Petaluma Starthistle Honey

Description

Known as the Champagne of Honeys, Petaluma Starthistle Honey is Doug’s own small-batch harvest from the hills of East Petaluma, where yellow starthistle blooms in waves of tiny yellow flowers across the Tolay Lake region each summer. Light, delicate, and crisp, with a long, fruity finish and a faint green tinge, it’s one of California’s most special honeys — and this limited batch is a longtime favorite that somehow tastes better than ever this year.

Frames of pure starthistle honey are hand-selected and separated from wildflower honey to preserve its light, bright yellow color and true varietal flavor. Yellow starthistle may be an unfortunate weed, but it makes one of the region’s finest nectars. Sweet, floral, and known for its wonderfully slow crystallization.

“This is Doug’s own honey from Petaluma, and it’s the best-tasting local starthistle crop ever. I’ve never tasted a honey that manages to be so light and so complex at the same time.” — Katia, co-owner of Beekind

At a Glance

• Flavor Profile: Light, sweet, and fruity, with a delicate floral finish and a slight green tinge
• Bloom Season: Late Summer (June–September)
• Crystallization: Very slow to crystallize
• Source: Tolay Lake region, East Petaluma, CA | Sonoma County | North Bay
• Sustainable Packaging: Bottled in wide-mouth glass jars in Sebastopol, California
• Quality: Pure, raw, unfiltered, and unadulterated — no additives

Raw & Unfiltered, the Beekind Way

Beekind honey is strained to remove bee parts and other impurities while retaining beneficial pollen —  never highly filtered or pasteurized.

Real, raw honey naturally crystallizes. Learn more about honey crystallization on our blog.

Sourced from Tolay Lake Regional Park

East Petaluma, CA | Sonoma County | Northern California Bay Area

At 3,400 acres, Tolay Lake is one of the largest of Sonoma County’s regional parks, named for the seasonal lake that forms in the valley between its hillsides. The park includes Tolay Creek, extensive grasslands, and open ridges with views of San Pablo Bay, the San Francisco skyline, and Bay Area peaks.

Trails wind through the park and its grasslands provide habitat for golden eagles, burrowing owls, and other birds of prey. These are the wild hills where Doug’s bees forage each summer.

Explore Sonoma & Marin Honeys

Whether browsing in-store or online, explore our full selection of Sonoma and Marin honeys. You’ll be surprised at the difference a month or a mile makes.

For a study in contrast, try our Redwood Forest Honeydew alongside your starthistle:

• Both are harvested in late August, right in our own backyard.
• Both are equally complex, yet completely different in character.
• Both are available in extremely limited quantities — once they’re gone, they’re gone until next year.

Additional information