Spring Tarland

Tarland is a small village, set in the Howe of Cromar, in Royal Deeside, Scotland - the home for Sarah Leahy and many of her colonies of bees which are located both in the village and the surrounding countryside. These colonies are grateful to the early boost the fields of Brassica napus give them.allowing them to build up quickly and produce Spring Blossom Tarland honey.

The period from April to May is the time when Spring emerges in all its flowering glory and completely changes the look of the land. providing a stark and welcomed contrast to the months of long-lasting, austere Scottish winter. It is a crucial period for bees, as they need to build up quickly; their queen has ramped up egg laying and there is an ever increasing amount of young brood to feed. Food supplies need to be replenished and built up again for any summer dearth that may arise. A variety of bee-friendly sources of pollen and nectar are essential to ensure the good health of the expanding colony.

It is thanks to the fields of Brassica napus that surround Sarah’s Tarland apiaries that Sarah is able to take off a Spring crop of honey from her Tarland hives. The bees work the crop hard and produce large amounts of honey if the weather obliges. Other nectar sources in this delightful early honey include dandelion, willow, sycamore, cherry, apple and chestnut blossoms which are all within the bees flying distance. This Spring honey is much loved by those with an especially sweet tooth as it has a high glucose content. Children find it especially appealing! The high component of Brassica napus makes it popular with sufferers of early hay fever. Many believe it helps ease their hay fever symptoms especially if they live near these yellow fields themselves. There is one more thing to add about Scottish oil seed rape (OSR). In 2013, the three main pesticides (neonicotinoids or “neonics”) were banned for all OSR uses both in the UK and the EU. Unlike many of the EU countries which partially lifted the ban, the UK has been strictly adhering to this regulation causing a great deal of decline in OSR crop since the ban was introduced (something that farmers are not particularly happy with). On the bright side - oil seed rape, where it’s still available, has become safe and clean source of nectar for British bees which unlike their fellows in other parts of the world have been saved from the destructive effects of neonics.

A pale cream, almost white, colour depending on the year and Brassica napus content. Spring Blossom Tarland needs to be extracted from the comb as soon as the bees seal the combs with wax, otherwise it sets hard in the comb. Getting this right requires attentive beekeeping. Sarah then quickly extracts the honey and leaves it stored in honey buckets before gently warming it back to the hive temperature and stirring it. This makes the honey a soft set consistency which is just perfect for serving on your morning toast or oatcakes.

Mild, sweet taste with a slight, gentle note of lemony acidity on the finish. Storage Store at room temperature.

All Natives honey is packaged in recyclable glass jars.

A cool, dark cupboard, ideally one away from direct sunlight and heat sources like the oven, is the ideal place to store honey to delay crystallising and to maintain its flavor and quality. A pantry or a kitchen cabinet is also a good option. The cooler temperature will promote and speed up the crystallisation of liquid honey.

Crystallised honey is perfectly safe to eat and does not indicate that the honey has gone bad. It's a natural process where the sugar separates from the liquid, resulting in a solid or grainy texture. While it may change the texture and appearance, the nutritional value and safety of the honey remain unchanged.

If you prefer liquid honey, you can gently heat the crystallised honey (in warm but not boiling water) to dissolve the crystals and restore it to its original consistency.