In a message dated 9/9/00 7:27:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

> It is a great honey. A few years back, my bees made some. All I spoke to
>  and who sampled it agree it is basswood-linden honey. It is a bright, clear
>  honey with a pronounced mint taste. I get it from time to time and value
>  it. I think it is an exceptional honey.

   In upstate NY, pure basswood (American linden) honey is nearly water
white, and so minty that it is nearly sharp tasting.  I've had comb honey
which is near inedible, because the "mintyness" is so strong.    The taste of
heated basswood honey is even more disagreeable.

    When basswood is blended with clover or other mild honey, it has an
agreeable minty taste.  In my early beekeeping days, there was a lot of
peppermint growing wild and I thought the flavor was from it.  However, I
later was in areas that did not have peppermint, but did have basswood, and
the flavor remained.  Basswood flow is in early July.  Some years it is a
major flow; some years it is sparse.  It is prone to biennial bearing.


Dave Green
The Pollination Home Page:  http://pollinator.com    (now searchable)