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Honey bee on whitethorn

Ti and Kathleen Regan with their winning honey

Beekeeper Tim Regan is the producer of the tastiest honey in Ireland.

“We are delighted to be the first Kerry Beekeepers to win the Gold award at Blas na hEireann having won Silver in 2021,” said Tim.

“The bees will be buzzing when I tell them that they are producing the tastiest honey in Ireland. I am confident that more Kerry honeys will feature in the final in the coming years.”

“Just as the proof of the pudding is in the eating so too the proof of the honey is in the taste. Being awarded the tastiest honey in Ireland by Blas na hEireann is indeed special.

All honeybees bring in nectar to make honey. The nectar the bees bring back to the hive is 80% water and bees must fan this with their wings to evaporate the water and make honey.

They foraged wild flowers in the surrounding areas gives the honey from each apiary its own unique taste.

The Kingdom is blessed with a vast variety of wild flowers which makes Kerry honey taste so much better.
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Our honey is harvested from the hives in early September. It is then capped, spun and sieved to remove big pieces of wax and pollen before jarring. It is 100% pure and natural and unfiltered. The honey still contains small particles of wax and pollen which are not visible to the naked eye and these help to combat allergens,” added Tim.

People are recently much more interested in natural foods and the health benefits they possess and are willing to pay more for 100% local honey than imported blended honey.

“Our apiary is located in a traditional farm three kilometres from Killarney town. It comprises of twenty acres of farmland with a variety of bee loving hedgerows, like Blackthorn, Gorse, Oak, Rowan, Sycamore, and Whitethorn.

“There is a Bee Meadow which comprises of 2.5 acres of flowers for pollinators along with wild flowers to attract bumblebees, butterflies and insects with a pathway around the Bee Meadow with information posters to assist you identify the birds, butterflies and bumblebees.

Due to the poor weather had in July the amount of summer honey harvested is down by over 40%, this will lead to a shortage of local honey this year.
The hone can be bought via an honesty box at at V93D7W0. 
It is also available at the Blacksheep hostel and café in New Street and Noelle’s at the Milltown market.
For more on thier r honey and bee walks visit: https://killarneybeewalksandhoney.com