It was Greek mythology that led many to anoint the Linden tree the “tree of life.” and there are stories that describe villagers dancing around a linden tree as a form of celebration. In modern times, this is a tree that lines the streets of many communities in both the United States and Europe.
The honey made from the nectar of these trees is prized for its unique taste and aroma, and because an annual linden honey crop can’t be guaranteed, it’s even more valuable.
Linden Honey
Linden honey is a monofloral honey that’s produced in North America, the U.K., other parts of Europe, and in Asia. This honey is essentially the same in all of these places but has three different names; basswood honey, lime honey and linden honey. In North America, it’s called Basswood, in the U.K. they call it Lime (often because the flowers are greenish-yellow), and in the rest of the world, they refer to it as Linden.
The common denominator is the Tilia genus of trees – and there are thirty species within that genus. In North America, most of the trees that produce the honey are Tilia americana. Some who notice this tree during the most humid part of the summer call it the “bee tree” because it produces so much nectar at this time and bees are extremely drawn to it.
There’s so much nectar – as much as forty pounds per individual tree – that honey bees can potentially gather a full ounce from each flower. When Linden honey is at its freshest, it’s relatively clear with a green tinge and turns yellow-to-amber as it ages. It crystallizes quickly – within about four months – because of its high glucose-to-fructose ratio.
Because it’s a light-coloured honey, people are surprised that it has such a strong taste and aroma. Some say it smells woody at first, and then they detect a minty, menthol scent. Linden honey’s taste is sweet, spicy, and slightly bitter.