Eucalyptus honey is a monofloral (all of the nectar collected comes from the same species of plant) variety of honey that is instantly recognisable for its distinctive flavor, aroma, and colour.
Eucalyptus Honey
Eucalyptus honey is produced from honeybees pollinating the blossoms of the eucalyptus tree and sometimes gathering of the honeydew found on the bark of these trees. It has a medium-dark colour and may have a red tinge. It has been found that the darker the colour of eucalyptus honey, the more pronounced a reddish tint will be. It can range from tart to sweet and is best consumed raw, unfiltered, and unheated.
In order to produce eucalyptus honey, the honey bees will predominantly pollinate the blossom of the eucalyptus tree.
In addition to collecting the nectar within the blossom, the honeybees have been known to forage the honeydew from the eucalyptus trees bark.
The exact ratio of blossom to honeydew will vary but blossom will always be the predominant source in eucalyptus honey. This is due to the plant’s voluminous production of nectar.
The moment the honey bee collects the eucalyptus nectar from the blossom it is mixed with an enzyme within the bees mouth. The enzyme itself is otherwise known as invertase or the “bee enzyme” which is secreted from the honeybees glands.
When the honeybees return to the hive they will pass the nectar they have gathered between their mouths further mixing the nectar with the “bee enzyme” reducing the water content and converting the nectar to honey.
They will then deposit the eucalyptus honey into wax cells, but at this point the water content will be too high. In order to reduce the water content the honeybees will fan their wings above the wax cell. By doing this they will evaporate some of the water.
Once they’ve finished the process the eucalyptus honey will have a water content roughly below 20%. It will then be capped and the honeybees will repeat the process all over again. Local conditions influence the nectar production of eucalyptus plants but the age of the trees is the primary factor. Mature eucalyptus forests outproduce young plantations by a factor of 10.
A strong hive can produce between 40 and 120 pounds of honey from eucalyptus. It is also common for a keeper to harvest several pounds of light green surplus pollen.
All of the places that produce significant amounts of eucalyptus honey share some common characteristics in terms of geography, climate, and soil conditions. The Central and Southern coastal regions of California, the Mediterranean region, and temperate regions in Australia are all ideal for growing eucalyptus, and as such, exceptional for producing eucalyptus honey.
But beyond the conditions required to produce high nectar production from eucalyptus plants, you should also consider the flavor, colour, and aroma characteristics that a region imparts. Just as different regions produce coffee, tobacco, or wine with unique qualities – so too will the location influence the quality of certain honey.
Depending on the region the flavor may flucuate interms of earthiness, menthol and sweetness. Eucalyptus honey is certainly one of the varieties where origin matters.
The best eucalyptus trees for honey bees are those that produce the most pollen and highest nectar flows. For that reason, the old-growth forests of Eucalyptus globulus are the most beneficial.
True connoisseurs of eucalyptus honey might have a preference for the terroir imparted to the honey of a particular region but honey bees seem to love eucalyptus regardless of the geographic region the trees are found in.
Benefit Description Relieves Cold and Flu Symptoms Due to natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties Immunomodulator Helps to treat respiratory and other infections; boosts immune system activity Relieves Urinary Tract Infections Inhibits the growth of bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli) Reduces Inflammation Mild effects that vary considerably between batches Strong Antioxidant Activity Contains polyphenols and flavonoids Anticancer Activity Contains tricetin Treats digestive disorders Relieves constipation and gastritis Eucalyptus honey is used topically to treat and heal wounds, ulcers, burns, cuts, abrasions, and sores. It has also been shown to be effective on insect bites and stings. It is known to relieve rheumatism, lumbago, sprains, stiffness, aches, fibrosis, and nerve pain.
Eucalyptus honey is also effective at relieving nasal congestion and coughs and as an expectorant.
It is believed to be effective at combating insomnia. There is some anecdotal evidence that suggests it can treat or cure cataracts but no studies have produced evidence to support those claims.