[JStinson]

I have a friend that gave me a 2lb jar of honey that she got from her friend in Michigan. It's a strong, dark colored honey that tastes like the bees got into some mint. The honey is from Thornville, MI.

Does anyone know what the bees could have gotten into? Does mint actually bear nectar?

 

[Digginmich]

I have a very large patch of mint that just started flowering now and my bees are all over it. I also notice they love catnip flowers as well ( also in the mint family) I can definitely verify that they forage on mint but I have not tasted any honey from it as this is my first year beekeeping.

 

[TWall]

Bees seem to forage on many plants in the mint family. Bee balm is in the mint family. Ground ivy is in the mint family.

Plant in the mint family have square stems, not round.

Tom

 

[Jackam]

I got about 5 gallons of the mint tasting honey - except, as I understand it, the mint taste comes from the Basswood tree.
It's very very very good!

 

[JStinson]

I got about 5 gallons of the mint tasting honey - except, as I understand it, the mint taste comes from the Basswood tree.
It's very very very good!

That's what I was wondering...is it actually mint or does it just taste like mint?

My friend hated it. Her father told her she needed to throw it away. Glad she didn't, I like it!

 

[Graperunner]

The basswood tree produces minty honey.

 

[hilreal]

However basswood honey is light in color.

 

[Michael Bush]

>Does mint actually bear nectar?

Yes, it does. But it's likely basswood. Mine work every kind of mint, horsemint, peppermint, catnip, spearmint... but basswood makes more honey.

 

[TWall]

They does raise mint in areas of MI so, there is a strong possibility it could be mint honey. There are some farms around St. Anne IL that raise mint too.

Tom

 

[aromaff16]

They does raise mint in areas of MI so, there is a strong possibility it could be mint honey. There are some farms around St. Anne IL that raise mint too.

Tom

I live 5 miles from St Anne IL and there are mint fields there and also Just across the border into Indiana. I have a cousin whose house is surrounded by acres and acres of mint fields. I've thought about placing a hive or 10 there. I'm interested also if the mint flavor would make its way into the honey. Do plant specific honeys sell for more than wildflower honey?

 

[My-smokepole]

Could it be star thistle?