Frequently Asked Questions...

Why do Bees make Honey?

 

Honey Bees are hugely industrious over the Summer - they need to make 30-40lbs of Honey which they store as food to survive the Winter months.  When they're given the space, they just keep happily producing glorious Honey (whilst there is a good flow of nectar)- which is the Honey we are lucky enough to eat!  Bees have been producing Honey the same way for over 150 million years!!

 

 

Where are your bees?

 

Our bees are locals to the Oxfordshire/Berkshire area, the Chilterns and the Thames Valley- we have hives in Wargrave, Shiplake, Medmenham, Fawley, Wokingham and some on the Henley/Rotherfield border.  (See Trace your Honey).

 

 

Do you make the Honey yourselves?

 

We certainly collect and process the Honey but our wonderful bees are responsible for making the incredible Honey.  They gather the nectar from the flowers and bring it back to the hive.  There it's warmed and fanned by the bees until it's sticky enough to seal and store - thank you glorious bees!

 

 

Does your Honey contain any additives?

 

Absolutely not. We strongly believe in keeping things natural and traditionally produced.  The only treatment we implement is when we filter our Honey to remove any wax debris produced during the extraction process.

 

 

Is it true Honey is a good remedy for colds and coughs?

 

Honey has been used as a soothing remedy for colds and coughs as far back as humans have been eating honey! We always have a jar of our medicinal Honey mixture in the fridge - just in case...  Take a glass jar, 2 lemons, a noggin of fresh ginger , some ground cinnamon and a jar of our Honey.  Very finely slice the lemons and ginger (skin & all), sprinkle with the cinnamon, pack it all in the jar and completely cover in honey so that the jar is full. Store it in the fridge and either have a spoonful straight from the jar or add it to warm water as a drink - it should last approx. 6 months (in the fridge).

 

 

Is it true Honey is good for Hay Fever?

 

This is a bit of a broad (and tricky) question and it's one we get asked a lot.  We know that our Honey contains pollen from the plants that grow near our hives and it is said that consuming pollen from the local plants and flowers can ease the symptoms of hayfever.  Whilst we can't categorically say yes to this question, we do have a lot of repeat customers who choose to eat our honey on a daily basis around the Hay Fever season and they swear by it.

 

 

Can I use Honey instead of sugar?

 

Yes - Honey is great on porridge, incredible in yoghurt, delicious in tea and rich in coffee - it's also extremely versatile in baking. (This is an excellent article on just that: Guardian article - How to use Honey in your Baking)

 

 

Does all your Honey taste the same?

 

One of the many (many, many) perks of buying local, traditionally made Honey, is the natural variety. Each colony can produce a batch of Honey that looks and tastes wildly different from the next - flavours and aromas range from a sort of toffee popcorn, malt extract, floral, menthol and delicious citrus overtones.  It all depends on which plants the bees have foraged on which can also strongly effect the consistency as well - some Honeys are pale, some dark, some runny or thick, some smooth and some granular.

 

 

My runny Honey seems to be setting, can I do anything about it?

 

The natural state of Honey is liquid. The bees keep the hive at around 35 degrees celsius to keep the brood warm. When we take our Honey home and keep it at anything lower than this temperature, the honey will slowly set into crystals. It is perfectly natural and the Honey can be brought back to liquid by placing the jar in a pan of warm (not too hot!) water.

 

 

How do you eat Comb Honey?

 

Comb Honey is a real treat - it is the purest form of Honey - untreated and straight from the Hive.  Most people spread it straight onto toast, some eat it with a spoon and others often put it on ice cream (there are many ways to eat our Honey!).  Yes, the wax is edible and often holds the additional pure pollen flavour as there's been no processing to remove it - some say it's particularly good for the sinuses!

 

 

Does Honey go off?

 

No - it's magical stuff!  We are legally required to provide a Best Before date, but it will never go off. Sometimes you might find the honey has set or crystalised a bit, but that's due to the temperature it's being kept at (it can easily be returned to it's former glory by placing it in a warm pan of water - not too hot!).  In fact, Honey has been found in Egyptian Tombs opened after 2000 years and it was still edible!

 

 

Where can I buy your Honey from?

 

If you click on this page Stockists, it will take you through to all the local shops that sell our Honey.

 

 

Can my child eat your Honey?

 

It's strongly advised not to give any Honey to children under 12 months.