Anyone ever try a Black Locust Tree mead.

[cogsmithsfermentorium]

So I have been getting into mead recently, and i have been wandering around farmers markets looking for interesting honeys for mead. I came across Black Locust honey and have found very little information on a mead from this type of honey. I have 5 pounds of it and 5 pounds of buckwheat honey and was interested in possibly mixing the two. Or would 5 pounds of a wild flower mix better, or should i just go crazy and mix all three?

 

[alaktheman]

Buckwheat is a very strong honey. I would recommend if using that to mix it probably 50/50 with a wild flower depending where you are but definitely a honey that is not as strong in flavour.

 

[alaktheman]

In other words if you want the black locust honey to stand out and be what you recognise in your Mead then you should probably use something weaker so it pulls through. At least that's what I would do.

 

[gratus fermentatio]

Black Locust honey is also sold as Acacia honey here in the US & it is AWESOME. It's a very delicate & floral honey, I wouldn't waste it by mixing it with buckwheat honey. I've made mead from Acacia honey & while there is some loss of those delicate, floral notes during fermentation, there are enough retained to make for a fine mead.

If I were you, I'd make a medium show mead with that black locust/acacia honey. I don't think there's anything better you could do with that honey. As for the buckwheat, I think you'd do well to blend it with something more bland, like clover or alfalfa honey. Buckwheat honey has a very strong flavor & is often described as being "molasses-like" or as having a "barnyard-like" flavor. To my tastes, buckwheat honey tastes like a hay barn smells. Not bad, just a bit different IMHO. I think most people would be happier with a 50/50 blend, but your tastes may vary. Taste those honeys & think about how they'll taste post fermentation.

Out of curiosity & if you don't mind me asking, what did you pay per lb for the black locust honey?
Regards, GF.

 

[bernardsmith]

I understand that buckwheat honey on the left side of the country tastes very different from what we on the right side call buckwheat honey but I very much agree with GF , acacia honey makes for a fine tasting mead and I would not blend it with buckwheat although I might blend clover or wildflower 3:1 with buckwheat (at least that is a project I am planning on doing once the temperature drops).

 

[loveofrose]

Black locust/acacia honey is great with rose hips and oak. See my Jadwiga Inspired BOMM recipe for an example.

And +1 to not mixing with buckwheat. This honey is way to good for that!

 

[bernardsmith]

Black locust/acacia honey is great with rose hips and oak. See my Jadwiga Inspired BOMM recipe for an example.

And +1 to not mixing with buckwheat. This honey is way to good for that!

Apologies - I don't want to hijack this thread but I have some dried rose hips. How many ounces of dried hips/gallon mead would you recommend as a rule of thumb?

 

[loveofrose]

For dried rosehips, 4 oz per gallon give a very subtle flavor. Great for enhancing a honey varietal. You can go up to 16 oz per gallon if you want a lot of flavor.

 

[WVMJ]

There is no point in getting good locust honey and then overpowering that flavor with buckwheat, the locust would just be adding sugar and would disappear, the locust will make a light tasting mead and the buckwheat a very strong tasting mead, make separate batches and see which one you like best. Locust also go well with dried elderberry flowers, dandelions, even locust blooms (a little bit of preplanning is in order). A honey in between these such and bamboo or tulip poplar makes a very good mead on its own, more character than locust but not outrageous like buckwheat. WVMJ

 

[cogsmithsfermentorium]

Thanks for the advice all. I found the black locust tree honey at a farmers market in St Louis visiting my inlaws around Memorial Day. I got 5 pounds for i think $35.00 so i guess close to 7 bucks a pound. So with 5 pounds how many gallons should i make? And with the buckwheat if i blend it with an 5lbs alfalfa and 5lbs wildflower for 5 gallons for a semisweet sound good?

 

[howamidriving]

I'm about three weeks into a Mead with 2 lbs of black locust, 1 lb of clover, 8 oz of buckwheat and 6 oz of organic raw honey (the really thick stuff).

I don't have much else to add another than I'll let you know what it tastes like when I rack in a week or two