Honey Varietals

Hello Gardeners, I’m Amanda McNulty with Clemson Extension and Making It Grow. I’m not very picky about honey although Maynard Door near Sumter gave me some special honey he didn’t mix in with others as its flavor was so delightfully floral. Lots of people are honey aficionados and have their favorites for different purposes. There are even listings for honey varietals, just like wine! For example, the website Honey Travelers has information on a honey competition in the Mediterranean region. The top winner, and this is a weird one, was the Strawberry Tree Honey from Sardinia. It’s described as being relatively dark with a grey-green overtones, a strong odor – not fragrance, and bitter! How different from the Ogeechee honey described as lightly floral and pairing well with strong blue cheeses. And I thought I was putting on the dog when I sweetened a dipping sauce for fried brussels sprouts with honey from the pantry.