Phacelia honey
Phacelia honey is a monofloral honey from the nectar of lacy phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia), with low electrical conductivity.
Phacelia honey is a monofloral honey that bees make from the nectar of lacy phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia). The international list of plants giving unifloral honey in Europe names phacelia among its species. Its electrical conductivity is low, 0.23 mS/cm on average, well under the 0.8 limit for blossom honey.
It has been studied in most detail on Polish samples. A 2018 study took fourteen samples: it analysed pollen, measured colour in the CIE L*a*b* system and profiled the volatile aroma. In six samples phacelia pollen averaged about 75 %.
A characteristic of the aroma was trans-linalool oxide, which made up 27.3–45.9 % of the volatile compounds and followed the phacelia pollen percentage. C13-norisoprenoids were also typical of the extracts.
A separate study reported nitrogen compounds in such honey for the first time: (−)-5-epi-lithospermoside, uridine, adenine and xanthine.
Why this matters to you: phacelia honey is known mainly from laboratory descriptions rather than established sensory sheets like acacia or lime honey. On the label, look for the plant name and the country of harvest.
Facts
| Raw material | Nectar of lacy phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia) |
|---|---|
| Region | Studied mainly on samples from Poland |
| Legal basis | Directive 2001/110/EC: general limits; fructose + glucose ≥60 g/100 g |
How it connects to Honey & beekeeping
Phacelia honey → kind of → Blossom and honeydew honey → kind of → 🍯 Honey
Links
- Part of
- Monofloral honey, Blossom and honeydew honey
- Similar and different
- Coriander honey
- Which plants it comes from
- Phacelia
Frequently asked questions
What is phacelia honey made from?
From the nectar of lacy phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia).
What is its electrical conductivity?
0.23 mS/cm on average, which is low.
What did the Polish study look at?
Fourteen samples: pollen, colour in the CIE L*a*b* system and the volatile aroma profile.
Is it true that phacelia honey contains only phacelia pollen?
No. In the study, six samples averaged about 75 % phacelia pollen, not 100 %.
Which EU limits apply to it?
The general ones: at least 60 g of fructose plus glucose per 100 g and up to 5 g of sucrose.
Similar
Dandelion honey · Coriander honey · Lychee honey · Mesquite honey · Leatherwood honey · Rosemary 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
- Kuś et al. (2018) Unlocking Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth. honey characterization through melissopalynological analysis, color determination and volatiles chemical profiling. Food Research International 106, 243-253
- Kuś et al. (2018) Nitrogen compounds in Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth. honey. Food Chemistry 255, 332-339
- Persano Oddo L., Piro R. (2004) Main European unifloral honeys: descriptive sheets. Apidologie 35 (Suppl. 1)
- Directive 2001/110/EC relating to honey (consolidated text, EUR-Lex)