HONEY VARITIES
2020 Honey Varieties:
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Fire Wildflower:
This rare honey was harvested from the first bloom in the Woolsey Fire burn area, which stretches fromZuma Beach to Mulholland Hwy. It is derived from a purple flowering phacelia that only blooms following a major chaparral fire. This flower blanketed the hills during the early spring months of 2019. It has a tendency to crystallize and offers a mildly fruity taste.
Western Malibu:
Summer honey harvested from the upper ridge of the Western Santa Monica Mountains, from Saddlerock Ranch to the top of Yerba Buena. This area burned heavily during the 2019 Woolsey fire and experienced a rare summer super bloom of fire following annuals. The honey is dark and flavorful and will crystallize if left at room temperature for 6-8 weeks.
Coastal Wildflower:
This darker honey was harvested from apiaries along PCH, from Malibu Canyon to the Ventura County Line. It was harvested at the end of the summer when the buckwheat and late seasons coastal daisies are in full bloom. It is a rich, full-bodied honey with a thick texture.
Black Sage:
The winter of 2019 saw rainfall amounts that were double the yearly average. Due to this abundance, the black sage was everywhere.Black sage honey is light in color and smooth in texture. The slight hint of yellow color and complex sweetness comes from other early season blooms like mustard and wild radish that the bees harvested around the same time.
Purple Sage:
The tail end of the spring brings a major bloom of purple sage. This honey was harvested from apiarie in the chapparal beyond the e recent burn areas around Calabasas and Topanga Canyon. It has a subtle floral taste and a delicate texture.
Santa Monica Canyon:
Harvested from apiaries in Santa Monica, Brentwood and the Pacific Palisades, this honey is our most urban variety. The high level of landscaping attention and exotic flowering corral trees, lavender, and jasmine vines keep our bees happy year-round.
Topanga Canyon:
Harvested from three locations in Topanga Canyon in the early summer. A light sage mix with hints of sumac and toyon. Rare and delicious.
Previous honey in still Stock (pre-2019):
2018 was a harsh year in the Santa Monicas -- Late rains, cold spring time temperatures, and prolonged drought conditions have contributed to a low honey supply. However, drought time honey often has a stronger and more unique taste profile than years with abundant honey flow.
A harvest from hives living near Paramount Ranch at the top of Malibu Canyon. This area was completely burned by the 2018 Woolsey fire and therefore represents the last harvest from this canyon for the foreseeable future. Nectars are a mix of buckwheat and Oak honey dew. It has a strong earthy taste.
A drought summer of native mountain bloom from the ridges of the Santa Monica mountains. This area was completely burned by the 2018 Woolsey fire and therefore represents the last harvest from those mountains of these mature chaparral plants for the foreseeable future. Nectar is Sage, Laurel Sumac, and Toyon berry.
A wildflower blend of the bees living on the coast in Malibu made between the months of March, April, and May 2019. It includes a mix of coastal wildflowers (mustard and wild radish) and berry nectars such as raspberry, blackberry, blueberry.
Harvested from 3 locations in Topanga canyon in the early summer. A light sage mix with sumac and toyon. Due to the drought, this harvest was quite limited. Rare and delicious.
Orange blossom honey is flavorful and complex. It is one of the sweeter honeys and has a candy sharpness to its aftertaste.
This honey comes from a collaboration a beekeeper who splits their time between Santa Barbara and North Dakota. The honey was harvested from an organic clover operation. It is darker than store bought clover honey and contains a mix of nectar and pollens from the wildflowers blooming contemporaneously to the clover.