Eimear and Simon’s honey comes from bees in two apiaries in Co. Wicklow, Ireland. One is near Kilmacanogue, and the other up on the plateau between Ashford and Annamoe. The flowers that they visit are varied. Moreover, the changing weather can help or hinder a flower – and because the honey gets its distinctive flavour from the flowers that the bee visits, the honey varies year-on-year, too. Honey is made by a very natural process – because our bees are given every advantage in life by the beekeeper, they make a much bigger surplus at the end of the summer than their wild or feral brethren. The beekeeper removes the surplus, spins it out of the honey frames, filters it, and puts in a sterile jar. NB many advise that raw honey should not be given to infants under 12 months.
Preparing for work at the Kilmacanogue apiary. Photo: John Belchamber
In time, all honey will change from a liquid to a solid. This process, known as granulation, is entirely natural. If you prefer your honey liquid, then heat your jar gently until the honey becomes liquid again. Be sure not to heat the honey too much, because heat kills the valuable enzymes in honey.
By the way, we are always keen to recycle and reuse our honey jars, so all returned jars will be gratefully received.
If you would like us to pass any messages on to our bees, just email us at eimearandsimon[at]eircom.net. Thanks for dropping by.