Flower Sources

Tamarisk tree flowers

Terroir

Currently, the we produce the tamerisk honey near Socorro, NM along the Rio Grande. However, in recent years New Mexico has been aggressively trying to eradicate the tree. In the future we plan to move our Tamerisk producing bees to the Pecos river valley in Texas where the tree is still thriving.

Terroir: Socorro, New Mexico

Tasting Notes

• Aromas of dark beer, molasses, soy sauce, hickory and pine
• Strong, long finish, sorghum-like with a hint of espresso. A pinch of salt in the finish.
• Serve in savory applications. Ham, turkey, anything with buttery sauce.
• Country ham with Redeye Gravy made with this honey.

Color

Dark amber, chestnut brown

More Information

Tamarisk, also know as Salt Cedar is a pine like tree that grows all along the Rio Grande river from Northern New Mexico to the Gulf of Mexico. The tree has gained a reputation as a large water user and New Mexico currently has a program  to try to eradicate this tree through removal. As a result, we have been making less and less honey every year.

The tree is a great nectar source for bees. The tree thrives in an environment that is harsh for other nectar producing plants. In the middle of the summer as the desert heat swells to over 110 degrees most of the honey bees food source dries up and dies. The tamerisk, on the other hand, loves this hot weather and begins the process of attracting pollination insects with its dark rich sweet nectar. For this reason we are able to keep the nectar fairly pure. The nectar itself is high in fructose sugars much like the medicinal Manuka honey of New Zealand. For years old desert beekeepers have reported that a good Tamerisk honey flow will cure bees of minor illness such as chalk brood and sac brood. The honey is slow to crystallize largely due to nature of fructose sugar.

As with most “invasive” species debates there are two sides to every story. The Tamerisk is crowding
riparian areas and using water but in return it provides a very nutritious food for honey bees and us.

This is the Irish Stout of the honey world, dark, strong and very unusual. If you are a fan of buckwheat or Tupelo honey this is right up your alley!