Is Sourwood Honey Really Sour?

Sourwood Honey confuses many who are not from the southeast United States, even though this tree can be found in the midwest from Illinois to as far north as New York. In many northern states it is on the endangered or threatened list and is protected. It does grow plentiful in the southeast mountainous areas which is where beekeepers will move their colonies for bees to forage. Contrary to its name, sourwood honey has no hint of sourness, and produces a premium honey gathered in the mountainous regions of the southeast. Formally "oxydendrum arboreum", the "sourwood" name refers to the sour taste of the twigs, which are chewed by woodsmen as a thirst quencher. Some also refer to it as a "lily of the valley tree" because of the blossoms that resemble the flower. 

Sourwood honey is basically clear in color. When other honey is foraged simultaneously, it can change the color of the sourwood. Sourwood honey harvested at the beginning of the season can look different than honey harvested at the end of the blossom season. Even if there is a hint of other honeys foraged by the bees with the sourwood honey, its unique flavor shines through.

In mid-June, many beekeepers like myself will move colonies to the mountainous regions where these trees are in abundance. The rows of white, bell shaped flowers start to bloom, and the bees will start collecting nectar.  Unfortunately, this is a time when the summer storms come through, and occasionally the high winds will knock the blossoms off the trees, and our season comes to an abrupt halt. The daily rain that sometimes happens also limits the amount of honey produced during that time, so suffice it to say that when we make sourwood honey, we feel fortunate.

Once the sourwood season is over, my colonies are moved back to my bee yards closer to home because that is usually the last crop in my area in Southeast Tennessee. The 90+ degree days working in the full sun in the sourwood yards takes a toll on a person, and I look forward to everything slowing down a bit after this final crop.

I look forward to the sourwood season every year, and enjoy visiting with the property owner where my bees are kept.  It is not a crop I can depend on every year, so I feel fortunate when I am able to say I had a good Sourwood crop.