Dingfeng Beekeeping Farm Introduction
The flowering sequences differ across the four seasons, and bees will gather nectar from different flowers. Longan flower honey is the most common and popular flavor, while another uniquely flavored honey is a wildflower honey, primarily sourced from Hedyotis corymbosa. Many people may say they haven't heard of it, but when it comes to a plant in the fields that sticks to you and has spiky balls, they might have some impression of it. Commonly known as ghost needle grass, Hedyotis corymbosa has this characteristic, which is why some people call it “chacha.” The flowers of Hedyotis corymbosa have white petals and yellow stamens; despite being bothersome, the honey produced is very tasty! Because there are usually other types of flowers nearby, bees gather nectar from a variety of flowers, hence it is also called “wildflower honey.” The longan flower honey, produced only in spring, has a rich and strong flavor, and a single taste brings a sweet aftertaste. Wildflower honey, available year-round, has a more subtle flavor, but its floral fragrance is strong, with a refreshing sweetness and a hint of tartness, quenching thirst; don’t think it’s spoiled! Honey that contains natural fructose, glucose, and enzymes can be directly absorbed by the human body, which has led to more people using it to replace sugar. The owner suggests mixing it with warm or cool water for long-term consumption. The white crystals that form in cold weather can be used as jam for spreading on toast or cookies, and it's healthy for cooking as well. If you enjoy trying new things, you can also mix the two kinds of honey to create innovative flavors! Since there are many honey products on the market with varying quality, the owner has also shared two simple tips to help readers distinguish genuine honey when purchasing: pure honey has a deep color and is not easily translucent; you can hold your finger behind the bottle to test visibility, though wildflower 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 dissipate quickly. The owner stated that even with the same batch of bees, variations in water sources, soil, and climate can affect the quality and taste of the honey, all based on decades of experience. The honey produced has less than 20% moisture, making it genuine “pure” honey, which won him the first prize in the honey competition in Hsinchu County for longan honey. When asked about beekeeping secrets, the owner, who both produces and sells, shrugged and said there are no tricks; understanding to follow the natural order can yield the richest rewards from nature.
