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The North Carolina State Beekeepers Association

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Honey Tasting

Honey Tasting

Many resources are available to help you become a more educated honey-taster with the ability to distinguish various aromas and flavors in honey.

Articles

  • McNeil, M.E.A. “Tasting, Really Tasting, Honey.”  American Bee Journal, May (2020), pages 549-553. Print.
  • Spencer, Suzy. “The Basics of Honey Tasting.” Bee Buzz, Fall (2018), pages 31-33. ncbeekeepers.org. Web. Accessed October 2018.
  • Boyd, Barbara. “A Taste of Honey: Using Sensory Analysis to Evaluate and Market Your Honey.” Bee Culture, September (2011), pages 40-44. Print.
  • Collinsworth, Sean.  “Attending the Honey Sensory Class in Bologna, Italy.”  Bee Buzz, Winter (2019), page 19. ncbeekeepers.org. Web. Accessed July 2019.
  • Holt, Stan. “Honey Sensory Analysis in the U.S..” Bee Buzz, Fall (2019), pg. 15. ncbeekeepers.org. Web. Accessed September 2019.
  • Marchese, Marina. “Learning to be an Expert in the Sensory Analysis of Honey.” Bee Culture, September (2015), pages 83-84. Print.
  • Ress, Suzanne. “Sensory Analysis of Honey.” American Bee Journal, January (2017), pages 75-79. Print.

Honey Flavor and Aroma Wheels

  • Honey Aroma and Tasting Wheel. 2013. Available from the American Honey Tasting Society, Weston, CT.
  • Honey Flavor Wheel. 2014. Available from the UC-Davis Honey and Pollination Center, Davis, CA. Accessed October 2018.

Classes

  • Honey and Pollination Center, UC-Davis, CA.
  • American Honey Tasting Society, Weston, CT.
  • National Register of Experts in the Sensory Analysis of Honey. Scuola di Cucina, Bologna, Italy. Note: These were formerly offered only in Italian and in Italy but are now being offered in English and in other parts of the world, including the United States.

Books

  • Flottum, Kim. The Backyard Beekeepers’ Honey Handbook. 2009. Bloomington: Quarry Books. Print. 168 pages (17 of these pages contain descriptions/honey profiles for 76 nectar plants).
  • Marchese, C. Marina and Howland Blackiston.  Honey for Dummies. 2023. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. Print. 352 pages (a typically very informative Dummies book loaded with information on most aspects of honey, including profiles for 50 nectar plants).
  • Marchese, Marina and Kim Flottum. The Honey Connoisseur. 2013. New York; Black Dog and Leventhal. Print. 208 pages (78 of these pages contain descriptions/honey profiles for 34 nectar plants).
  • Simmons, Marie. Taste of Honey. 2013. Kansas City: Andrews McMeel Publishing. Print. 184 pages (15 of these pages contain descriptions/honey profiles for 40 nectar plants).

Other Resources

  • Terms from Honey Tasting Wheels
  • Honey Sensory Profiling Form
  • Hosting a “People’s Choice” format Black Jar Honey Contest

If you have questions, comments, or items to add, please contact Suzy Spencer at NCHoneyTasting@gmail.com.

December 15, 2024

 

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