Honey is created when bees collect nectar from nearby flowers and take it back to the hive.  The bees partially digest the nectar into more simple sugars and store it in their honeycomb.  They fan their wings over the honey, which creates airflow around the honeycomb and helps to evaporate the water.  Eventually, the nectar loses moisture and condenses into thick, sweet honey.   Honey contains less than 18.6% water, but water generally makes up approximately 70% of nectar.

Folks often ask us what the difference is between wildflower honey and other honeys, such as mesquite and clover.  The type of flowers from which the bees visit and collect nectar will influence the color and flavor of honey.  When bees visit many types of flowers found around their hives, the honey is referred to as wildflower honey (polyfloral).  The taste and flavor of wildflower honey will vary each season, depending upon which flowers are most dominant when the bees are collecting the nectar. 

According to a recent article written by Tanya Zuckerbrot (April 19, 2017), there are five reasons why spicy food is good for your health.  Capsaicin is a compound found in jalapeños, habaneros, cayenne and most other chili peppers.  Tanya credits capsaicin for these healthy benefits:   

1. You’ll lose more weight. Capsaicin is a thermogenic substance, meaning it causes the body temperature to rise, temporarily boosting metabolism and revving its ability to burn calories. Capsaicin may also decrease appetite and help curb cravings. A 2005 study in the International Journal of Obesity found that exposure to capsaicin increased participants’ satiety, and reduced their calorie and fat intake.

2. Your heart will thank you.  Studies suggest capsaicin may lower LDL cholesterol, which accumulates on artery walls and constricts blood flow to the heart. Spicy food can help dilate blood vessels, promoting circulation and helping to manage your blood sugar, research presented during a 2012 American Chemical Society meeting suggests.

3. You may reduce your cancer risk.  A 2006 study in the journal Cancer suggests capsaicin may inhibit the spread of prostate cancer cells. Spicy foods also are known to boost immunity. Studies suggest they can act as a decongestant, protecting against irritants and pollutants, like dust and smoke.

4. You’ll eat more mindfully.  Research suggests people who eat spicy foods are often more satiated than those who don’t, which can reduce the chances of overeating. That may be because spiciness in food naturally slows the eating process, giving the brain more time to realize the body is full. The end result: fewer calories consumed.

5. You may live longer.  A Harvard University study suggested that people who ate spicy food every day saw a 14 percent lower risk of death compared to people who ate spicy food only once a week or less.

Eat More Cheese stocks up to 100 cheeses from all around Maine, the United States and Europe, and also carries over 175 wine labels, focusing on unique and small, family run operations.  Eat More Cheese has TWO locations in Maine; one in Bangor and one in Belfast! 

So if you’ve ever wondered about Belfast, it’s a hip coastal town that is family-friendly and affordable for summer vacations. It has the cool factor of a trendy city but without the attitude and crowds.  Belfast City Park is an amazing 17.5-acre park located right on the edge of the ocean.  Grab some picnic goodies (and our infused honeys) from Eat More Cheese at 94 Main Street and head to the beach to search for sea glass.

If you find yourself in Bangor, swing by Eat More Cheese at 195 State Street for a bite to eat before heading out to drive by the most famous celebrity home in Maine - that of horror novelist Stephen King.  Fun!

The Cheese Iron is a full-service, European style cheese shop with over 200 domestic and international cheeses located in Scarborough, Maine.  The shop offers a unique shopping experience for all the senses that includes an extensive wine selection, a unique charcuterie department with pates, cured meats, and deli meats as well as and fresh local meats. They also provide olive oils, jams and jellies, artisan chocolates, unique confections, teas, fresh daily baked bread and our infused honeys!  Stop by and say hello to Jill and Vincent and their wonderful staff!

The Emma Hotel was originally Pearl’s Brewhouse, built in 1894 and a San Antonio landmark ever since.  The hotel is named in honor of Emma Koehler, a towering figure in Pearl history. Emma ran the brewery after her husband and Pearl president Otto Koehler died in 1914. She was an ingenious CEO who kept the brewery going during Prohibition by converting operations to dry cleaning and auto repair, and making near beer, ice cream and soda. While other breweries were shutting down, Emma kept her entire workforce employed. She turned over control of the company to a nephew in 1933, but was a formidable presence at the brewery until her death in 1947.

Tucked away in the old fermenting cellars, LARDER at Hotel Emma carries local groceries, fine provisions, wine, beer, baked goods, flowers, house-butchered meats and freshly-prepared foods to eat in or take out. It’s a South Texas food store with a hint of Euro-sophistication where hotel guests and locals alike can stock up on life’s culinary luxuries or simply enjoy a glass of wine in the Brewmeisters alley at the end of the day.

The shelves at LARDER are stocked with plenty of wondrous and diverse foodstuffs, inspiring cookbooks and kitchenware you are unlikely to find anywhere else in town. Browse, sample, eat, drink, shop, savor and pick up our Fiery Sweet Mesquite to take home!

Dallas friends, next time you are looking for something fun to do, stop by the iconic Highland Park Village shopping plaza located at the southwest corner of Mockingbird Lane and Preston Road.  
 
While there, you MUST stop by Royal Blue Grocery! While they have all of the basics, they also have a deli counter and other cool stuff. The shelves are lined with unique coffees, meats, “grab and go” foods, beer and wine…and of course our infused honeys!  Check their Facebook page to follow their upcoming events, including wine tastings!

We are often asked, "What is mesquite honey and how do you make it?"  The answer is, bees make mesquite honey by sourcing nectar strictly from mesquite tree blooms.  Beekeepers purposefully position their hives in an area where most of the flowering vegetation consists of only mesquite trees.   Mesquite can be a large shrub to straggly tree with long clusters of green-yellow flowers that appear in the spring and summer.  Mesquite honey is light and delicate, and it truly tastes like “mesquite”.  Our Fiery Sweet Mesquite honey is hand-crafted in small batches in order to maintain the honey's natural mesquite flavor.

Looking for things to do in Denver?  Here's a great way to spend an afternoon!  Visit Culture Meat & Cheese (located inside The Denver Central Market).  Culture Meat & Cheese, brings an education-focused approach in presenting artisan cheese and cured meat from around world.  In addition to a curated retail selection of cultured goods and accoutrement, Culture offers a small menu from breakfast through dinner, that features handcrafted sandwiches and meat and cheese boards. The space features a full service cheese bar, with a glass countertop case displaying the day’s selection of meat and cheese for custom built boards.  While there, grab some of our honeys to take home with you!

If you're looking for fresh and healthy meals in South Houston, My Macro Meals is your one stop shop!  Swing by their new location and check out their huge selection of prepared meals.  While there, pick up some of our honeys to take home with you.