Co-Owner Maggie Pitcher at Babe's Honey
On our Get Fresh Field Trip day, Elisabeth and I make a side diversion to Babe’s Honey, where co-owner Maggie Pitcher gives us a lovely honey tasting of their full lineup. Upon walking into the bright yellow building with giant honeycomb logo on the front, the sweet scent of bees’ nectar fills our noses.
Babe's Blueberry Honey with Beeswax Candle
Honeys!
- Cranberry is smooth happiness. If taste were a sound, this one would be la la la la la la, as I sung out loud, evoking laughter from Elisabeth and Maggie.
- Blueberry is more distinct, deep and punchy. It would be like ballsy blues music.
- Wild Flower is quite literally like tasting a bouquet of natural, outdoor sweets, but without being perfumy.
- Fireweed is sharper, to a point. Babe’s takes their bees to the north end of Vancouver Island to let them roam after a clear cut and a burn, when Fireweed grows prolifically.
- Japanese Boxweed is a little wood like, and it would be, being related to the Bamboo family. It’s an invasive species, not allowed in Canada, so the bees are sent south into Washington State to produce this honey.
- White Onion is sweet and tangy, and also produced in Washington State.
- Spearmint is earthy herbiness, not as “minty” as I would expect, but still distinct.
Elisabeth and I both settled on the rich and punchy blueberry honey. I inquired about their Honey Balsamic Vinegar, which was a wee shock to taste (vinegar after honey, I must be crazy!), but just as delicious all the same. I brought home a bottle of that too at a steep but very well worth it $16. (You can see by the time I wrote this post, that I have used half of both!)
Babe's Honey Balsamic Vinegar
Babe’s Honey Farm store is open 9-5 7 days a week, year round, except Christmas and New Years at 334 Walton Place, Saanich, BC.
Phone: 250-658-8319
Their honey is also widely available in local and larger grocery stores too.
(In Sooke, it’s even available at Village Food Markets!)
Photos by Caprina Valentine.
