Learn more about honey varieties at Hive + Honey tasting events

By: Emily Stewart

The Kin Cabin in Shakespeare, Ont. will collaborate with a Waterloo-based beekeeper to provide a sweet tasting experience.

The Hive + Honey tasting experience, run by the Kin Cabin and Casamel, will offer a selection of honeys to taste with food pairings like meats, cheeses and fruits to guests. The experience is similar to wine tasting and provides an opportunity to learn more about how a variety of factors can influence the taste, texture and other aspects of honey.

"Most people really like honey but they just think of it as a sweetener and they think all honey tastes the same because maybe they haven't been exposed to different types of honey,” said Melanie Noble, the founder of Casamel and beekeeper guiding Hive + Honey tastings. “In wine tastings, there's all sorts of wines and they're all called something different like the grape is different or something like that. In honey, it's kind of similar depending on the nectar source and the location and the time of year. There are so many different factors that make honey taste differently."

Noble and Kin Cabin founder Sam Weber became acquainted years ago when Weber hosted a girls’ weekend with her friends that included a private honey tasting hosted by Noble.

"When Sam and I got together and did this event at the girls' weekend, something clicked so we thought this is something that we really want to get it out there to more people and so it was the perfect space when Sam opened the venue to connect with local businesses and showcasing products,” said Noble.

"She blew our mind with bee facts,” Weber added about Noble’s tasting. “I think that’s got me really excited about it as well."

An Oct. 6 press release from Perth County Tourism announced that Hive + Honey is supported as a signature experience run by the county’s tourism department.

“It's really cool to have someone else believe in what we what we did and think that it could be an experience for other people to experience,” said Weber.

Hive + Honey will have its first tasting event on Nov. 19 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Kin Cabin on 2203 Line 34, Shakespeare. Tickets are $95 plus service fees. To find out more information about the honey tasting and other Kin Cabin programming online, visit www.thekincabin.ca/workshops.