mint honey

[danno]

I started a new yard of 20 colonies this spring.   The landowner showed me where I could put them.   Nice location with full sun and plenty of wind protection.   My 2nd trip out was to weedwack around the pallets.  It was that trip that I realized that they were sitting in a acre of mint.  Yesterday I went to check on them and the mint was in bloom and they were all over it.   15 of the 20 needed supers asap.  The smell of mint is so strong in the area that it was impossible to tell if it was in the hives when I opened them.  I hope so   

[BeeMaster2]

Sounds interesting. Keep us up to date on how it turns out.
Jim

[Hemlock]

Mint honey is absolutely fantastic.  We keep several patches of mint in the bee yard.  Each year there are a few frames made up of strictly mint honey.  If there's enough we'll spin it separately.

[AllenF]

Does the honey have a mint taste?    Maybe something for Christmas?

[Course Bee]

I just cut some burr comb out of one of my hives the other day and it tastes minty. It's awesome unfortunately I don't believe I could sell it unless there is a huge abundance because my wife and kids think it's as good as I do. I'm guessing some of my neighbors must have mint.

[windfall]

isn't basswood honey supposed to be "minty"?

[danno]

isn't basswood honey supposed to be "minty"?

yes but here its hard to keep it from getting mixed with everything else

[Hemlock]

AllenF,

YES! A very minty taste with honey sweetness and flavor to boot.  Like a york peppermint patty but honey not chocolate.  Once found the family almost fights over it.

[indypartridge]

Does the honey have a mint taste?    Maybe something for Christmas?

Northern Indiana is a big producer of peppermint and spearmint, and our state association sells mint honey at the State Fair each summer. While it has a distinctive taste, it's not particularly "minty" - just a very slight "hint of mint".