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Nodding Thistle







Nodding Thistle (Carduus nutans) is considered a weed species in New Zealand.
Το γαιδουράγκαθο είναι ένα ζιζάνιο.
However from the beekeeper's point of view, it is an extremely valuable "weed".
Για τον μελισσοκόμο είναι ένα χρήσιμο ζιζάνιο.
The honey from Nodding Thistle is like no other.
Το μέλι του δεν είναι σαν κανένα άλλο.
With a delightful perfumed floral bouquet, light flavour and slow crystallizing properties, it is one of our finest honey types.
Με ένα εξαιρετικό άρωμα από μπουκέτο λουλουδιών, ελαφρύ άρωμα και αργή κρυστάλλωση, είναι ένα από τα καλύτερα είδη μελιού.

Unfortunately it is also becoming one of our more scarce varieties.
Δυστυχώς είναι ένα από τα πιο σπάνια είδη.

In recent years, the Nodding Thistle honey crop has become much less reliable that before.
Τα τελευταία χρόνια η παραγωγή είναι πολύ λιγότερο αξιόπιστη από το παρελθόν.

This has been primarily due to the introduction of a number of insects for biological control of Nodding Thistle in New Zealand.
Αυτό έγινε λόγω της εισαγωγής ενός αριθμού εντόμων για την βιολογική καταπολέμηση του φυτού στην χώρα.

One of these feeds on the seeds, disrupting nectar production in the flower and one feeds on the crown of the young thistles before they flower, stunting their growth, preventing them flowering and in some cases killing the plant altogether.
Αυτά τα έντομα επηρεάζουν την παραγωγή νέκταρος και την ανάπτυξη της κεφαλής και συνολικά του φυτού.


Now, it is only when these insects are at a low ebb, does a good Nodding Thistle honey crop occur.
Όταν τα έντομα ειναι σε χαμηλό πληθυσμό, τότε πραγματοποιείται μια καλή παραγωγή.

Pollen Content

One aspect of Nodding Thistle honey is that it is characterised by a very low pollen representation.

Our estimates are around 500-1,000 pollen grains per 10grams of honey and total pollen counts averaging 21,000 per 10 grams with a range of 10,000 to 50,000.

Consequently, Nodding Thistle honey rarely has more than 10% Nodding Thistle pollen.

Why this is so has not been documented, but some possible reaosns might include:

• The pollen grains are large (around 60 microns) and may be able to be removed by the bees from the nectar during collection and ripening.
• The nectar source is at the bottom of long thin, deep florets and the large pollen grains can't fall into the nectar.
• The pollen may be given off first before the nectar is present. Certainly there are bees that get very covered with Nodding Thistle pollen when collecting pollen.

Sugar Profile

Nodding Thistle honey has a (Glucose-Water)/Fructose ratio average of 0.295 so is a slow crystallising honey. Levels as low as 0.21 have been recorded. It also has a relatively high average sucrose level of 4.0%, so quite often has levels of sucrose that are higher than permitted under Codex standards.