Sometimes called “liquid gold,” tupelo honey is one of the best treats to come out of the Southeastern U.S. This unique, delicious variety originates in Florida Panhandle rivers and swamps and is different from the honey you may be familiar with. Here’s a helpful guide to this product so that you’ll know just what to expect.

Where Does Tupelo Honey Come From?

This type of honey comes from the white tupelo tree, Nyssa Ogeche, which grows in wet soil and flooded areas. Tupelo trees usually bloom for about two weeks in April, and there is an incredible amount of preparation that goes into making the best Tupelo honey possible. The bees must be moved into locations along the waterways where the trees grow most prolifically, and the spring honey must be pulled off the hives and empty honey supers must be added at just the right time to ensure that the bees are bringing in and storing the Tupelo nectar. During the bloom you can float down the rivers and hear the roar of the many thousands of honeybees collecting nectar from the trees. A close eye must be kept on the progress of the bloom and the amount of nectar coming into the hives in order to pull the honey supers off before the bees start to collect other nectars from plants that bloom concurrently or just after the main Tupelo bloom.  The locations of the beehives and timing of this operation is critical to producing that wonderful flavor that we all love. 

Compare this to other products in the store. Bees collect nectar from various flowers in their region, all of which impact the color, speed and size of crystallization, and flavor.  Tupelo honey is a monofloral honey—, meaning it is from a single source, whereas most honeys are polyfloral with a wide range of charactaristics. 

What Does It Taste Like?

This product has a rich, unique color that’s sometimes described as amber with a light-green cast due to the tupelo pollen. Some call it “buttery,” and it’s also considered to have light notes of pear and cinnamon. It is wonderfully sweet, and unique among the honeys of the world for its resistance to crystallization and being lower on the glycemic index. These unique characteristics come from the higher fructose to glucose ratio of the tupelo nectar.

How Should You Enjoy It?

Tupelo honey is versatile and can be used in a variety of ways. Drizzle it over warm fried chicken and waffles or fluffy buttermilk biscuits. Add it to your favorite dessert, or if you’re feeling under the weather, blend it with warm milk to soothe a sore throat. It also has antimicrobial properties!

 

If you want to purchase delicious tupelo honey, contact Register Family Farm of Freeport, FL. This veteran-owned and family-operated company offers a variety of bee products unique to the region, including gift baskets, tupelo products, and beeswax. Learn more about their eco-conscious honey farm on their website or call (850) 392-7404 to speak with a representative.