South Gippsland Beekeepers gathered to compare their best honey and mead in an annual autumn blind-tasting competition in which members vie for serious bragging rights.
Producers showed off 22 different honeys and four meads – or honey liqueurs – demonstrating a diversity of colours and flavours, reflecting the variety of flowers that were visited by south Gippsland bees.
South Gippsland Beekeepers Club president Bronwyn Barton said not all honey collected across the region was similar.
“Every beekeeper’s honey was quite different in colour, aroma and taste,” she said.
“Mead is a new product for most of us but this year’s batch was impressive. A nice shot of mead and a cosy chair in front of the fire are just what you need on a chilly winter’s night.”
The winners of the beekeepers’ choice for best honey were Maria Maraone who took out first place, followed by Graham Beasley and Francis Sullivan.
The beekeepers’ choice for best mead awards went to Colin Goodwin, Keith Gray, and Daryl Cameron.
South Gippsland Beekeepers has members across south Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley and holds monthly meetings in Leongatha with members’ activities throughout the year.
For more information, visit South Gippsland Book Keepers
