On Thu, 9 May 1996, Conrad Sigona wrote:
 
> > AS far as worst goes.....
> > Some friends of mine brought back some "Black Forest" honey from Germany
> > from Black Forest pines.......blechhh! I swear it was mixed with
> > turpentine. I accepted it graciously but....
> > I'm glad they don't read this group.
>
> 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.
>
 
Hello Conrad,
 
yes, this honey is called "Tannenhonig" (fir tree honey, especially
silver fir tree honey). The "full" pound (500 g) would cost sometimes up
to 20 DM = 13 US$. The bees gather the dew from "animal blossoms", two
sorts of small animals on the trees, we call them "Lecanien" and
"Lachniden", which can often live only in cooperation with forest ants.
I never noticed a turpentine taste, but of course we drink that seldom if
ever.
 
The other stuff, often called "Tannenspitzenhonig" (fir tips honey) is no
honey, but a sort of syrup, made out of young, light green tips of firs
boiled in water with plenty of sugar.
 
Regards,
R.E.Bahr
NISI APES FINIS