Tupelo

Explore the story and character of this honey.

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A White Tupelo tree in a wetland beside a close view of Tupelo blossoms

Reserve Collection

Flavor and Character

Tupelo honey is commonly described as smooth and buttery, with delicate floral notes and a clean, pleasantly sweet finish. Some tasters also notice subtle fruit and spice notes. Its refined character makes it an enjoyable honey to taste slowly on its own.

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What Makes Tupelo Special?

  • Tupelo trees bloom for only about two to three weeks each spring.
  • Beekeepers often work from boats because the trees grow in remote wetlands.
  • The name Tupelo comes from Muscogee words meaning swamp tree.
  • The 1997 film Ulee’s Gold, starring Peter Fonda, follows a Florida Tupelo beekeeper trying to protect and reunite his family.
  • Tupelo honey is included in Slow Food’s Ark of Taste, which recognizes distinctive heritage foods worth preserving.
  • Tupelo honey resists crystallization because its high fructose to glucose ratio keeps it liquid much longer than most honeys.
  • Tupelo honey is a risky harvest. Its short bloom can be damaged by wind, rain, or cold, causing beekeepers to lose much or even all of the season’s crop. This unpredictable, limited harvest helps make authentic Tupelo honey scarce and often more expensive than common varieties.