does buckwheat make bad tasting honey?

rober · May 25, 2014, 09:20:53 AM

I recently tasted what was a 1st for me. bad tasting honey. it was very dark & heavy. the guy who had it suspects the bees were some buckwheat. anyone experienced this?

Vance G · May 25, 2014, 09:51:04 AM

Personally I love buckwheat honey. Tastes vary.

10framer · May 25, 2014, 10:35:36 AM

it's not for me and i usually like darker honeys. i think it's like privet, some people love it and some hate it.

marktrl · May 25, 2014, 04:33:55 PM

Could be oak.

Kathyp · May 25, 2014, 05:02:07 PM

i love it. that's the stuff i keep for me.

kingd · May 25, 2014, 06:19:20 PM

I just tried some and loved it,both of my daughters tried it and loved it also, which surprised me.
It reminds me almost like molasses.

Dallasbeek · May 25, 2014, 07:38:36 PM

I bought some at a farm store in Maryland, just south of Gettysburg, and talked to the owner. He and his brother planted acres of buckwheat just to get this kind of honey. It was kind of purple and yes, kingd, it does remind me of molasses. i planted some in my garden this year and hope it will take hold. My horticulture sources say it's self-seeding and might be invasive, but if my bees will make honey from that I'll be happy. And if the bees don't like it, we can make buckwheat flower with the grain.

Gary

rober · May 25, 2014, 08:55:49 PM

ok-so maybe this wasn't buckwheat. it was really dark & barely sweet at all. kinda' smelled like 90 wt. gear oil.

biggraham610 · May 25, 2014, 09:46:03 PM

Dont know but I just planted a couple acres. and am planning on planting a couple more in a couple weeks. Should give them something to work when everything else is drying up. I should be able to distinguish it and give you my take at a later date.

Dallasbeek · May 26, 2014, 02:20:18 AM

Right on , G! Gotta keep experimenting. Wish I had acres instead of just a city lot.

Gary

biggraham610 · May 26, 2014, 02:28:27 AM

Quote from: Dallasbeek on May 26, 2014, 02:20:18 AM
Right on , G! Gotta keep experimenting. Wish I had acres instead of just a city lot.

Gary

Gotta tip the hat to the Old Man for the Acerage and the Tractors..... We plant for the wildlife, the bees get a great bonus from that as well. Clover, Alfalfa, Sanofoin, Buckwheat...... trying to find another annual that I could try, will still have some ground worked up, any suggestions?

splitrock · May 26, 2014, 07:54:30 AM

From my experience, half the people think the honey is GREAT, and the other half will argue with them.

Also, from what I have seen, the bees will ignore the buckwheat if there are others things they prefer blooming. It does bloom in 30 days, so when planted late, when the clovers and many other things are waning, it can put out a good crop. From what I've read, it isn't a high nectar producing plant, but it does produce a lot of flowers.