Subject: Re: What are the finest (and worst) honeys?
 
>   My wife and I are enjoying (and packing) some of the eastern US varietal
>honeys, and are more and more interested in doing gift packs of these.  We
>also are thinking of doing honey tasting parties, like the wine folks do.
>
>   My question is:  Outside of eastern USA, I'm sure there are many fine
>honeys (and maybe some awful ones too), and I'd like to hear from some of the
>beekeepers on what they consider the finest and worst of their area.  Who
>knows, maybe we'd be interested in buying some of these?
 
In Santa Barbara, CA,  the predominent floral species belong to the
Chaparral group. Santa Barbara is one of three "Mediterranean" Climates,
South Africa and place in Peru are the others, if my memory serves me
correctly.
 
My favorite honey comes in June/July from Laurel Sumac, one of the big
chaparral honey sources. Very light in color, and a flavor like Button sage
or clover.
 
Second on my list is Blue Gum Eucalyptus honey, used to build up a lot of
spring colonies for the almond pollination. A little darker but definitely
has the "Euc" taste.
 
My Dislike candidate is Avocado honey,  strong tasting like molassis.
 
Oh yes another dislike is Fermented Honey.
 
Paul Cronshaw DC
Hobby Beekeeper
Santa Barbara, CA