Why Does This Honey Taste Different? And how could that affect global markets?

Honey production in rapeseed fields has been common in recent years in southern countries, often providing a late-winter floral source for hives and a distinct honey.

This article was originally published in in Vol. 164 № 5 of the American Bee Journal.

Introduction

Let’s dive into the enchanting world of honey. A mesmerizing elixir, adorned with its golden, brown, amber, crimson and violet hues, unfolds its essence in the form of liquid, creamy, viscous, or thick consistency, with or without crystals. Its taste, a symphony of sweet, acidic, and maybe astringent notes, dances with intense, citrusy, soft, floral or fruity aromas. This ancient delicacy, inspiring rivers of ink throughout history, was so revered that our ancestors would willingly risk their lives to obtain it. What distinguishes one honey from another? What renders a honey unique? This product, in any manifestation, promises to bestow immense pleasure upon our taste buds and sustain numerous families across the globe. So, why does it matter how it is constituted and where it comes from? Bees embark on journeys within a radius of two to three kilometers, tirelessly collecting nectar, pollen and various other plant secretions, predominantly from angiosperms (flowering plants). Through this ceaseless quest, they develop tastes and preferences, crafting a diet as diverse and nutritious as that of any animal. Along this path, certain honeys emerge as predominantly sourced from specific botanical species, commercially referred to as monofloral, with specialized guides available for such distinctions (1). Conversely, honey with diverse origins earns the label polyfloral.

What is “geographical indication,” and what is its purpose?

In the current era, consumers in developed countries have adopted an admirable behavior: They demand transparency in their food, from production to marketing. This leads to logistical and production challenges but also opens opportunities to highlight the uniqueness of our foods.

The market requires feeding billions of people with raw materials from all origins, and in the process, many agricultural powers find their business in selling large volumes of products. Others, on the contrary, lack the capacity to produce or export large quantities. Or they simply want to distinguish what they produce. Specialty products like coffee or wine often have a brief description of their qualities on the label, including the place where their parent plant was cultivated.

But what about honey? Composed mainly of sugary secretions collected, processed and combined with the bees’ own substances, honey has intrinsic properties associated with its origin, determined in part by its composition in a climate with specific humidity, soil and temperatures, as well as specific plant species with different maturation times (2,3). This gives honey not only different colors, smells, and flavors, as those who enjoy consuming this product regularly may have noticed, but even medicinal properties. These characteristics can indeed be known, measured, and determined in a way that effectively differentiates honey at a commercial level.

“Geographical indication” is a term recognized by the World Trade Organization as referring to products with unique qualities tied to their geographic origin (think Champagne or Columbian coffee), often exhibiting organoleptic properties that make it impossible for an identical product to be manufactured in another place. It is a particularly beneficial commercial strategy for small honey producers, as it allows differentiation of a product that might otherwise struggle to reach markets that pay better.

Here comes palynology

Providing consumers with truthful information about the origin of their food has genuinely fascinating aspects. Palynology, the study of pollen, is employed to identify the origin of a particular honey. This involves filtering, through laboratory techniques, the pollen present in a honey sample, while meticulously avoiding external contamination. Examining the shape of pollen under a microscope allows for the accurate determination of the plant species foraged by bees, and provides insights into their preferences. Although this analysis incurs a cost, and necessitates an expert’s touch, unveiling the mysteries of pollen becomes a gateway to enhancing the sweet economic outcomes of beekeeping ventures.

In the pursuit of this knowledge, I find myself delving into the study of pollen exine shapes. The morphology of pollenkitt, the primary substance composing the outer layer of pollen, is nothing short of fascinating.

Next to Brassica napus pollen grains, a grain (residual) can be observed from Cucurbitaceae, with reticulated ornamentation and multiple pores. Samples extracted using the Louveaux method, prepared from Louveaux et al. (1978).

Imagine that your demand as a consciousconsumer immerses me in the study of curious taxonomic forms, prompting me to identify patterns under the microscope for hours. I spend these hours marveling at the incredible strategies of nature, seemingly concealed from our naked eyes, facilitating the transport of pollen in diverse ways to reach the stigma, fertilize the flower, and perpetuate the species. It’s truly amazing, isn’t it?

Examples here and there

In different parts of the world, scientists have undertaken various efforts to classify ecosystems where pollinators live and obtain their food resources throughout the year. It has been found that in specific environments, the species bees pollinate impart exceptional qualities to the honey originating from those locations.

These distinctions extend beyond nutritional attributes, with some honeys demonstrating potential healing properties. Consider the case of Manuka honey, known for its antioxidant prowess, making it highly sought after. This honey predominantly derives from the nectar of Leptospermum scoparium, a species of myrtle endemic to New Zealand and southeast Australia, and its compounds have been proven to possess potent antioxidant capabilities through extensively validated research (4).

Researchers posit that phenolic compounds found in plants, such as aromatic acids and flavonoids, underpin the honey’s antioxidant effects and its ability to combat free radicals, known culprits behind malignant tumors. There exists a direct link between the botanical origin and the antioxidant properties of honey (5). Observations span a spectrum of diseases, including bacterial, fungal, viral, and metabolic ailments (4). This opens doors to accessing a medicine or highly valuable food source for disease prevention at a relatively low cost, especially when compared to pharmaceutical alternatives. The potential impact is particularly noteworthy for developing countries.

For example, in the northeast of Uruguay, my fellow scientists found a unique valley surrounded by native indigenous forest where the species composition allowed honey to obtain particular elevated levels of potassium and iron, as well as polyphenolic compounds that give it distinctive color and flavor (4). Although it takes longer to harvest than in typical artificial eucalyptus forests in the area, and the volumes are lower, there are already merchants who have managed to label this honey by its origin in the world market and share its story with the world (6). Various benefits result from applying this strategy.

Benefits in the Beekeeping Sector and its Environment

These benefits can include the pride of small beekeepers in rural areas regarding the environment they inhabit and an improved livelihood that helps them stay in the middle, avoiding migration to cities to earn decent incomes. In turn, it allows generation of a greater diversity of products that enable authorities to better position our small country (or any other practicing this) as a natural brand worldwide, showcasing its unmatched quality products at international fairs and gaining access to new markets.

In the grand finale, scientists affirm that this meticulous process enables us to place value on the services rendered by sanctuaries like Valle del Lunarejo, safeguarded by law. The ripple effect? The potential creation of more protected areas, ensuring the preservation of natural havens that yield exceptional products in perfect harmony with the environment. Honey harvested from these untouched landscapes secures its origin against the threat of agrochemical contamination. While we once believed that environmental consciousness would be the savior of bees, little did we fathom its potential to safeguard their sustenance and, consequently, generate profits. In essence, the battle against environmental degradation emerges not just as a necessity but as a commercial opportunity. This is the birth of what are aptly termed “green jobs.”

Importance of Added Value

However, none of this is possible if a country or a state does not exercise its sovereignty through knowledge of its natural resources. For this, true efforts in research, development, and territorial public policies are necessary. Our scientists have made valuable contributions with limited resources, thinking about local needs. They have described unique natural environments and studied the behavior of bees in the most diverse situations. They have allowed producers to access reliable information to improve their business.

In the dynamic world of beekeeping, even in highly productive environments, strategically placing beehives becomes an art form. Take, for instance, the common practice in my country, where beehives are strategically stationed for the commercial differentiation of honey — be it the distinct and clear rapeseed honey, the aromatic Eucalyptus spp., or the meadow lucerne variety.

Yet, this bee ballet isn’t always a perfectly choreographed routine. When hives arrive at these sites, bees, with their whimsical tastes, often venture beyond the planned nectar sources, blurring the honey’s unique crop characteristics. Here’s the dilemma: A hopeful farmer expects increased crop yields through bee foraging, only to find that the buzzing workforce has different preferences, favoring easier and more abundant resources. This happens especially in the case of legume fields, where it is often challenging for bees to efficiently forage the crop to increase yields (7).

The intricate dance of bees isn’t just a spectacle; it’s a complex interplay of factors that pique both scientific and economic curiosity. Unraveling the mysteries that regulate bee colony development isn’t just a scientific pursuit: It’s a key to unlocking economic potential in the captivating world of beekeeping.

Understanding the causal relationships between different variables could allow manipulation of specific parameters, such as placing beehives so that honey production has a specific origin, according to hive preferences. Both the farmer and the beekeeper would benefit in this case — one with a crop of better yields and the other obtaining a monofloral honey that can be sold differently.

A strategic policy on the part of our leaders, seeking to boost communities in their commercial potential given their natural advantages, would allow beekeepers everywhere to discover incredible, delicious, and wonderful new products with multiple characteristics and origins, or possibly even discover new and innovative medicines.

Moreover, a defined global strategic policy toward this type of beekeeping allows small beekeepers to resist the onslaught of honey price fluctuations. Many times, the low prices of this commodity result in devastating margins for these producers, making it difficult for them to stay in the market. Through marketing products with differentiated prices for higher quality and value, we contribute to the permanence of many producers in the field.

But that’s not all. This strategic bee tale isn’t just about sweet victories in the honey market. It’s a plot twist that ensures that small beekeepers triumph against the odds. No more price rollercoasters threatening their livelihoods; instead, a hive-minded approach with differentiated prices for top-notch honey becomes their shield. The market becomes a honey utopia where quality reigns supreme, ensuring the survival of these buzzing heroes in the field.

Conclusion

Much work remains to be done. Opening new doors or discussions for the valorization of this sector is fundamental if we want to approach the challenge in a creative and innovative way. Only in this way is the sector’s development ensured in a lasting way. Without knowing the common interests of producers in multiple sites around the globe, we cannot help each other.

Conscious consumers drive the demand for authentic foods, as well as the preservation of natural environments. The combination of knowledge, technology, and strategic policies can transform the beekeeping sector, providing unique products, innovative medicines, and economic sustainability for local communities.

Throughout this article, an attempt was made to demonstrate how a perspective that includes the commercial, territorial, and environmental dimensions can result in benefits for society and the environment. Globally, it is a bit romantic but not illusory to imagine a kind of cultural exchange because a foreigner consumes a product thousands of miles from where it was produced and knows exactly where it comes from.

My country may not be a significant producer in volume or participate in the major leagues of global trade. However, it can rely on trained human capital, covering short distances, reaching every corner to bring innovation and development in strategic plans that work synergistically and alleviate the harshness of an economy based on primary industries, subject to the unpredictability of climate change. I believe in resilient systems and technically adaptable capacities with substantial entrepreneurship and autonomy for innovation.

Imagine this: a global strategy that transforms beekeeping into a superhero, saving small producers from the treacherous waves of honey price fluctuations. In this sweet saga, our rulers become visionary maestros, orchestrating policies that empower communities to unleash their commercial potential. The result? A honeyed symphony of incredible flavors, unique origins, and even medicinal marvels, all thanks to the harmonious dance of bees and strategic policies.

Perhaps honey from a natural reserve is exported and distinguished as such, reaching far from its origin. The information on the honey jar label becomes a topic of discussion at the family table. A family member takes out their phone and Googles that remote place in the world that is supplying and sweetening breakfast. They wonder what they do there, what they eat, how they live. How that jar arrived there. They will savor the honey, and each one will have a different opinion of what it reminds them of, or why it is different. Perhaps it places a new location on the map in their imagination, and there it ends, without much interest. Maybe it ends in a more thorough study, who knows in what form. You never know.

But the satisfaction of knowing directly those who support your consumption is priceless.

And the satisfaction of telling the whole world that you are offering something unique and unrepeatable that stands on its own, with your sweat and tears, is just unparalleled.

For Spanish version, see here

References

1. Ohe, W., Persano, L., Piana, M., Morlot, M., & Martin, P. (2004). Harmonized methods of melissopalynology. Apidologie, 35(Suppl. 1), S18-S25. https://doi.org/10.1051/apido:2004050
2. Cracco P, Moreni A, Cabrera C, Galietta G, Santos E. Honey characterization from two landscapes of the northeast region of Uruguay. Agrociencia Uruguay [Internet]. 2022 [cited 24 feb 2024];26(1):e980. doi:10.31285/AGRO.26.980.
3. Cracco P, Cabrera C, Cadenazzi M, Galietta G, Moreni A, Santos E, Zaccari F. Uruguayan honey from different regions, characterization and origin markers. Agrociencia Uruguay [Internet]. 2022 [cited 24 feb 2024];26(2):e947. Doi: 10.31285/AGRO.26.947.
4. El-Senduny, F. F., Hegazi, N. M., Abd Elghani, G. E., & Farag, M. A. (2021). Manuka honey, a unique mono-floral honey. American Bee Journal: A comprehensive review of its bioactives, metabolism, action mechanisms, and therapeutic merits. Food Bioscience, 42, 101038. doi:10.1016/j.fbio.2021.101038
5. Moreni A, Cabrera MC, Cracco P, Cadenazzi M, Pirotti F, Santos E. Trace elements content and antioxidant capacity in honey from protected phytogeographical regions in Uruguay. Agrociencia Uruguay [Internet]. 2023[cited 24 feb 2024];27:e1121. Doi: 10.31285/AGRO.27.1121
6. El trabajador forestal que encontró una oportunidad en la miel y exporta a Europa (2023, 9 de julio). El Observador. https://www.elobservador.com.uy/nota/el-trabajador-forestal-que-encontro-una-oportunidad-en-la-miel-y-exporta-a-europa-20237719652
7. Salvarrey, Sheena, Arbulo, Natalia, Rossi, Carlos, Santos, Estela, Salvarrey, Luis, & Invernizzi, Ciro. (2017). Use of Native Bumblebees (Bombus atratus Franklin and Bombusbellicosus Smith) to Improve Seed Production of Red Clover (Trifolium pratense). Agrociencia (Uruguay), 21(1), 95–104. https://agrocienciauruguay.uy/index.php/agrociencia/article/view/179/158
8. Keller, I., Fluri, P., & Imdorf, A. (2005). Pollen nutrition and colony development in honey bees: Part II. Bee World, 86(2), 27–34. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0005772X.2005.11099650