FAQs

Q. Why isn't all honey in the shops Irish Honey?

A.The bees only fly and make honey when the sun shines and so Ireland isn't always able to produce enough honey to meet the demand all year around. Irish honey is generally harvested in late summer and so this is the best time to stock up as if the summer was not great, it will sell out quickly! 

Q. Why does honey crystallise? Is it gone off?

A. Not at all, crystallisation is a natural process and will happen all natural  honeys at some stage. How quickly it crystallises depends on the flower the bees have fed on and also the temperature at which the honey is stored at. The temperature in a hive is generally 20 - 24 degrees and so honey doesn't like to be stored in the fridge or anywhere too cold. A honey like Acacia will stay clear for very long but for example, sunflower honey, will crystallise very quickly. 

Q. Do all honeys taste the same?

A. Not at all, honey is a bit like wine. The flavour is dependent on the flower, the weather and the country it comes from. Even honey from Ireland will vary in colour and taste depending if the bees are near heather or oil seed rape or apple trees for example. In very general terms, a light colour will have a light flavour and the same for dark coloured honeys. Try a few of them to see which one you prefer. Also, some are nicer for breakfast while others are great in cooking. 

Q. How do you get organic honey?

A. it is true that you can't control where the bees fly and so in order to be certified organic the regulation states that the bees must be on a certain area of organically farmed land with no public roads. There is no certified organic honey in Ireland for this reason as we don't have the huge plains that the likes of New Zealand enjoy. Some people believe that organic honey is better for the bees as they don't have to feed on flowers that may have been sprayed with  pesticides

Q. Why is honey blended?

A. As honey varies in colour and taste, some honey is blended to guarantee a similar taste and colour all year round. As long as you buy your honey from a reputable supplier, this shouldn't taint the quality of the honey.