FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 9, 2011
Essayists Ask: ‘U.S Honey: A Taste for Every Preference’
For the 2011 4-H Beekeeping Essay Contest, the essayists were asked to investigate the local/regional honeys of the United States and see how they differ in taste and color. The 23 state-winning essayists took varied approaches to this task.
The top essayist, Rachel Ricchiuto, 14, of Gold River, Calif., assembled five honey samples and invited 25 people from age 7 to adult to judge the honeys on color, smell and taste.
“I chose clover honey and 4 others with very distinct color and taste differences that I thought people wouldn’t have tried before,” she reported, “these were orange blossom, sage, buckwheat and eucalyptus…. I had them rate on color first, then smell and finally taste. I found that some people rated a honey high in color and smell but when they actually tasted it, they didn’t like the flavor very much. I tallied up the results and was surprised to find that in overall scores more people preferred sage.”
Rachel concluded: “In researching this topic I learned a lot about different types of honey that I didn’t know and I had a lot of fun watching the expressions on people’s faces when they judged my honeys…. With over 300 honey varieties in the United States, there is definitely a honey for everyone’s taste preference.”
Her first place prize is a cash award of $750.00.
Second place essayist, Kayla Ackerman, 11, of College Station, Texas, receives $500.00 for her efforts. She identified the various factors that determine a particular honey’s color and taste. “Americans delight in many varieties of honey from mild, light flavors, to rich, strong tastes,” she wrote. “Honey is delicious whether from one flower or many, whether whipped or liquid, and whether raw or pasteurized. From the table to baking, honey is enjoyed day to day.”
There was a tie for third place. Mikayla Ockels, 12, of Milton, Del., and Seth Fuchs, 14, of Santa Rosa, N.M., each receive $250.00. Mikayla detailed the varieties of regional honey. Seth explored the physical properties of honeys.
Each state winner, including the national winners, will receive a copy of a book about beekeeping.
The essay topic for 2012 is “The Results of Honey Bee Pollination in my Community.” The 4-H’ers are encouraged to investigate the plants in their communities that benefit from honey bee pollination and determine the results of that pollination.
Students interested in writing should contact their local 4-H offices for contest details. The state selection must be done through the 4-H system.
Complete list of the winners (including all state winners)
