Frequently Asked Questions
Raw Honey and Nucleus Colony FAQ
We’re often asked about our honey, bees, and nucleus colonies. Below are answers to some of the most common questions about how our honey is produced, how our bees are kept, and how our nucs are supplied.
If you’re new to beekeeping, you may also find our practical guides helpful, including our guides on preparing your hive for a nucleus colony and installing a nuc safely.
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Honey | Nucleus Colonies | Orders & Delivery | Business & Trade
Honey
Is your honey raw?
Yes. All Eden Honey Bees honey is raw and unpasteurised. It is only lightly filtered to remove larger pieces of wax and other debris.
Our Spring, Blossom and Himalayan Balsam honeys are kept separate by apiary, preserving the natural colour, flavour and character of each harvest.
Our Soft Set Honey brings together honey from several of our North Shropshire apiaries and is carefully worked over three to four days to create a smooth, spreadable texture, without heating or adding anything.
Where is your honey produced?
Our Eden Honey Bees honey is produced by our own bees at our apiaries in Myddle, Shotatton and Lyneal in North Shropshire.
Our Spring, Blossom and Himalayan Balsam honeys are harvested and kept separately by apiary, so the location shown on each jar is where the bees that produced that batch lived and foraged.
Our Soft Set Honey brings together honey from several of our apiaries, carefully worked to create a smooth, spreadable texture.
Different locations and seasons produce different honeys, with colour, flavour and texture changing according to the forage available at the time.
What flowers do your bees forage from?
The nectar sources change naturally throughout the season and vary between our apiaries. Bees may collect nectar from:
- hawthorn
- dandelion
- clover
- wildflowers
- lime trees
- hedgerow blossom
- himalayan balsam
- occasionally nearby OSR fields
Because the bees forage freely across the surrounding countryside, each batch of honey can look and taste slightly different.
Why does honey crystallise or set?
All raw honey naturally crystallises over time. This is a normal process, influenced by the natural sugars in the honey, particularly the balance of glucose and fructose.
Spring honey often sets more quickly due to its higher glucose content. If you prefer runnier honey, simply stand the jar in warm (not hot) water to gently dissolve the crystals.
Our Soft Set Honey is different. We take naturally crystallised honey and carefully work it over three to four days, without heating, to create exceptionally fine crystals. This gives it a smooth, creamy texture designed to remain soft and spreadable at room temperature.
How should I store honey?
Honey keeps best in a cool, dry cupboard away from direct sunlight.
There is no need to refrigerate honey. Refrigeration can actually encourage crystallisation. Properly stored honey will keep for a very long time.
Our Soft Set Honey is best stored at a consistent room temperature to help maintain its smooth, spreadable texture.
Is your honey local honey?
Yes. Our honey is produced locally by our bees in North Shropshire.
Honey bees typically forage within a few miles of the hive, so the honey reflects the flowers, trees, and crops growing in the surrounding countryside.
Where can I buy your honey?
Our honey is available directly through our website and from selected local stockists.
Website orders can be delivered locally by us where available, or sent by courier elsewhere in the UK. We don't currently offer collection for honey orders.
You can also see our current local stockists if you'd prefer to buy in person.
Nucleus Colonies (Nucs)
What is a nucleus colony?
A nucleus colony, often called a nuc, is a small but fully functioning honey bee colony.
It contains a laying queen, worker bees, brood, and food stores on several frames. Because the colony is already established, it is one of the most reliable ways to start a new hive.
If you’d like to learn more, our guide explaining what a nucleus colony is and why beekeepers use them goes into more detail.
Are your nucs suitable for beginner beekeepers?
Yes. Our nucleus colonies are suitable for both beginner and experienced beekeepers.
A nuc gives you an established small colony with a laying queen, brood, worker bees and food stores, ready to transfer into a compatible full-size hive.
For new beekeepers, we also provide practical guides covering how to prepare your hive, install your nuc and look after the colony during its first few weeks.
What is included in an Eden Honey Bees nuc?
Each nucleus colony includes:
- a marked F1 Buckfast queen
- five ANEL plastic Langstroth frames containing brood and food stores
- an established population of worker bees
Your nuc is supplied in a temporary travel box, ready to transfer into your own compatible hive.
What hive types are your nucs compatible with?
Our nucleus colonies are supplied on ANEL plastic Langstroth frames and are compatible with standard Langstroth hives, including Flow Hives.
The five frames supplied with your nuc can be transferred directly into a compatible Langstroth brood box.
Our guide on transferring a nuc into your hive explains the process step by step.
How strong are your nucleus colonies?
We supply established five-frame nucleus colonies with a laying queen, brood in different stages, food stores and a healthy population of worker bees.
Colony strength naturally varies depending on the time of year, weather and conditions, but every nuc is checked before it leaves us to make sure it is ready to move into its new hive.
When are nucleus colonies available?
We produce nucleus colonies in two seasonal runs.
Overwintered nucs are colonies established during the previous season and overwintered with us, ready for collection or delivery in spring once conditions are suitable.
Summer nucs are produced during the current beekeeping season and are generally available in early to mid-summer.
If you're deciding which is right for you, read our guide to the differences between overwintered and summer nucs.
Exact timings depend on weather and colony development, and availability is limited. Current and upcoming nucs can be found on our Nucleus Colonies pages.
How do I prepare for receiving a nuc?
Before your nuc arrives you should have:
- a fully assembled compatible Langstroth hive
- the additional frames needed to complete the brood box
- a suitable, permanent location for your hive
Your colony should be transferred from its travel box into its permanent hive promptly after collection or delivery.
Our guide on preparing your hive for a nucleus colony walks through everything you need before your bees arrive.
Do you deliver nucleus colonies?
Yes. Depending on the nuc and your location, we offer:
- collection from us in Myddle, North Shropshire
- local delivery by Henry
- nationwide UK delivery
Available collection and delivery options are shown when you order. We'll contact you before your nuc is ready with the information you need for collection or delivery.
Orders & Delivery
Can I collect my order?
Honey orders are available for delivery only and cannot be collected from us.
Nucleus colonies can be collected by arrangement from us in Myddle, North Shropshire.
Available collection and delivery options are shown when you order.
Do you offer local delivery?
Yes. We offer local delivery around Myddle and the surrounding area, personally by Henry.
If local delivery is available for your postcode, the option will appear at checkout.
How is honey shipped?
Honey jars are carefully packed to protect them during transit and sent by courier within the UK.
Can I pre-order honey?
We release honey in small seasonal batches, so we do not currently offer pre-orders.
The best way to hear when new honey becomes available is to join our mailing list.
Business & Trade
Do you supply honey to shops and retailers?
Yes. We supply Eden Honey Bees honey to independent farm shops, delis and other retailers across Shropshire and the surrounding area.
We offer flexible wholesale ordering, with our range changing naturally according to the season and available harvests.
You can find out more on our Stock Our Honey page or get in touch to discuss a trade enquiry.
Can you produce honey for our business?
Yes. For businesses with a suitable site, Henry can place and manage hives on your land and produce honey specifically for your business.
The honey is harvested separately from our own apiaries and can be supplied with your own branding, creating a product with a direct connection to your land and the surrounding forage.
See Your Own Honey to find out more about how it works.
Do you offer white label honey?
Yes, although our approach is a little different from standard white labelling. Rather than simply putting your branding onto existing honey, we can manage hives on your own land and keep the honey produced there separate for your business.
You can read more about this on our Your Own Honey page.