From Honey Flow to Honey Harvest
For millennia, honey has been sought after and cultivated for a variety of uses. Humans collecting honey can be confirmed as early as 8000 years ago, evidenced by cave paintings in Spain. It is mentioned in ancient Egyptian texts where it was particularly revered and used as an offering to the gods. In the modern day, it has become a staple of household pantries across the globe — spreading sweetness and adding a bit of joy, from breakfast to dessert.
Honey is made by honey bees as a product of foraging for nectar and storing it as food within complex honeycomb structures. Billy Bee is proud to offer a line of products that is 100% Canadian, fully sourced from Canadian beekeepers. We are also proud to be a part of the True Source Honey™ Certification program that ensures all of our suppliers are traceable and the origins of their honey are as transparent as possible. Look for the “100% Canadian” and “True Source Honey™” logos on Billy Bee product labels.
The varietal of flower available to the colony of honey bees impacts the flavour and character of the honey, creating a range of honey available from mild, fruity, buttery, strong — much like wine. Below are some of the types of honey available in various regions‡:
| Type of Honey | Distinguishing Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Acacia Honey | Pale yellow colour; delicate flavour |
| Alfalfa Honey | Light amber colour; mild flavour and aroma |
| Avocado Honey | Dark amber colour; strong buttery flavour |
| Basswood Honey | Water-white colour; strong “biting” flavour |
| Buckwheat Honey | Dark amber colour; strong, slightly malty flavour |
| Blueberry Honey | Light amber colour; distinct fruity flavour |
| Clover Honey | Colour varies from water-white to amber; mild, “classic honey” flavour |
| Eucalyptus Honey | Varies greatly in colour; generally strong flavour with very slight menthol notes |
| Heather Honey | Reddish brown to deep amber colour; heavy bodied, bittersweet, aromatic flavour |
| Lychee Honey | White to light amber colour; pleasant aroma and fruity flavour |
| Orange Blossom Honey | Light amber colour; mild, flavour reminiscent of the scent of citrus blossoms |
| Rapeseed Honey | White to light amber colour; mild, classic flavour |
| Sage Honey | Water-white colour; mild flavour |
| Safflower Honey | Colour varies from amber to dark amber with slight greenish cast; mild flavour |
| Sourwood Honey | Light amber colour; mild flavour |
| Sunflower Honey | Golden yellow colour; pleasant, full-bodied flavour |
| Tulip Honey | Dark colour; distinct yet delicate flavour |
| Tupelo Honey | Light amber colour with slight greenish cast; mild, distinctive flavour, slow crystallization |
| Mixed Wildflower Honey | Varies greatly in colour and flavour; typically strong in flavour |
‡ National Honey Board. “Honey Color and Flavor: It all depends on where the bees buzzed”, Honey.com, June 3 2016, http://www.honey.com/newsroom/press-kits/honey-color-and-flavor.
