comb can give honey an off flavor.  Especially crush and strain.

Given how cutout honey almost always must be crushed and strained and it is often coming from brood comb I think this group could answer the question with authority.

Does black comb impart off flavor?
Is that flavor bitter?  Is it because of pollen or in addition to pollen?

[Kathyp]

i haven't had a problem with it.  as i do a cutout i have separate containers for the honey comb and the brood/junk comb.  if the hive has been in there awhile, the comb is very dark. 

when i go to do the crush and strain, i pick through and try to get the dead bees and other bits out before i crush it, but i know i don't get it all.

protein.   :-D

[Michael Bush]

I never trust honey from a cutout.  I never know how many times someone sprayed it with insecticide.  Sometimes if you get some brood in the crush and strain, it will make it bitter.

[JP]

For the most part, I agree with M.B. Particularly when it comes to old dark comb, there is history there, some of it you may not ever be familiar with.


...JP

[iddee]

Good brood comb is tied in frames
New comb with clear honey is saved for my own use.
All other is put out for the bees to clean.
I normally only get 3 to 4 frames of brood and 2 to 3 quarts of honey from a large cut out. The bees clean the majority.

[Grandma_DOG]

If I read between the lines here. You all are telling me that I should take the cutout honeycomb to my outyard and let my bees clean it.

[Kathyp]

it's up to you.  if it tastes good and looks good, i keep it.  if it's questionable, i give it to the bees.  all the junk comb i put on a tarp and let the bees have at it.  there's usually plenty of mess for them.