Here's the site I clipped that from in case anybody is interested in learning about the tastiest plant on the planet.
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/Crops/Buckwheat.html
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Note to our resident beekeepers
- Thread starter WikdWaze
- Start date
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/Crops/Buckwheat.html
I planted some buckwheat as green manure last fall. I never got around to tilling it in. This year, my bees went absolutely bonkers over it. Good thing I've got plenty of clover and alfalfa around, I don't really want 100% buckwheat honey.
The first bit I harvested looks to be a clover/alfalfa mix. GREAT stuff. ;D I haven't pulled the frames from later in the season when the buckwheat was blooming yet. Probably next week.
Do you guys really want me to be shipping you honey? The shipping will probably drive the cost WAY up. 12 lbs per gallon, remember.
Also, I can't promise that I have 2 gallons to spare. This is a joint venture with my mother, and I'm not sure exactly how much she wants to sell and how much she wants to keep. I myself am only being allowed to use a quart for meadmaking, but that is because my wife wants to save all that we have for eating. ;D
Do you guys really want me to be shipping you honey? The shipping will probably drive the cost WAY up. 12 lbs per gallon, remember.
Also, I can't promise that I have 2 gallons to spare. This is a joint venture with my mother, and I'm not sure exactly how much she wants to sell and how much she wants to keep. I myself am only being allowed to use a quart for meadmaking, but that is because my wife wants to save all that we have for eating. ;D
I'll have more next year. The hives I've got should be stronger, and I'm going to be getting a couple more. My wife has decided that if she needs to help in order to have lots of that honey around, she will. Works for me. 
:-/ What do I have to do to get my wife interested in my hobbies? I got to watch that "Stepford Wives" and see if I can pick up any clues.ScottS said:I'll have more next year. The hives I've got should be stronger, and I'm going to be getting a couple more. My wife has decided that if she needs to help in order to have lots of that honey around, she will. Works for me.
You're right about the shipping. I tried to order 5# from one source and the $8 shipping put it out of my budget for the week. Seems it's actually better to order more than you really need, that way the shipping is a smaller portion of the cost. You can always store the rest.
I looked into getting 5 gallons (60 lbs) shipped, that ran about $20-25. So yes, the shipping per lb drops dramatically at higher quantities.
If you do order a large amount, make sure you freeze the excess. I buy 5 gallons at a time, and it starts to crystallize after about 3 months.
If you do order a large amount, make sure you freeze the excess. I buy 5 gallons at a time, and it starts to crystallize after about 3 months.
I believe if you research you will find it okay to let honey crystalize. My 60lb buckets always do and my understanding is that it is preserved better that way. I use unprocessed which has not been heated and filtered to a great degree and it is more prone to crystalize. It would be nice for some honey expert with experience in this area to comment on this subject as I am only relating my experience and limited research of MLD so I could be misinformed.ScottS said:
Joe
You're 100% correct. Crystalization is completely harmless to the honey, and it's easy to liquify it again with a little heat. The only problem is that crystalization does not stop those enzymes from doing their thing. They steadily convert sugars into different sugars, altering the flavor of the honey over time. I'll have to locate exactly which site I got this from, it's not my theory by any means.Jmattioli said:
I didn't mean to imply that crystallization is bad for the honey, I think it is just fine. It just makes it a lot harder to work with.
The 60 lb containers I get are plastic with a relatively small spigot. I have been asked by the beekeeper to not put water in them, as that will cause mold. Thus, I have no easy way to heat the honey up to reverse crystalization. So I try my best to either use it or freeze it.
The 60 lb containers I get are plastic with a relatively small spigot. I have been asked by the beekeeper to not put water in them, as that will cause mold. Thus, I have no easy way to heat the honey up to reverse crystalization. So I try my best to either use it or freeze it.
Hi Scott,
I take off the lid and spoon it out or if hard enough, cut it and weigh it then dissolve only what I need. I guess a spigot would be useless in that case.
Joe
P.S. Here is some interesting info about raw honey and crystalization.
http://www.zianet.com/sunmountain/rawhny.htm
I take off the lid and spoon it out or if hard enough, cut it and weigh it then dissolve only what I need. I guess a spigot would be useless in that case.
Joe
P.S. Here is some interesting info about raw honey and crystalization.
http://www.zianet.com/sunmountain/rawhny.htm
Interesting Honey Notes from my trip to Yuma
I had a nice sit down with one of my buddies who is an amateur bee keeper in Yucaipa, CA.
In the Yucaipa area buckwheat honey is considered a medium body, medium dark honey. According to him alfalfa is much darker and heavier, and avocado is the darkest and heaviest honey in his area. He has been supplying Miller's Honey with his Orange Bossom Honey in 55 gallon drums on and off for about a year now.
He recommended both clover and sage from his area as well. He also mentioned that when in season, the California Golden Poppy (a wildflower and the State Flower of California) honey is unique
Another thing that I was unaware of is that Miller's along with MANY other honey suppliers receive certain types of honey from Mexico. I was aware that at least Miller's uses Mexican Clover Honey, but what I was unaware of is that the honey is shipped in those large tanker cars you see on trains.
I was surprised when he told me about this. Evidently the honey is heated to just below the pasteurization point and pumped through filters into the tanker car, and then heated and filtered again into distribution containers when it arrives. He told me that it kills the aroma and distinct characteristic varietal flavors in the honey itself. That's before you even get it to your brewpot!
So for those of you in California, if you are looking for unprocessed honey, you'll need to be very diligent when researching the honey vendor you'll be using.
Cheers,
Oskaar
I had a nice sit down with one of my buddies who is an amateur bee keeper in Yucaipa, CA.
In the Yucaipa area buckwheat honey is considered a medium body, medium dark honey. According to him alfalfa is much darker and heavier, and avocado is the darkest and heaviest honey in his area. He has been supplying Miller's Honey with his Orange Bossom Honey in 55 gallon drums on and off for about a year now.
He recommended both clover and sage from his area as well. He also mentioned that when in season, the California Golden Poppy (a wildflower and the State Flower of California) honey is unique
Another thing that I was unaware of is that Miller's along with MANY other honey suppliers receive certain types of honey from Mexico. I was aware that at least Miller's uses Mexican Clover Honey, but what I was unaware of is that the honey is shipped in those large tanker cars you see on trains.
I was surprised when he told me about this. Evidently the honey is heated to just below the pasteurization point and pumped through filters into the tanker car, and then heated and filtered again into distribution containers when it arrives. He told me that it kills the aroma and distinct characteristic varietal flavors in the honey itself. That's before you even get it to your brewpot!
So for those of you in California, if you are looking for unprocessed honey, you'll need to be very diligent when researching the honey vendor you'll be using.
Cheers,
Oskaar
Re: Interesting Honey Notes from my trip to Yuma
That's odd, I wonder if they are different species of alfalfa and buckwheat as are found in the midwest. Around here, those two are just about at the light and dark extremes of the honey spectrum.Oskaar said:
It is interesting to say the least. Even in Ken Schramm's book there is a note to the effect that western buckwheat honey is lighter in color and flavor than their eastern counterparts.
It's what I posted about orange blossom honey as well. In California the Orange Blossom honey is not a really light and perfumey kind of honey, it's pretty in your face stuff.
Just as a varietal of grape is different in different surroundings, so is a flower. Depending on soil, cultivation, nutrients, watering, etc there are a number of factors that determine the aromatic and flavor characteristics of the nectar, and ultimately the honey.
Oskaar
It's what I posted about orange blossom honey as well. In California the Orange Blossom honey is not a really light and perfumey kind of honey, it's pretty in your face stuff.
Just as a varietal of grape is different in different surroundings, so is a flower. Depending on soil, cultivation, nutrients, watering, etc there are a number of factors that determine the aromatic and flavor characteristics of the nectar, and ultimately the honey.
Oskaar
Re: Interesting Honey Notes from my trip to Yuma
Oskaar, your orange blossom honey came from Miller's correct? And you still feel that this is good honey? I take it this particular honey hasn't gone through this process? Do you still recommend Orange Blossom from Miller's?Oskaar said:
