Honey, bees and the hive

What makes our honey different?

Every jar of Swann’s Garden honey comes from our own colonies in Fenny Drayton. We extract and jar it ourselves, giving us direct traceability from hive to jar.

Nothing added. Nothing removed.

Why does honey crystallise?

Crystallisation is completely natural. Different nectar sources crystallise at different rates, so one harvest may stay liquid for longer while another sets quite quickly.

If you prefer your honey runny, gentle warming can liquefy it again. Stand the jar in warm water and heat it slowly rather than making it hot; excessive heat can damage the natural enzymes and alter the character of the honey.

Why does the colour change?

Honey reflects the plants available to the bees. Colour, aroma and flavour therefore change naturally through the season.

How do bees make honey?

Worker bees collect nectar from flowers and carry it back to the hive in their honey stomachs. The nectar is passed between bees, mixed with natural enzymes and placed into wax cells. The bees fan their wings to reduce its water content until the honey is ready, then seal the cell with a thin wax capping.

How long do bees live?

It depends on the bee and the time of year. A worker bee born during the busy summer season may live for only around five or six weeks, while winter workers can survive for several months. Queens can live for a number of years, although beekeepers may replace them sooner to keep a colony strong and productive. Drones generally live for weeks or a few months during the warmer season.

How do we harvest?

We wait until the bees have perfected the water content and sealed the cells, remove the wax cappings, extract the honey gently, strain it and jar it in small batches.

How are queens marked?

The international colour system identifies the queen’s year. See our own blue- and white-marked queens.

Interested in beekeeping?

We are members of the Leicestershire & Rutland Beekeepers’ Association, which supports local beekeepers and provides training and information.