Mesquite honey
Also known as: algarrobo honey
Mesquite honey is a monofloral honey from the nectar of mesquite, or algarrobo (Prosopis), thorny legumes of the dry Americas; very mild, it sets fast into a white mass.
Mesquite honey is a monofloral honey from the nectar of mesquite (Prosopis), thorny leguminous trees of the dry Americas, known in South America as algarrobo. It is produced in Argentina and in the south-western United States, among other places; US Department of Agriculture chemists included mesquite samples when they analysed American honeys in 1962.
Argentina's Ministry of Agriculture describes algarrobo honey from the native forests of the country's north-east as a monofloral honey from Prosopis, which flowers in September and October. It has a very mild taste and a light colour that turns completely white when the honey sets.
A study of 18 Prosopis honeys from the Caldenal of La Pampa, where the caldén tree (Prosopis caldenia) dominates, confirmed this profile: very light colour, high glucose (37.2 % on average) and a glucose-to-water ratio of about 2.15, the mark of fast crystallisation. Moisture averaged 17.4 % and electrical conductivity 0.32 mS/cm. Samples with creamy rather than firm crystallisation were set aside as atypical.
Why this matters to you: mesquite honey is mild and quickly sets into a white mass; a firm, white jar is normal for it.
Facts
| Botanical origin | Nectar of mesquite, or algarrobo (Prosopis spp.) |
|---|---|
| Colour | Light; completely white when set |
| Crystallization | Fast: glucose/water about 2.15 |
| Moisture | 17.4 % on average (18 La Pampa samples) |
| Taste | Very mild |
| Season | Flowering September–October (north-eastern Argentina) |
How it connects to Honey & beekeeping
Mesquite honey → kind of → Blossom and honeydew honey → kind of → 🍯 Honey
Links
- Part of
- Monofloral honey, Blossom and honeydew honey
- Similar and different
- Tupelo honey, Clover honey
Frequently asked questions
What is mesquite honey made from?
From the nectar of mesquite, or algarrobo (Prosopis).
Is it true that white, solid mesquite honey has gone bad?
No. Algarrobo honey turns completely white when it sets; this is its natural crystallisation.
What does it taste like?
Very mild.
When does algarrobo flower?
In north-eastern Argentina, in September and October.
Why does it crystallise quickly?
It is high in glucose: the glucose-to-water ratio is about 2.15.
What to read next
- Tupelo honey — Tupelo honey is a monofloral honey from the nectar of white tupelo (Nyssa ogeche) of south-eastern US swamps, light and resistant to granulation.
- Clover honey — Clover honey is a monofloral honey from the nectar of clover (Trifolium), most often white clover, light in colour and mild in taste.
Similar
Sainfoin honey · Sulla honey · Alfalfa honey · Dandelion honey · Phacelia honey · Coriander honey
ℹ️ Honey is mostly sugars: about 82 g per 100 g. Do not give honey to babies under 1 year old because of the risk of infant botulism.
Sources
- Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería y Pesca de la Nación (Argentina): Miel de Algarrobo – NEA
- Naab O. A., Tamame M. A., Caccavari M. A. (2008) Palynological and physicochemical characteristics of three unifloral honey types from central Argentina. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research 6(4) 566-575
- White J. W. Jr. et al. (1962) Composition of American honeys. Technical Bulletin 1261, U.S. Department of Agriculture
- FAO, Krell R. (1996) Value-added products from beekeeping, Chapter 2 Honey