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Poll

Do you like Goldenrod honey?

Yes
16 (61.5%)
No
2 (7.7%)
Leave it for the bees
8 (30.8%)

Total Members Voted: 0

Voting closed: October 04, 2007, 04:20:57 pm

Author Topic: Question on Goldenrod Honey  (Read 19629 times)

Offline bassman1977

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Question on Goldenrod Honey
« on: September 27, 2007, 04:20:57 pm »
In my area, we have an abundance of goldenrod in the fall.  My established hives can easily yield an average  of 500 or more pounds of SURPLUS honey.  Personally, I can't stand the stuff.  It stinks and has too overpowering of a taste for my liking.  My wife's grandfather however LOVES IT! 

From what I have noticed the more I ask people about it, it seems to be you either love it or hate it.  I am curious as to what everyone here thinks. 

I allowed multiple votes per user in case anyone wants to ask someone else who has tried goldenrod honey, their opinion.

Thanks.
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Offline Scadsobees

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Re: Question on Goldenrod Honey
« Reply #1 on: September 27, 2007, 05:07:00 pm »
I read somewhere that it is the best honey for mead. :-D...(don't ask me where, I don't rememeber)

I like the difference, my wife hates the smell.  But I don't get enough so the bees keep it.  In small amounts it gives a buttery/butterscotch smell to the rest of the honey.

Rick
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Offline bassman1977

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Re: Question on Goldenrod Honey
« Reply #2 on: September 27, 2007, 05:12:44 pm »
Quote
In small amounts it gives a buttery/butterscotch smell to the rest of the honey.

I totally agree.  In large amounts it makes a vomit smell.  MMMMMMM
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Offline BeeHopper

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Re: Question on Goldenrod Honey
« Reply #3 on: September 27, 2007, 05:16:55 pm »
I have never tried it, ( I would like to  :-D) so I cannot comment. However, I can say that along the PA Turnpike from Philly to Pittsburgh, there are seas of Goldenrod, the bees in PA are lucky  :-D

Offline fcderosa

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Re: Question on Goldenrod Honey
« Reply #4 on: September 27, 2007, 09:09:07 pm »
I read somewhere that it is the best honey for mead. :-D...(don't ask me where, I don't rememeber)

I like the difference, my wife hates the smell.  But I don't get enough so the bees keep it.  In small amounts it gives a buttery/butterscotch smell to the rest of the honey.

Rick

ACTUALLY THE BEST FOR MEAD IS THISTLE HONEY. :-D
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Offline Potlicker1

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Re: Question on Goldenrod Honey
« Reply #5 on: September 27, 2007, 10:26:50 pm »
Fourtunatly for me by the time the goldenrod blooms, Iv'e taken my honey and leave the goldenrod for them. There,s a boat-load of it around here too. Never had to harvest it.

Offline Scadsobees

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Re: Question on Goldenrod Honey
« Reply #6 on: September 28, 2007, 09:21:16 am »
Quote
I have never tried it, ( I would like to  grin) so I cannot comment.

Beehopper...if you have teenage boys, dig into a pile of their socks that have been there for at least 5 days.  Sniff deeply, this is the aroma of goldenrod honey.  I'd suggest licking the sock to get the flavor but I won't because it is making me gaggy :-X.  Just soak the sock in a jar of perfectly good honey and that is basically the same thing.  :roll:

Rick :-D

Rick

Offline BeeHopper

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Re: Question on Goldenrod Honey
« Reply #7 on: September 28, 2007, 10:54:01 am »
Quote
I have never tried it, ( I would like to  grin) so I cannot comment.

Beehopper...if you have teenage boys, dig into a pile of their socks that have been there for at least 5 days.  Sniff deeply, this is the aroma of goldenrod honey.  I'd suggest licking the sock to get the flavor but I won't because it is making me gaggy :-X.  Just soak the sock in a jar of perfectly good honey and that is basically the same thing.  :roll:

Rick :-D



Wow, that bad, huh  :shock:

Offline reinbeau

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Re: Question on Goldenrod Honey
« Reply #8 on: September 28, 2007, 01:44:54 pm »
Absolutely not, goldenrod honey doesn't taste like it smells while they're making it.  It's fine!  As a matter of fact we're eating the goldenrod honey that was made late last year right now - I can't believe anyone thinks it tastes like it smells while they're fanning the nectar.... :?

Offline Scadsobees

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Re: Question on Goldenrod Honey
« Reply #9 on: September 28, 2007, 02:23:42 pm »
Ok, so maybe I'm exaggerating a bit.... :-P
Mine smelled like it did while they were fanning, a sour smell that wasn't exactly honey-like.  It did retain some of the sock odor.  I felt obligated to explain why it smelled that way when I gave it away. YMMV, I think there is a whole range of flavors that can occur.

It was my first harvest, so made a big impression.  I'd probably enjoy it more now, but it still wasn't near so good as my spring or summer honey.  I would like to try a batch of mead on it, though.

I don't get much anymore, and leave it for them.

Rick
Rick

Offline BMAC

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Re: Question on Goldenrod Honey
« Reply #10 on: September 28, 2007, 04:25:03 pm »
Many of the folks I sell to like Goldenrod honey.  I have made several batches of Mead from it too.  I dont know if it is the best but the yeast rock out in it and it ferments to 1.000 or less in just a matter of a few days......  Unlike Clover honey I use.  Clover needs to be poked and prodded to attenuate down......
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Offline Shawn

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Re: Question on Goldenrod Honey
« Reply #11 on: September 28, 2007, 07:58:51 pm »
Great thread. I was thinking about planting the golden rod next year but you guys have changed my mine. Thanks for the warning.

Offline Michael Bush

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Re: Question on Goldenrod Honey
« Reply #12 on: September 28, 2007, 08:21:04 pm »
I love the taste, but the bees usually need it...
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
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Offline TwT

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Re: Question on Goldenrod Honey
« Reply #13 on: September 28, 2007, 08:22:36 pm »
I have tried it and it wasn't to bad, but mostly I leave for the bee's winter stores.
THAT's ME TO THE LEFT JUST 5 MONTHS FROM NOW!!!!!!!!

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Offline Scadsobees

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Re: Question on Goldenrod Honey
« Reply #14 on: September 28, 2007, 11:06:05 pm »
Quote
Great thread. I was thinking about planting the golden rod next year but you guys have changed my mine. Thanks for the warning.

Always good to have goldenrod around for fall stores.  Unless you have miles of goldenrod and good rains you won't get any surplus. 
Rick

Offline reinbeau

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Re: Question on Goldenrod Honey
« Reply #15 on: September 29, 2007, 09:58:43 am »
Quote
Great thread. I was thinking about planting the golden rod next year but you guys have changed my mine. Thanks for the warning.

Always good to have goldenrod around for fall stores.  Unless you have miles of goldenrod and good rains you won't get any surplus. 
Nevermind any surplus, you may not have enough honey for the bees over the winter.  Around here, with the drought we've had, the goldenrod and asters are probably the only honey they're going to make. 

Offline Michael Bush

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Re: Question on Goldenrod Honey
« Reply #16 on: September 29, 2007, 02:24:28 pm »
>Thanks for the warning.

What warning?  Goldenrod, no matter what you think of the taste, is great bee food.  I happen to think it's great people food as well...
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Offline Shawn

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Re: Question on Goldenrod Honey
« Reply #17 on: September 29, 2007, 07:11:43 pm »
Here is SE Colorado there is a surplus of sunflowers that will be blooming from about mid july until the first freeze. Its Sept 29 and there are still hundreds of thousnads of sunflowers a couple blocks away. Granted we are not in a drought, jut came out of one, but there are so many hay fields around not to mention the melon fields if I need to move the hives. I am setting up the yard with respberrry plants, peech, apple, and cheery trees, and lots of different flowers I found at this site, http://www.dianeseeds.com/flowers/beneficial-insects.html. I found other sites that describe good lants. I also will be planting white dutch clover, sweet yellow clover and the red crimson clover. I did see the golden rod is a well liked plant for the bees and maybe some day Ill change my mine if I get to try some of the honey it makes

Offline bassman1977

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Re: Question on Goldenrod Honey
« Reply #18 on: September 30, 2007, 01:10:16 pm »
Lots of interesting comments and so far, I am surprised at the results of the poll.  I polled a lot of others in my family yesterday and they all like it too.  Considering the more established hives always have enough of it for winter, then I will just continue harvesting it.  What can it hurt if people are going to use it.
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Offline Old Timer

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Re: Question on Goldenrod Honey
« Reply #19 on: September 30, 2007, 06:40:32 pm »
>Thanks for the warning.

What warning?  Goldenrod, no matter what you think of the taste, is great bee food.  I happen to think it's great people food as well...

i like it just as well as any other honey, and i think it's the prettiest color too, i love that golden color it has.

 

anything