Sweet chestnut
A powerful summer tree giving abundant nectar and pollen in June-July; source of dark, bitter-tasting chestnut honey that crystallises slowly.
- Nectar
- Very good
- Pollen
- Very good
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Crystallisation
- Slow
- Pollen colour
- Height
- 15-30 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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Sweet chestnut is one of the strongest trees for both nectar and pollen. Its long male catkins shed plenty of pollen in June, and colonies grow fast during this period. Nectar flows freely in warm, humid weather and drops markedly in drought. Honeydew from aphids on the leaves sometimes ends up in the honey as well.
Flowering
Depending on altitude, it flowers for about 2-3 weeks in June-July. The Black Sea coast, the Marmara region (Bursa, Kocaeli, Sakarya) and the mountains of Aydın and İzmir are the main chestnut areas.
Honey and pollen
Chestnut honey is dark amber to brown, with a sharp aroma and a distinctly bitter taste. Its high fructose content makes it crystallise slowly. The pollen loads are yellowish; because chestnut pollen passes into the honey in large amounts, its share looks high under the microscope.
Note for the beekeeper
Chestnut blight and the chestnut gall wasp have reduced flowering in some regions; check the local situation before moving hives. A heavy pollen flow can increase the swarming tendency, so give the colonies room.