'Honey, I Hardly Know Ya!' The UC Davis Honey and Pollination Center Can Change That!

"Honey, I hardly know ya!"

The UC Davis Honey and Pollination Center can change that!

Want to learn more about the product that honey bees make?

The UC Davis Honey and Pollination Center is offering a Sensory Evaluation of Honey Certificate Course, Oct. 26-28 in the Mondavi Institute's Sensory Building, located on Old Davis Road.

"This introductory course uses sensory evaluation tools and methods to educate participants in the nuances of varietal honey," according to Amina Harris, director of the Honey and Pollination Center, which is affiliated with the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology. "Students will learn about methods of evaluation, stands and quality in this certificate program."

Who should take the course? Anyone interested in learning how to critically taste and assess honey. Attendees will receive a UC Davis Honey Flavor Wheel in addition to a jump drive with all presentations. (See agenda.)

Attendees will

  • Taste more than 40 varietals from across the US, Europe and other locales.
  • Learn the positive attributes and defects found in honey
  • Learn about the science of tasting from UC Davis Sensory faculty
  • Learn about labeling laws and their limitations
  • Receive an update on the latest UC Davis Sensory research
  • Listen to lectures from leading authorities in nutrition, medical science, and adulteration and even a live cooking demonstration on how to use honey in creative ways.

The cooking demonstration features Mani Niall, a former consultant and traveling chef-instructor for the National Honey Board, a sponsor of this year's Honey Sensory Evaluation Course. Niall will explain how to best enhance the flavor of food with different varietal honeys, from savory to sweet.  "Mani understands the nuances of honey: when it is important to choose a specific varietal to enhance a recipe and when it is appropriate to use a great wildflower blend," Harris points out. 

His recipes also will be served on Saturday and Sunday to the attendees during meals and breaks.

The fee for the three-day course is $799. For more information, contact Harris at aharris@ucdavis.edu or access the website at https://honey.ucdavis.edu/.