The following is taken from Wewa Public Library Documents & L.L. Lanier & Son, Producers
of Certified Tupelo Honey):
Tupelo honey is produced from the Tupelo gum tree which grows profusely along
the Chipola and Apalachicola rivers of northwest Florida. Here in the river
swamps, this honey is produced in a unique fashion. Bees are placed on
elevated platforms along the river's edge, from which, during April and May
they fan out through the surrounding Tupelo-blossom-laden swamps and return
with their precious treasure. This river valley is the only place in the
world where Tupelo Honey is produced commercially.
Real Tupelo honey is light amber in color, light golden with a greenish
cast. The flavor is delicious, distinctive, a choice table honey. Good white
Tupelo, unmixed with other honeys, will not granulate. Due to the high
levulose content, it does not granulate and due to this high levulose, low
dextrose ratio, diabetic patients have been permitted by their physicians to
eat Tupelo honey. Average analysis: Levulose 44.03%, dextrose 29.98%
Black Tupelo, Ti-Ti, Black-gum, Willow, and several other honey plants
bloom in advance of white Tupelo are used to build up bee colony strength and
stores. Since these sources produce a less desirable, darker homey, which
will granulate, the product is sold as a bakery grade honey. Possibly it is
just that or a blend which is a cheaper honey for which the buyer may be
paying premium price.
The important point which we wish to make here is that all honey is being
labeled Tupelo is not top quality tupelo as the bees make it and as skilled
beekeepers produce it. Some honey may be very light in color and could very
well have a high percentage of Gall berry. Gall berry blooms right after
Tupelo. The honey is attractive, as it is a light white honey, but it is not
Tupelo and will soon granulate. Some honey is labeled Tupelo and wild flower.
In this case the buyer has no guarantee of just how much real Tupelo he may
be getting
Fine Tupelo is more expensive because it cost more to produce this
excellent specialty honey. To gain access to the river location there the
honey is produced requires expensive labor and equipment. In order to get
fine, unmixed Tupelo honey, colonies must be stripped of all stores just as
the white Tupelo bloom begins. The bees must have clean combs in which to
place the Tupelo honey.
Then the new crop must be removed before it can be mixed with additional
honey sources. The timing of these operations is critical and years of
experience are needed to produce a fine product that will certify as Tupelo
honey.