Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Judges are sweet on a taste of honey

By Kathy Saunders
Published April 11, 2007

Last year we had a problem with bees in the batting cages at the baseball field where I am on the board. I was a hero because I have a friend who is a beekeeper. He showed up within a few hours, removed the bees, and left a lovely honeycomb in our concession stand refrigerator.

That's about all I knew about honey until Taster's Choice recently sampled 10 brands. The fluid produced by honey bees from the nectar of flowers comes in many varieties, according to St. Petersburg beekeeper Jeffrey Johnston.

The honey most often sold in local groceries is clover honey, he said, "because it's light colored, and it looks pretty on the table."

Flavor, though, can vary widely.

Johnston, who comes from generations of beekeeping hobbyists, said he has a jar of almost black molasses-colored honey, from avocado trees. The components of the nectar determine the taste, he said.

Taster's Choice judges favored the flavor of the honey from Albertsons $2.79 for 12 ounces above the rest. They gave the honey 86 of a possible 100 points. We provided warm biscuits for the tasting.

Almonds, cherries and oranges were some of the flavors judges detected in the thick spread.

"Easy like Sunday morning," is the way one panelist described the flavor. "Where are the bees that gave such a special treat - thank you, Mother Nature."

All five judges said they would buy the Albertsons honey.

Panelists also liked Winnie the Pooh honey ($2.99 for a 12-ounce bottle from Publix). They awarded 70 points to the brand. Three of the five said they would buy it.

Judges detected the flavor of caramel in the Pooh brand. A couple of panelists also described a strong floral flavor in it.

Two brands tied for third place in our survey. Judges gave 68 points to Billy Bee ($3.29 for 12 ounces at Sweetbay) and Sue Bee ($4.19 for 12 ounces at Sweetbay). Three of the five judges said they would buy either brand.

Judges liked the golden tint of both brands, as well as the smooth flavor.

Also sampled was honey from: Hannaford ($2.79 for 12 ounces from Sweetbay); Publix ($2.99 for 16 ounces); Gefon ($4.19 for 12 ounces from Publix); Bee Maid ($3.99 for 16 ounces from Publix); Honey Bee ($2.98 for 12 ounces from Wal-Mart); and Great Value ($2.78 for 12 ounces from Wal-Mart).

Panelists were: Nan Jensen, registered dietitian with Pinellas County Cooperative Extension; Bob Devin Jones, artistic director of Studio@620 Mary Jane Park, St. Petersburg Times writer; personal chef and mother of four, Julie Overton; and Kim Thomson, fifth-grade teacher at Pasadena Fundamental School. All foods were tasted blind.

Judges' rankings

Honey

1. Albertsons

2. Winnie the Pooh

3. Billy Bee, Sue Bee (tie)

[Last modified April 10, 2007, 08:35:09]