Tupelo Honey...An Epicurean Treat!

White tupelo honey is sometimes called fine tupelo honey and is the most expensive honey because it is the most expensive to produce. Care must be taken by the beekeepers to clean the combs at the right time so that when the white tupelo gum tree blossoms, only the honey from these blossoms is collected. White tupelo honey is a prized, sweet and delicious light amber table honey with a greenish hue to it and it won't granulate or crystallize.

Black tupelo honey is made from the blossoms of the black tupelo gum tree, nyssa sylvatica, and it produces a darker honey that will granulate. Black tupelo is not prized for table honey and is often used as a bakery grade honey. Both white and black types of tupelo honey are produced by placing bees on platforms on the tupelo gum trees in the spring months. As the bees travel through the swamps they produce the honey from the gum trees' nectar.

If top quality white tupelo honey is mixed with any other type of honey such as black tupelo, wildflower or gallberry, it will granulate. Only fine white tupelo honey won't granulate or crystallize. The delightful taste of pure white tupelo honey can be savored on hot buttered toast or cold vanilla ice cream as well as on or in many other foods.

Tupelo honey was mentioned in the 1997 movie, Ulee's Gold, that stars Peter Fonda as a beekeeper who also battles bank robbers and looks after his abandoned grandchildren. Many aspects of tupelo honey production and beekeeping were taught to Fonda by the Lanier family of Wewahitchka, Florida. L.L. Lanier and Sons produces fine tupelo honey and some family members were extras in the movie. Tupelo Honey is also the name of Irish singer Van Morrison's song and album released in November of 1971. The song declares: "She's as sweet as tupelo honey. Just like honey from the bee."



Kathleen Hardison is the founder of BeeGoodTrading.com. BeeGood Trading offers specialty foods, gourmet coffees from around the world, and artisanal honeys such as Tupelo honey. BeeGoodTrading.com delivers same day shipping on roast to order specialty coffees, artisanal honey, organic teas, and other gourmet products. For more information, visit http://www.beegoodtrading.com/.

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