What is Buckwheat Honey?
When bees forage for nectar from the buckwheat plant (pictured top left), it produces a rich, dark honey. Buckwheat honey has a distinct taste that is often compared to molasses. Notably, it’s less sweet than most other honey varieties, and has a fuller aftertaste.
what can buckwheat honey be used for?
For those who enjoy the unique taste, buckwheat honey can be used in place of any other honey variety- try it in your coffee, on sliced fruit, or by the spoonful! Buckwheat honey is also a great alternative sweetener in the kitchen, as the flavor can easily be ‘hidden’ in baked goods. Like other honey varieties, buckwheat honey has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, but has higher levels of minerals and iron.
Why isn’t keeler farm buckwheat honey available every year?
We plant buckwheat as a fall cover crop, so the last honey produced by the bees before winter is buckwheat honey. We don’t harvest much buckwheat honey for two reasons: first, we have to time our chemical mite treatments in the fall, and don’t pull any honey produced during or directly after treatment. Second, we are cautious about the amount of honey we take from the hives during the fall buildup. Often, we only pull a few frames that are completely honey bound, though this can vary year to year.