Local Honey Penzance

Honey from native Cornish black bees, kept by The Cornish Black Bee Company in small apiaries spread across West Cornwall.

The company breeds from local colonies that still show black bee traits – dark, hairy bees that keep flying in cold weather and Cornish mizzle – and does not import bees. Its beekeeper, Matt, works without smoke, leaves each colony plenty of its own honey instead of feeding sugar syrup or fondant, keeps the hives in one place all year rather than moving them from crop to crop, avoids wax foundation in the brood area and does not clip or mark queens. Lower honey yields are accepted as the price of healthier bees.

The apiaries are on community and organic farms, country estates, stables and educational sites, so the honey varies in colour, aroma and texture from one site and season to the next. Besides jarred honey there is honey in the comb, unfiltered and raw, as well as hand-rolled and moulded beeswax candles and personalised wedding favours. The honey has won gold medals at the Royal Cornwall Show.

The honey is sold through independent shops in West Cornwall – Bosavern Community Farm near St Just, The Little Green Grocer in Newlyn, Lavenders Deli & Bakery and The Granary in Penzance, Source and Ayr Supply in St Ives, The Square in Porthleven and Argal Farm Shop near Falmouth – and through the Falmouth Food Co-op. Matt also gives talks to schools and groups, and set up the charity Bees Before Profit to support research into better beekeeping methods.