Tupelo honey, the type found locally, is produced from the tupelo gum tree which grows profusely along the Apalachicola, Choctahatchee and Ochlockonee rivers and their tributaries. May. These river valleys are the only places in the world where tupelo honey is produced commercially. When it's cold the bees can't get out and get to the blooms. This year is a little warmer. Tupelo trees have clusters of greenish flowers, which later develop into soft, berrylike fruits.
Tupelo is a leading honey plant, producing tons of white or extra-light amber honey.
The honey has a mild, pleasant flavor and will not granulate. To ensure the honey is pure tupelo, the bee colonies must be stripped of all stored honey just as the white tupelo bloom begins. Then, the new crop must be removed before it can be mixed by the honeybees with additional honey sources, according to Strickland. Most people think of honey as a sweet, golden liquid. But, in fact, there are many ways to find and eat nature's delicate treat in its raw form.