In Hokkaido, where sunny days continue, honey harvesting began on Sunday, July 23rd.
Honey is harvested once a year in Hokkaido.
The enthusiasm and expectations of all staff SUGI BEE GARDEN, including the beekeeping club members who have been making preparations up until now, are high.
What will this year's honey look like?
[7/23 (Sun) Buckwheat honey harvesting]
The honey is harvested in the Akan area.
Honey harvesting took place in refreshing weather with clear skies and a local temperature of 26 degrees.
Honey made from buckwheat flowers that bloom near the sea.
A tightly closed white nectar cap is evidence that the honey has a high sugar content.
The honey caps are removed and the berries are put into a centrifuge.
We could see the thick flow of nectar and its rich color.
Buckwheat honey has a distinctive flavor that is a little different from other honeys.
This year, we are able to harvest a lot of nectar from the flowers in full bloom.
[7/28 (Friday) Hundred Flower Honey Collection]
The honey is harvested in the Teshikaga area.
The honey harvest took place on a sunny day with the local temperature reaching 33 degrees Celsius.
The colour appears to be slightly darker than usual.
When we checked with the beekeeping club members, we were told that it also contains buckwheat honey and linden nectar.
Because the flavor of wild flower honey changes every year, you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
[7/29 (Sat) Bodhi tree honey collection]
The honey is harvested in the Akan area.
The honey harvest took place in clear, sunny weather with a local temperature of 27 degrees.
The linden tree grows to about 10m above the ground and produces small pale yellow flowers.
We were able to see plenty of refreshingly colored nectar.
Linden nectar is lighter in color than buckwheat nectar, but it has a deep sweetness and a slightly sour taste that lingers on the tongue.
Some people may be surprised by the difference when they eat it, thinking it is ordinary honey.
Honey harvesting in Hokkaido is still ongoing.
In recent years, abnormal weather has been making the news around the world, and it is becoming commonplace in Hokkaido to experience days when temperatures exceed 30 degrees.
The beekeeping club members, who traveled to Hokkaido with the hives in the hope of providing the bees with a cooler place, are working up a sweat as they continue to harvest honey.
(The beekeeping club members' lunch is a source of energy and companion to their work.)