The Buzz About Local Honey
I was leading a local kayak tour in NSB when one of the guests asked whether all of the mangroves surrounding us could be farmed for anything useful. While I pondered the question, my wife surprised me by sharing that yes indeed, there was a local mangrove crop. Mangrove honey! She also shared that it was harvested locally… and that we had a jar in our pantry… and that I had enjoyed some just days earlier. I went home opened the pantry and sure enough, our honey was local Mangrove Honey from S&S Apiaries right here in NSB. I was curious to learn more.
The Pioneer Trail entrance to S&S Apiaries is easy to miss, but I noticed the small local honey signs and turned in. Waiting for me in the small parking lot was Jesse Azam, owner of the thriving business. Jesse eyes light up when he’s talking about bees, and he’s filled with interesting knowledge on this crucial species. He’s an affable guy who seems to enjoy his job, and he eagerly shares that passion with anyone else interested in learning more.
S&S Apiaries was started in 2009 and was named after the couple’s two children. They’ve been at their current New Smyrna Beach location off of Pioneer Trail since 2015. The first thing you’ll see on the property is a quaint little honey shack on the roadside corner of the property. The creatively crafted shack is filled with their local honey products and the construction is quite interesting. Walking in, you’ll notice that the rear wall is shaped like a honeycomb and interspersed among their products are several cool beekeeping artifacts. (Bring cash as they do not accept credit cards on site)
Local Honey Varieties
At the tasting station, you can sample all of the S&S Apiaries offerings. There are seven different types available, all either harvested from a different area or different time-frame. The three best sellers are the All Year, Orange and Mangrove. I enjoyed them all, and was honestly surprised by the significant differences in color, texture and taste. As an example, the mangrove honey was smoother with just a hint of salt. You can visit the company’s website at JesseBee.com for more information on the different varieties.
I asked Jesse for some additional information on the process, and we focused on the mangrove honey. For that product, bee boxes (nucs) are placed out on a far corner of New Smyrna’s Battle Island just before the mangroves begin to flower. As the Queen gets to work building her colony, the mangroves begin to flower and the process takes off. The bees visit mangrove flowers and collect nectar and pollen from an area of one or two miles in each direction and bring it back to the hive. For the mangroves, the entire process begins and ends in about two months, and then the honey is harvested back at S&S Apiaries.
The company’s All Year honey is composed of numerous local nectars, including Brazilian Pepper and Cabbage Palm. It is touted in many circles as a fantastic natural allergy preventive. It is also the first time that I’ve ever found a positive use for the invasive Brazilian Pepper plant, which is the only fall plant harvested. You can buy this and all of the other flavors on-site at their honey shack, online at JesseBee.com. They also sell their product at the Marine Discovery Center and at Honey Hut in the Daytona Beach Flea and Farmers Market.
Becoming a Beekeeper
I asked about Jesse’s background as I wondered how someone becomes a beekeeper? In Jesse’s case, it happened by chance. He’s a construction guy by trade but with a downturn in the economy, he was offered a rare opportunity in an Israeli kibbutz to help build bee hives. The components he assembled included boxes, frames and nucs. After a few months, he was offered a chance to go out in the fields and work with the bees. It was not love at first sight.
Jesse came back that afternoon with more than 50 bee stings, and swollen body parts everywhere. Going to work the next day, he intended to resign. At the kibbutz the elder beekeeper met him at the door and convinced him to stay by sharing more about these incredible creatures and the hives they create. It resonated with Jesse’s construction background and he was hooked.
After meeting his future wife, he relocated to Florida, and following another sojourn in the construction trade, his life meandered back to beekeeping.
Experiencing the Buzz
After hearing about his own rude introduction, Jesse asked me whether I wanted to get up close and personal with one of the hives. It’s fair to say that I did not jump at the opportunity, but I eventually walked out to the aviary to take a peek. Jesse claimed that the bees didn’t want to sting me and wouldn’t be aggressive as long as I was calm. Easier said than done…
As it turned out, it was absolutely fascinating. The way the hive works and how each frame looks unique and serves a different purpose was captivating, and Jesse loves sharing that knowledge, even with hundreds of bees zipping around our bodies.
While watching intently for rogue bees, we searched for the Queen. She was in one of the middle frames laying eggs while the other bees furiously flitted away. It was truly amazing to watch. I also had a chance to dip my finger into the hive and scoop out some freshly produced honey while avoiding the worker bees buzzing around. It tasted wonderful, and just as importantly, I left the apiary unscathed.
As we wrapped up, I asked why Jesse didn’t push his local product more aggressively. He noted that his real passion was the beekeeping side, and breeding Queens. The honey, surprisingly, was just a sweet byproduct.
His primary business revolves around selling bees, hives and his wooden products. He supports large commercial endeavors by providing pollination services, and at the opposite end of the spectrum, he supplies local bee hobbyists. Although I truly enjoyed my time at the apiary, I’m not sure I’m ready to take flight in that direction. But, but if you are, reach out to S&S Apiaries.
Contact Details
See below if you want to learn more or buy some of this awesome local NSB nectar.
Location: 2429 Pioneer Trail, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168. Tel: 386-478-9722
Website: JesseBee.com
Facebook: SandSApiaries
