Dingfeng Bee Farm Introduction
The flowers change with the seasons, and bees collect nectar from different blooms. Longan flower honey is the most common and popular flavor, while another uniquely flavored honey is known as multifloral honey, primarily sourced from the plant known as Xiao Feng Cao (also referred to by many as Ghost Needle Grass). This plant might not be familiar to many, but they may recognize it as a prickly plant that sticks to you when you run through the fields. Xiao Feng Cao has white petals and yellow stamens; despite being annoying at times, the honey produced from it is quite delicious! Since there are usually other flowers nearby, bees collect nectar from a variety of sources, hence the name "multifloral honey." The longan flower honey produced in spring has a rich and smooth flavor, with a sweet aftertaste from the first sip. Multifloral honey is available all year round, with a milder taste but a stronger floral aroma, carrying a hint of acidity that is refreshing and thirst-quenching—so don’t mistake it for bad honey! Honey that contains natural fructose, glucose, and enzymes can be directly absorbed by the human body, leading to many people using it as a substitute for sugar. The owner suggests mixing it with warm or cold water for long-term consumption. The white crystals that form when it’s cold can be spread like jam on toast or cookies, and using it in cooking is also a healthy choice. If you enjoy new flavors, you can mix the two types of honey to create creative combinations! Since there are many honey products on the market with varying quality, the owner also teaches two simple tips for readers to distinguish genuine honey: pure honey has a deep color and is less transparent; you can test it by placing your finger behind the bottle to check visibility, though multifloral honey is originally lighter in color. Another method is to shake the honey jar—pure honey will produce dense bubbles, while artificially diluted honey will have fewer bubbles that dissipate quickly. The owner states that even when the bees are from the same batch, factors like water source, soil, and climate can affect the quality and taste of the honey, which they rely on decades of experience to determine. The honey produced contains less than 20% moisture, making it a genuine "pure" honey, earning them the first prize in the longan honey competition in Hsinchu County. When asked about beekeeping secrets, the owner, who produces and sells their products, shrugged and said there are no special tricks; by understanding and respecting nature’s order, one can receive the richest rewards from it.
