At 04:30 PM 5/9/96 +0500, Conrad Sigona wrote:
 
>
>I believe what you're speaking of is tannen honig (fir tree honey), which
would explain
>its turpentine taste. In Germany, its quite expensive compared to regular
honey.
>As I recall, it isn't a honey gathered by bees but a substance extracted by
boiling.
>I might be wrong about that, so perhaps some German friend of the bee list will
>set me straight.
>
Tannen Honnig is a honeydew, i.e. collected by honeybees from the host plant
via an intermediate sap sucking insect, eg aphids, scale insects.  Germany
is the largest consumer of honeydew honeys with many coming from all over
Europe.  Sources include Encina (oak), chestnut, Pine, fir (both red and
white).  Countries include France, Spain, Italy, Hungary, Poland, Turkey and
New Zealand - plus others.  Generally these are marketed as "Wald Honig"
(forest honey) but often as their particular species as in the case of
tannen honnig.
 
Peter Bray
Airborne Honey Ltd.
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