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Wed, 13 Sep 2000 00:34:13 +0100 |
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Bill Truesdell wrote -
> 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. Bill
> Truesdell
I think this is what we call Lime in the UK. FWIW I quote
Wedmore 'A Manual Of Beekeeping'.
------
Lime. Basswood, Linden, Bee Tree.
Tilia Americana, euchlosa (late), platyphylos (early), cordata,
vulgaris.
Tree Honey of pronounced flavour somewhat minty, light amber or
somewhat greenish, density apt to be low. Pollen greenish yellow.
Of universal importance. The flow generally lasts two or three
weeks and is somewhat uncertain. There are early and late
species. In Europe T. Cordata is the most reliable. Flow in June in
N. Dakota and July in Minnesota and Great Britain.
Varieties tormentosa and petiolaris should be avoided (?).
-----
When I was a child I used to walk to school along a road that had
been planted with Lime and Horse Chestnut (Aesculus
hippocastanum).
Both were of great interest to honeybees. Although I was only
interested in the product of the Horse Chestnut at that time to play
a slightly esoteric game called 'conkers' I remember well how the
pavement (sidewalk) under the Lime trees became stained. I'm not
sure if this was due to nectar or honeydew but it was certainly very
pronounced and certainly made the soles of my shoes sticky.
More recently (but not at present) I have kept bees very close to
Lime trees and have greatly enjoyed the quality that (I think) the
Lime contributed to the flavour of the honey. About then - when I
had the time - I entered a sample in the Bristol Fair. It won first
prize - and I believe that the judges actually tasted the entries!
Having tasted a good few honeys since then, I still reckon it was
the best for flavoured honey my bees ever produced. Unfortunately
I don't have any left.
Joe
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