SPRING & SUMMER HONEY
Light in color (white), slightly fruity, mildly spicy, and deliciously sweet.
Dandelions and fruit tree blossoms produce pollen and nectar that are a very valuable source of food for honeybees in the spring, right after the cold winter months. Dandelions and early fruit tree blossoms' nectar sources normally do not make it to your home, as this is a valuable source for honeybees as they replace winter storages and begin spring growth.
There are several other plants that blossom in the spring through early summer that our honeybees gather their first nectars of the year from; autumn olives, raspberries, locust and basswood trees, and white sweet clover make up the early summer honey blend. This early summer honey blend will vary slightly in colors from extra light (white) to extra light amber, with flavors slightly varying depending on the blend of the honey gathered by the honeybees. Typically, the early season summer honey will be light in color (white), slightly fruity, mildly spicy, and deliciously sweet.
Autumn Olive Blossom Honey
Excellent honey, light in color, subtly fruity, mildly tangy with light cinnamon notes.
Autumn olive is native to Asia and was introduced to the US in the 1830s. It was commonly planted for wildlife food. It produces abundant fruits that are widely distributed by birds and mammals.
Wild Raspberry Blossom Honey
Wild raspberry honey is a very fragrant honey.
Honeybees gather nectar from wild raspberry blossoms that are plentiful in Michigan. It is light amber in color with a soft berry taste.
Basswood Tree Blossom Honey
Basswood (Linden) honey is a premium honey, very light in color, mildly spicy with rosemary hints, and a mild floral fruity taste.
Basswood is an erratic bloomer; it may only flower once every three to four years. Basswood is not a rare tree, just not as widespread as maple, beech, or oaks. The basswood tree is sometimes called the "bee tree" as its fragrant flowers drip with nectar, drawing honeybees from miles around. Some say it has hints of grapes and roses, pears and watermelon, or lychee fruit, sometimes even a minty finish.
Locust Tree Blossom Honey
Locust honey is known for its very light color and deliciously sweet taste with slight hints of vanilla.
Locust honey is produced by honeybees that collect nectar from the blossoms of the black locust tree. It often appears as a clear, golden syrup with an amber hue. The locust trees only flower for a couple of weeks at best, and typically a big rainstorm causes the flowers to fall off the trees.
White Sweet Clover Blossom Honey
White sweet clover honey has a soft, sweet flavor and leaves a uniquely pleasant aftertaste. It has a floral aroma and a light (white) color.
Clovers contribute more to honey production in the United States than any other group of plants. Red clover, Alsike clover, and the white and yellow sweet clovers are most important for honey production.