Bees’ nectar source gives honey its flavor
Posted on Wednesday, October 1, 2008
To really appreciate the traits and flavors of different honeys, Mani Niall, in his book Covered With Honey, suggests the following method for tasting honey.
Place a single drop (less than 1 / 8 teaspoon ) on the center of the tongue about 1 / 3 of the way back and notice how the flavor travels across the tongue. The taste can be broken down into three characteristics: sweetness, source of sweetness and overall effect.
Sweetness: Is it mellow, overwhelming or somewhere in between ? Does the sweetness hit you immediately or is it gradual ?
Source: It is fruity, floral, spicy, herbal or earthy ?
Overall effect: Does the flavor linger or quickly fade ?
For comparison, Niall suggests clover honey. By comparing the flavor of a buckwheat honey, for example, to a clover honey, it will be easier to notice other differences. Recognizing the different flavors can be useful when selecting what type of honey to use in a recipe. A honey with a flavor that fades quickly would be a poor choice for a chocolate dessert because it may leave an undesirable aftertaste. However, the same honey would work well in a sauce for chicken.
Fruity honeys (orange blossom, alfalfa, wildflower ) are ideal for stirring into tea or blending in smoothies. Herbal honeys (lavender, eucalyptus, sage ) are best in salad dressings and uncooked sauces. Earthy honeys (blueberry, buckwheat ) pair well with cheese, beef and pork. For baking, choose fruity or herbal honeys.
Honey is identified by the plants the bees visited most. Each nectar source imparts different flavors in the honey and contributes to the color. The following list, though far from comprehensive, describes our perception of several commonly available varieties. Alfalfa: Strong and sweet, this honey has the flavor most people associate with honey. Most commercial honey is alfalfa. Blackberry: Sweet and almost buttery, with a subtle blackberry flavor. Blueberry: Rich flavor that is slightly peppery (like blueberries ) with a dark color and earthy tones. Buckwheat: A rich, dark honey with an earthy, pungent, molasses-like flavor some would describe as an acquired taste.
Clover: Light yellow in color, clover honey is one of the most popular honeys in the United States. The flavor is mild and sweet and slightly floral.
Orange Blossom: A mild, fruity honey with citrus undertones. The strength of the citrus flavor can vary greatly from one brand to another. Whipped Clover: Intensely sweet with a tingly lingering finish. White: Bottles marked simply grade A White Honey are most likely a blend of several types. The bottle we sampled had a strong honey flavor that did not linger. Wildflower: Richer in flavor than clover honey, but milder than buckwheat, wildflower honey’s flavor can vary from season to season.
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
