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By Root 633 0

languages: English, Italian, French, and Spanish. This list should help get you out there experimenting with artisanal honeys. If you happen to find a special jar of honey whose label you cannot read, but it still looks interesting, my suggestion is to buy the bottle. You never know what type of honey might become your favorite.

APPENDIX 2

75 Varietals of Honey

1. ACACIA

PLANT CHARACTERISTICS: From the black locust tree, which has fragrant, pea-shaped white or yellow clustered flowers producing gray-colored pollen.

BLOOMS: May or June.

BOTANICAL NAME: Robinia pseudoacacia

COMMON NAMES: False or white acacia; honey locust; black, white, or yellow locust; Robinier, Robinia.

PROVENANCE: Native to the U.S. Appalachian Mountains and the Ozark Mountains. It can also be found in Hungary, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Italy, and China.

TERRIOR: Prefers humid climates and sandy, well-drained soil types. Found on prairies and fields in sunny locations.

HONEY COLOR: Water white, absolutely clear with a shiny, glasslike appearance.

TASTING NOTES: A light, delicate, and flowery honey. Primary notes of dried pineapple, vanilla, almond, and butterscotch, with subdued caraway notes. Slightly acidic. Heavy body. A fairly high fructose content allows this honey not to crystallize quickly.

PAIRINGS: Drizzle over Pecorino Romano, serve with fresh figs, apricots, marcona almonds, and chardonnay or prosecco.

2. ALFALFA

PLANT CHARACTERISTICS: A flowering herb and an important honey plant with white, greenish yellow or violet flowers and lemon yellow pollen. Yields abundant amounts of honey when fields are left uncut and grown for seed.

BLOOMS: April to October.

BOTANICAL NAME: Medicago sativa

COMMON NAMES: Lucerne, Luzerne, Lucerne grass, Spanish trefoil, purple medick, Erba medica.

PROVENANCE: Native to Europe and China. The alfalfa belt of the United States is found in the northwest part of the country.

TERRIOR: Prefers well-drained, fertile lime soils. Grows in a wide range of climates, from cold northern plains to mountains to deserts.

HONEY COLOR: Light amber with a warm orange tint.

TASTING NOTES: A smooth, rich, buttery aftertaste. Mild tones of minty herbs, fresh grass, and straw. Slightly metallic. Beeswax aroma. Full body. Granulates quickly. Alfalfa honey is high in protein.

PAIRINGS: Drizzle over robiola or classic blue cheeses on savory herbed bread, and serve with chardonnay or pinot blanc.

3. APPLE BLOSSOM

PLANT CHARACTERISTICS: A fruit tree with fragrant, pinkish white clusters of flowers producing pale yellow pollen. Must be cross-pollinated by insects, and honeybees are the best pollinators for the job.

BLOOMS: Early spring.

BOTANICAL NAME: Malus domestica

COMMON NAMES: Melo, pommier, manzano.

PROVENANCE: Native to Asia. Found in the United States, especially Washington, New york, Michigan, California, Pennsylvania, and Oregon.

TERRIOR: Prefers temperate climates with fertile, sandy soils. It is best adapted to areas in which the average temperature approaches or reaches freezing during at least two months. Cool weather lengthens bloom periods. Requires plenty of sunlight.

HONEY COLOR: Light golden brown.

TASTING NOTES: Delicate, crispy apple flavor. Tart and astringent. Granulates quickly.

PAIRINGS: Drizzle over cheddar cheeses and sliced fresh apples on ginger snaps, and serve with Riesling, champagne, or mead. Add to glazes for pork chops or sausages.

4. ASTER

PLANT CHARACTERISTICS: A perennial plant with erect or spreading leafy stems with daisylike, deep golden yellow or blue-violet flower heads in branched clusters. This is a rare honey because it is often mixed with goldenrod.

BLOOMS: September through November.

BOTANICAL NAME: Aster spp

COMMON NAMES: Chrysanthemum, starflower.

PROVENANCE: Native to the midwestern and eastern United States, as well as Canada and europe.

TERRIOR: Grows in wet marshes near woody regions with full sun. Some varieties thrive in dry, sandy soil.

HONEY COLOR: Water white to light amber.

TASTING NOTES: Can have an off aroma until it ripens.