Honey and Mudgee go together. Early settlers started to keep bees and as time moved on many commercial beekeepers established Mudgee as a headquarters for their migratory beekeeping headquarters, particularly in the nineteen sixties and seventies. Mudgee was the only town in NSW with two honey packing factories for many years; buying and packing honey mainly for the capital city markets. Honey Haven is now a beekeeping tourist attraction in the town. Under the local Watershed Landcare Group and the NSW Amateur Beekeepers Association a local beekeeping group has been recently established and has an apiary to allow beekeepers to become better skilled in managing bees and be rewarded with fresh local honey.
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Just prior to the Mudgee Show the Mudgee Bee Group held a weekend training program and it was observed most of the colonies were full of light ground flora honey. The trainer Mr Bruce White, a retired Technical Specialist Apiculture NSW DPI and Sydney Royal Easter show judge, suggested some of the honey prepared for exhibit at the local show. Such was the quality of the honey and comb Mr White was of the opinion they would do very well if entered into the Sydney Royal Easter show. Unfortunately entries had closed so they will prepare an entry for next year. Mr White said the Mudgee Bee Group comb of honey was an excellent example and many similar combs were still left in the hives. The two entries both won first prizes at the Mudgee Show.
Honey varies a great deal in flavour and can be traced back to the main species in the honey for example Yellow Box is mild flavoured. In the hilly country, Stringy bark is a common species and totally different flavour. At shows honey is judged on its commercial qualities: Flavour, Colour, Density, Aroma, Brightness, and Clearness. Honey should have a pleasant aroma and should be free of beeswax and bright in colour.
The combs of honey for showing are judged for being full of honey with white cappings, that are even with an attractive appearance. For more information on Mudgee Bee Group call Claudia Wythes, Watershed Landcare Coordinator, 0412 011 064 or claudia.wythes@watershedlandcare.com.au.
