Do Bees Make Purple Honey?
If you have heard the rumors about beekeepers producing purple honey, you are not alone. Purple honey is real, but it is extremely rare. While bees don’t intentionally make blue or purple honey, they may collect nectar or other sugary sources that result in a surprising purple color. Yes, it does happen – let’s explore some common theories to explain this phenomenon.
Of course, when you first read about purple honey – you might think that some coloring has been added to it. Unfortunately, that does happen on occasion. But, the color of honey in these instances raises a lot of eyebrows.
Is Purple Honey Real?
Can purple honey really be natural. Yes, it can be. Though, our winged friends have a craving for sweet liquids. In times of dearth, or nectar shortages, they may gather anything sweet that they can find.
This is why we sometimes read news articles about beekeepers that have harvested honey in some rather outrageous colors. These bright orange, deep red, or even green jars usually turn out not to be true honey.
Rather, the source is found to be some type of commercial candy dye etc that a bakery or candy store has discarded. The bees obviously thought it tasted good so they brought it home and stored it in the comb.
However, purple honey does appear to have a foundation in truth. Beekeepers in some regions do occasionally harvest honey ranges in color from a faint blue tint to true blue or even deep purple.
What Causes This Unusual Color?
As with many things in the beekeeping world, there is much disagreement on the origin of purple honey. Yet, there are several theories commonly used to explain this phenomenon.
The three most common explanations are:
- Bees are collecting juice from dark-colored fruits.
- Bees are visiting a nectar source such as kudzu.
- Bees are gathering nectar from plants with high aluminum levels.
Fruit Juices
Honey bees will drink juice from ripe fruit, though they usually collect it from holes made by larger insects.
This is a key difference between honey bees and bumble bees, Honey bees do not have strong enough teeth to puncture tough skins.
Many beekeepers believe that bees foraging on dark fruits are the most likely source of blue honey.
But, dark fruits such as elderberries, blueberries or blackberries have not been in bloom in all locations where this rare blue-colored honey has appeared.
Kudzu
Good old Kudzu – the bane of southern existence – produces beautiful little purple flowers. They smell like grape flavored Kool-Aid.
Honey bee colonies near large patches of kudzu are known to produce honey with a purple tint and sometimes a faint grape flavor.
I have had Kudzu honey and it is rather good. While not a favorite flower of honey bees, they will work kudzu blooms during dry times.
Yet, honey with the purple or blue tint also occurs from time to time in regions of the country that do not have kudzu plants.
Aluminum-Rich Nectar
Perhaps another plant is responsible for both the unusual color and grape-like taste.The Summer Titi (Southern Leatherwood flowers) has likewise been suggested as a source.
Some have even suggested that it might be a result of Sourwood trees? But I am very skeptical of the sourwood plant as a source. I make sourwood honey and have never had honey that was purple.
There may be a correlation between blue honey and plants with a high aluminum content in their nectar.
Science Behind Purple Honey
The aluminum theory is one of the most widely discussed explanations. N.C. State University professor John Ambrose performed a series of tests in the 1970s to investigate the source of purple honey.
His research found that field bees coming back to the hive did not have blue nectar in their honey stomach. But, his studies suggested that nectar gathered was from plants with a higher aluminum content.
Perhaps the aluminum interacts with the acidic environment inside the bee’s honey stomach. The final step during the honey making process resulted in the purple color.
However, this theory has not been proven conclusively. Whether the cause is berry juice, kudzu, aluminum-rich nectar, or something else entirely, the mystery continues.
Where Has Purple Honey Been Found?
This rare honey appears most often in the southeastern United States. It is especially associated with the Carolina Coastal Plain and the Sandhills region of North Carolina.
It is more prevalent in some years than others and tends to show up more in dry years.
Can Beekeepers Produce Purple Honey on Purpose?
Unfortunately, beekeepers have not discovered a reliable way to produce purple honey.
Even more puzzling, some colonies in the same apiary may produce a small amount while neighboring hives produce none. This suggests that individual foraging choices, local nectar sources, or conditions inside the hive may all play a role.
For now, producing purple honey intentionally remains out of reach.
FAQs
Ask beekeepers in certain regions (especially the NC sandhills) and they will say that “yes – bees can produce purple colored honey.
As honey type is defined by nectar source – we are not sure of the source for purple honey. One possible source is the Kudzu plant.
Yes, purple honey is generally safe to consume. However, it’s essential to ensure its authenticity and quality. Purchase from reputable sources and check for any certifications to guarantee purity.
Yes, purple honey has a long shelf life – the same as regular honey. Proper storage in a warm, dry place is crucial to prevent crystallization and maintain its quality over time.
Final Thoughts
We love unique things and even though this honey may not really be any better than another – it is intriguing. Even more puzzling, some hives in the apiary produce a small amount of the special honey. While others in the same bee yard produce none! How can this be? Well, we really don’t know and the bees are not talking.
One thing is sure. If you are a beekeeper that is lucky enough to harvest this specialty type of honey, it should fetch a premium price. Sell your honey product for more than the regular honey.
How strange—I have heard that it has health benefits that other honeys do not have, is this true and if so what are the benefits??
I try to be careful about making any claims regarding any type of honey. We “hear” a lot but how much of it can be backed up with scientific studies. And yet, how many researchers want to spend the money on this kind of testing? My thoughts are – bee honey taste good and is likely a bit more nutritious than just sugar – beyond that I will leave it up to those that understand things better than I. 😉