Thistle honey
Also known as: star thistle honey
Thistle honey is a monofloral honey from the nectar of thistles – spiny plants of the daisy family such as Galactites tomentosa, yellow star-thistle and creeping thistle.
Thistle honey is a monofloral honey from the nectar of thistles, spiny plants of the daisy family with purple or yellow flower heads. Several species give it: Galactites tomentosa in Italy and Spain, yellow star-thistle (Centaurea solstitialis) in Italy and France, creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense) in the Netherlands and Spain, and nodding thistle (Carduus nutans) in New Zealand.
Sardinian Galactites honey was found to contain two unusual marker substances, lumichrome (29.4 mg/kg on average) and phenyllactic acid, which help confirm its origin. Seven Italian thistle honeys shared 16 aroma compounds, among them linalool derivatives, lilac aldehyde and phenylacetaldehyde.
In Argentina, yellow star-thistle is a main summer nectar source on disturbed land in La Pampa. Thirty-three such honeys were light, with 15.8 % water and about twice as much glucose as water, which makes them crystallise fast. In Portugal, the Bairro variety of Mel do Ribatejo Norte lists thistle among its pollen types.
Why this matters to you: "thistle" can mean different plants depending on the country; for star-thistle honey, quick setting is normal.
Facts
| Botanical origin | Nectar of spiny daisy-family plants: Galactites tomentosa, Centaurea solstitialis, Cirsium arvense, Carduus nutans |
|---|---|
| Colour | Light (Argentine star-thistle honey) |
| Crystallization | Star-thistle honey sets fast: glucose/water about 2 |
| Moisture | 15.8 % on average (33 Argentine samples) |
| Season | Summer (star-thistle, Argentina) |
| Region | Italy, Spain, France, Netherlands; Argentina, New Zealand |
How it connects to Honey & beekeeping
Thistle honey → kind of → Blossom and honeydew honey → kind of → 🍯 Honey
Links
- Part of
- Monofloral honey, Blossom and honeydew honey
- Similar and different
- Sulla honey, Sunflower honey, Mel do Ribatejo Norte
Frequently asked questions
Which plants does thistle honey come from?
From spiny daisy-family plants: Galactites tomentosa, yellow star-thistle, creeping thistle and nodding thistle.
Is it true that thistle honey always comes from the same plant?
No. It depends on the country: Galactites in Italy, star-thistle in Argentina, nodding thistle in New Zealand.
Does it crystallise quickly?
Star-thistle honey does: its high glucose-to-water ratio means fast setting.
How is Galactites honey identified?
By its markers, lumichrome and phenyllactic acid.
Where is it produced?
In Italy, Spain and France, and also in Argentina and New Zealand.
What to read next
- Sunflower honey — Monofloral honey from sunflower nectar: bright yellow, crystallising quickly and often hard; the plant name adds no market value.
- Sulla honey — Sulla honey is a monofloral honey from the nectar of sulla, or French honeysuckle (Hedysarum coronarium), a very pale honey of Italy and Spain.
Similar
Alfalfa honey · Clover honey · Dandelion honey · Phacelia honey · Coriander honey · Lychee 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
- Tuberoso C. I. G. et al. (2011) Lumichrome and phenyllactic acid as chemical markers of thistle (Galactites tomentosa Moench) honey. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
- Bianchi F. et al. (2011) Characterization of the volatile profile of thistle honey using headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Food Chemistry
- 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
- Wilkins A. L., Lu Y., Tan S. T. (1993) Extractives from New Zealand honeys. 4. Linalool derivatives and other components from nodding thistle (Carduus nutans) honey. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
- Persano Oddo L. et al. (2004) Botanical species giving unifloral honey in Europe. Apidologie 35 (Suppl. 1) S82-S93
- DGADR, Produtos Tradicionais Portugueses: Mel do Ribatejo Norte DOP
- FAO, Krell R. (1996) Value-added products from beekeeping, Chapter 2 Honey