Dingfeng Beekeeping Farm Introduction
The flowers of each season are different, and bees will collect nectar from various blossoms. Longan flower honey is the most common and popular flavor, while another uniquely flavored honey is multifloral honey, which mainly sources nectar from the plant known as Houttuynia cordata. Many people might say they haven’t heard of it, but when it comes to a thorny plant that sticks to you as you run through fields, they might have some impression. This plant, commonly known as "ghost needle grass," is often called "Qia Cha Mo" because of its characteristics. The flowers of Houttuynia cordata have white petals and yellow stamens; despite its bothersome nature, the honey produced from it is quite delicious! Because Houttuynia cordata is usually surrounded by other flowers, bees collect nectar from many sources, hence the name "multifloral honey." Longan flower honey, produced only in spring, has a rich and aromatic flavor, with a sweet aftertaste upon a small sip. Multifloral honey is available in all seasons; its taste is lighter but has a more pronounced floral aroma, with a refreshing sweetness and slight acidity that quenches thirst, so don’t mistake it for being spoiled! The honey, containing natural fructose, glucose, and enzymes, can be directly absorbed by the human body, which is why more and more people use it as a substitute for sugar. The owner recommends mixing it in warm or cold water for long-term consumption. The white crystals formed during cold weather can be used as jam on toast or cookies, and it is also very healthy for cooking. If you enjoy trying new things, you can mix both types of honey to create innovative flavors! Since there are numerous honey products on the market with varying quality, the owner also shared two simple tips for discerning real honey from fake: Pure honey has a deep color and is not easily translucent; you can test its visibility by placing a finger behind the bottle. However, multifloral honey is naturally lighter in color. The second method is to shake the honey jar; pure honey will produce dense bubbles, while artificially diluted honey will have fewer bubbles that disappear quickly. The owner stated that even with the same batch of bees, differences in water sources, soil, and climate will affect the quality and taste of the honey, all relying on decades of experience. The honey produced has a moisture content of less than 20%, making it genuine "pure" honey, which earned him the first prize in the Longan Honey Competition in Hsinchu County. When asked about beekeeping secrets, the self-produced and sold owner shrugged and said there are no shortcuts; in fact, understanding how to work with nature will yield the richest rewards from the environment.
