At a lovely site close to the shore of Loch of Lindores in N Fife my bees have choices when spring comes around. There are lots of willow trees around the loch to give them an early boost and plenty of sycamore and garden bulbs and other flowers around the big house, giving way to summer flowers in the woods, fields and marshes. This naturally soft-set honey came in as spring gave way to summer.
The flavours in this honey together with the timing and location suggest it is part from sycamore trees which flower late here and early summer flowers such as wild raspberry, a particular favourite of the bees. The former gives this honey its characteristic flavour whereas the latter will encourage this honey to set.
To prepare this honey for jarring, it was simply strained as it was extracted then, when required for jarring, placed in a warm room to soften it slightly.