Honeybee_ Lessons from an Accidental Beekeeper - C. Marina Marchese [85]
TERROIR: Dry, acidic soil. Tolerates full or partial sun.
HONEY COLOR: Medium amber with a tint of light straw yellow.
TASTING NOTES: Complex, with hints of anise and gingerbread, and a warm finish. Delicate with just a touch of sour cutting the sweet taste. Sweet, spicy, anise aroma and flavor. A pleasant, lingering aftertaste. Does not crystallize.
PAIRINGS: Spread on cinnamon-raisin toast. Add to green tea, lemonade, coconut curry soup, or carrot soup and plum compotes. Add to glazes for pork chop or ginger chicken.
64. STAR THISTLE
PLANT CHARACTERISTICS: A thorny weed with yellow bushy flowers surrounded by nasty sharp spikes that protect the nectar and yellow pollen. An important honey plant.
BLOOMS: First of July to late August.
BOTANICAL NAME: Centaurea solstitialis
COMMON NAMES: Yellow star thistle, golden star thistle, yellow cockspur, St. Barnaby’s thistle, cardo, chardon.
PROVENANCE: Native to the Mediterranean region. Found in Onoma, Napa, Solano, and Sutter counties in California, as well as Idaho, Michigan, Arizona, Oregon, and Washington.
TERRIOR: Dry, drought-tolerant soil. Poor soil on hedgerows, on barren hills, and in neglected fields.
HONEY COLOR: White or extra light amber with a greenish cast similar to that of olive oil.
TASTING NOTES: Wet grassy, musky, spicy, anise, and cinnamon aroma. Very sweet flavor. Heavy body. Rapid granulation. Cloying yet buttery.
PAIRINGS: Drizzle over strong cheeses and toasted pine nuts, and serve with corn bread.
65. SUNFLOWER
PLANT CHARACTERISTICS: A tall annual herb bearing hairy stalks of daisylike flowers. The face of the flower is brown, and the petals are yellow. These flower heads follow the direction of the sun, rotating from east to west during the day.
BLOOMS: July and August.
BOTANICAL NAME: Helianthus annuus
COMMON NAMES: Marigold of Peru, corona solis, sola indianus, chrysanthemum peruvianum, girasole, tournesol, girasol.
PROVENANCE: Grows in Georgia, Delaware, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Utah as well as Italy, Austria, France, and Spain.
TERRIOR: Wastelands and prairies.
HONEY COLOR: Pale yellow to amber, turning dark yellow when crystallized.
TASTING NOTES: Can be bitter with nutty and ripe apricot overtones and herbaceous, citrus notes. Crystallizes rapidly and usually into a very compact mass.
PAIRINGS: Drizzle over yogurt and serve with sliced fresh peaches or nectarines. Spread on biscuits or rye sesame shortbreads. Used in making candy nougat.
66. TAHONAL
PLANT CHARACTERISTICS: Yellow daisylike flowers appear at the tips of long, slender, leafless stalks.
BLOOMS: January and February.
COMMON NAMES: Tajonal, goldeneye, plateau goldeneye, sunflower goldeneye, toothleaf goldeneye.
BOTANICAL NAME: Viguiera dentata
PROVENANCE: Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Found in Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico.
TERRIOR: An extremely drought-tolerant plant. Tolerates full or partial sun.
HONEY COLOR: Extra light amber to dark amber.
TASTING NOTES: Deep and tropical character. Wild and delicate flavor. Crystallizes rapidly.
PAIRINGS: This honey is used as a blending or baking honey. It must be used fairly quickly because of its high moisture content and to avoid possible fermentation.
67. TAWARI
PLANT CHARACTERISTICS: A large evergreen with magnificent silky, white-yellow flowers overflowing with nectar.
BLOOMS: November to December (New Zealand summer).
BOTANICAL NAME: Ixere brexiodes
PROVENANCE: Native to the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand and to lowland forests in northern New Zealand.
TERRIOR: Lowland and subalpine forests.
HONEY COLOR: White-yellow with a golden tinge.
TASTING NOTES: Known as the beaujolais of honeys because it is best enjoyed young. Subtle, musky flavor with a frothy texture. Overtones of orange, butterscotch, and licorice.
PAIRINGS: Great for spreading over pancakes, waffles, and ice cream.
68. THYME
PLANT CHARACTERISTICS: A strongly flavored perennial herb with white, pink, or purple flowers growing in short clusters. The