Floral Varieties
The flavour of honey varies depending on which flower the nectar has been collected from. Enough nectar from a certain source will give the honey a distinctive floral flavour such as Yellow Box, Blue Gum, Iron Bark or Red Gum Honey. Different floral varieties can be found all over Australia (see map below).
Yellow Box
Eucalyptus melliodora (Yellow Box) is widely distributed and can be found from the Darling Downs in Queensland through to Horsham in Victoria. Yellow Box is widely regarded as Australia's premier honey.
The major flowering period is from September through to January. Yellow Box honey is smooth flavoured, very dense with a characteristic pleasant aroma. Light to golden in colour and slow to granulate, it makes an excellent spread on bread and crumpets. It is also well suited to Chinese cooking and as a baste for lamb roasts and poultry.
Blue Gum
Eucalyptus leucoxylon (Blue Gum) grows in South Australia and in western parts of Victoria, flowering from April through to December depending on location. Blue Gum is a delightfully flavoured honey, usually straw colour, dense with an uplifting flavour. Popular for use as a sweetener in tea or coffee. Ideally suited for use in milkshakes, drizzled over ice-cream or on waffles. A favourite honey with beekeepers.
Iron Bark
Varieties of Eucalyptus crebra (Iron Bark) trees flower throughout the year and these species are widely spread through eastern Australia. All yield premium honey with characteristic delicate aroma, good density and light colour. This honey is pleasing to the palate because of its gentle sweetness. It is an excellent flavour enhancer in the baking of cakes and biscuits as well as a sweetener in tea and coffee. A honey connoisseur's favourite.
Red Gum
Eucalyptus camaldulensis (Red Gum) is Australia's most widely distributed Eucalypt. Located on riverbanks and flood plains, Red Gum thrives in the western parts of Victoria and South Australia.
Flowering period is usually late November to the end of January. Honeybee colonies thrive when placed on a Red Gum honey flow. A rich golden coloured honey with a bold flavour, easily recognisable aroma and excellent density makes Red gum a favourite of many honey consumers. Red Gum is suited for use in honey milkshakes, marinades, creamed honey and in particular bread baking.
Premium Blend
Premium Blend is a pure blend of eucalypt and ground flora honeys rich in character and flavour. These honeys consist of light and dark coloured honey and strong and mild flavoured honey which are blended together to create a product that is generally a consistent flavour and colour. In times of extreme honey shortage, the colour and flavour of Premium Blend can vary due to a smaller selection of honey varieties that are available for blending.
