Photo supplied.
Millbrook Lion John French with Hunnabees operators Keri and Dave Nicolaou at a recent visit to their 4th Line honey production facility.
Last month, members of the Millbrook Lions’ Club were invited to Hunnabees Apiary, a local honey producing business located on the 4th Line of Cavan-Monaghan Township. Our hosts were Keri and Dave Nicolaou, a young and talented duo who in a few short years have created an impressive, state-of-the-art honey business.
Keri and Dave happily explained the ins and outs of beekeeping and maintenance and the art of getting the golden product from the hive to the table. Pollen contains 250 biologically active substances, including proteins, carbs, lipids, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, enzymes and antioxidants. Pollen has antibacterial properties and is excellent in reducing seasonal allergies. Honey is also nature’s only food that never spoils.
The young couple’s operation operates out of a new building with a hot room, a lovely area that will evolve into an “all things honey” shop. It contains a 54 box extractor. Also in the new building is a two storey great room that can accommodate meetings and seminars. The couple are big on educating the public about bees and beekeeping, and the vital role bees play in our food production. Several Lions’ members also farm and they were keen to study Keri and Dave’s operation. When Dave mentions that their bottom line is at the mercy of the weather, there were a lot of nods of understanding around the group. Farmers share many of the same issues with all types of crops.
The Lions admired this couple who are so committed to growing their business through hard work and hard-earned knowledge. One of their specialties is an infused honey collection. Lemon ginger honey can soothe a sore throat. Sweet heat honey is a spicy option which, according to Keri, is very good on pizza. Honey chai was another flavour option, and is excellent to drizzle on toast or fruit.
Of course Hunnabees natural honey is the go-to mainstay. The familiar classic has clover, and goldenrod is also good for allergies. The Wildflower version is a combination of summer flowers.
Hunnabees maintain hives at their Millbrook location, as well as in the Kawartha Lakes and on Scugog Island. Their honey is always raw, unpasteurized and separated by floral source, which affects its hue and flavour. The wetlands honey, for example, has a mild caramel flavour. Finally, an old favourite, the dark buckwheat, features a strong molasses flavour, best used for cooking or perfect for adding to coffee.
Beyond the various honeys, there are also several bees wax products, including candles. When you purchase products from them, they give back to the bees, planting pollinator wildflowers native to the area in their bee-friendly gardens.
The Lions visit ended with a display of the many Hunnabee products, raw pollen, with its anti-bacterial properties (that can reduce seasonal allergies), creamed honey including clover creamed with pollen, orange chocolate creamed, and cinnamon – good to add to chai tea.
The Millbrook & District Lions would like to thank Keri & Dave Nicolaou for the opportunity to tour the operation and first-hand about bee-keeping, and to learn more about our hosts. You can visit Hunnabees Honey & Co. at 1331 Zion (4th) Line, between County Rd. 10 and Hutchison Drive, south of Millbrook. Sign-up for newsletters or become a Hunnabees Honey & Co. member at: www.hunnabees.com.
By Tony Parks
