Summertime at the Tower, sees the revival of our bees and butterflies busily flit between the colourful flowers and trees. It’s amazing to witness the vital role bees play in pollination, particularly in the early hours of the morning.
You may have noticed we leave much of our estate to nature throughout the year, trying not to disturb the bees as they gather pollen in the summer — ensuring our garden and grounds are a pollinator’s paradise, where no bee goes hungry.
But what exactly do bees do with all that pollen? They turn it into honey, of course! Keep reading to discover how honey is made by our bees and learn about the incredible process behind this sweet treat.
Do All Bees Make Honey?
Not all types of bees produce honey. For example, solitary bee species don’t live in hives and don’t make honey. Honey-producing bees, like the Hoghton Tower bees, are social and live in colonies. These colonies are made up of a queen, worker bees, and drones. The most well-known honey-making species are from the Apis (honeybees) and Bombus (bumblebees) genera. However, not all honey-producing bees produce enough honey for humans to harvest.
How Do Bees Make Honey?
The process of honey production is fascinating and involves several stages. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how our bees create honey:
- Worker Bees Search for Nectar and Pollen
Worker bees leave the hive to forage for nectar, visiting multiple flowers during each trip. As they do so, they also gather pollen, which will be used to feed the larvae and the queen.
- Nectar is Combined with Bee Enzymes
While collecting nectar, worker bees mix it with an enzyme secreted from their bodies. This enzyme starts breaking down the nectar’s sugars, setting the stage for honey production.
- Worker Bees Share the Nectar and Enzyme Mixture
Once the worker bees return to the hive, they share the nectar-enzyme mixture with other bees. Through a process called “trophallaxis,” bees pass the nectar from bee to bee, reducing its moisture content and thickening it into honey.
- Honey is Deposited into Honeycomb Cells
The nectar mixture, now turning into honey, is stored in the bees’ hexagonal honeycomb cells. These cells are built from beeswax and serve as storage for the honey.
- Bees Dry and Seal the Honey
Inside the hive, bees fan their wings to help dry the honey and reduce its moisture level. Once the honey reaches the ideal consistency, the bees cap each cell with a layer of beeswax to seal it for storage.
- Beekeepers Harvest the Honey
When the honeycomb cells are fully capped with wax, the honey is ready for harvesting. Our dedicated Beekeeper carefully extracts the honey, leaving enough for the bees to survive the winter months.
The Role of Nectar: Why Do Bees Make Honey?
Bees make honey as a food source to sustain their colony during the colder months when flowers aren’t available. Honey is rich in carbohydrates, which provide essential energy for bees. Without honey, a colony wouldn’t survive the winter months.
Is It Cruel to Harvest Honey?
One common question is whether it’s wrong to harvest honey from bees. Vegans typically avoid honey since it is an animal product, but is taking honey harmful to bees? The answer largely depends on the practices of the beekeeper. Here at Hoghton Tower we practice ethical beekeeping, which involves harvesting honey in a way that leaves enough for the bees to survive.
Our resident Beekeeper only takes surplus honey, ensuring that the bees have enough stored food to last through the winter. So, when done ethically, honey harvesting should not harm the colony.
Different Types of Honey and Their Unique Flavours
Honey varies greatly in taste, colour, and texture depending on the type of nectar the bees collect. For example, clover honey is a common variety produced from nectar primarily sourced from clover flowers. Just like wine, honey can taste different from batch to batch, even from the same flower, due to factors like climate, flower species, and geographic location. Our particular honey has hints of lime and pine, attributed from the variety of species we have on the Hoghton Tower estate.
Conclusion: The Sweet Process of Honey Production
Honey-making is a complex and incredible process that showcases the amazing abilities of bees. From foraging for nectar to transforming it into a sweet, energy-rich substance, honey production is a natural marvel. While there are ethical considerations in honey harvesting, responsible beekeepers ensure that bees are treated with care, and that enough honey is left for the colony’s survival.
So, the next time you enjoy a spoonful of our Hoghton honey, remember the hard work and dedication of our resident bees — nature’s tiny, yet mighty, workers.
